GOP candidates promise a bigger, better military

Amid blistering attacks on each others’ campaigns, the Republican presidential candidates at Thursday’s sixth national debate did express a common theme in their plans: The military needs more money and attention.

All seven candidates at the event lamented the current readiness and funding for the armed forces and promised as next commander-in-chief to build a stronger fighting force than President Barack Obama has.

“We are not the world's policeman, but we need to stand up and be ready. And the military is not ready,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told the South Carolina audience.

“We need to rebuild our military, and this president has let it diminish to a point where tinpot dictators like the mullahs in Iran are taking our Navy ships. It is disgraceful, and in a Christie administration, they would know much, much better than to do that.”