Jindal: Invest more in U.S. military

JOHNSTON - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Friday he believes the country is ready for a conservative with executive experience who will reduce the size of the federal government while investing in military might that will deter U.S. enemies emboldened by President Barack Obama's weak foreign policy.

'I think the best way to keep America safe is peace through strength, our enemies fear us and our friends trust us,” said Jindal, 43, a second-term governor who previously spent four years in Congress.

Speaking on Iowa Public Television's 'Iowa Press” show, Jindal said 'the best way to avoid war is to prepare for war,” so he would invest in defense while cutting other areas of federal spending to balance the budget rather than 'hollow out the military” as has been happening under Obama's watch.

Jindal said he does not support the Obama administration's proposed nuclear treaty with Iran, calling the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran in the future 'an unacceptable risk.” He also opposes fast-track trade authority because he does not trust Obama and is worried it will be used to impose environmental or immigration changes.

'I worry about the direction of our country, and I think that voters are looking for a big change in D.C.,” said Jindal, a potential 2016 GOP presidential hopeful who will wait until after the Louisiana Legislature adjourns in June before formally deciding whether to enter the Republican field.

Jindal has made several trips to Iowa, which kicks off the 2016 presidential nomination process with its precinct caucuses, and he has found Iowans to be polite and thoughtful but willing to ask questions.

'Iowa is a very important state. If I were to get into this race, I would certainly spend a lot of time here,” he said.

Jindal said he has differentiated himself from other GOP prospects by laying out specific ideas and positions.

'If I become a candidate, I will earn my way to the top,” he said. 'This is not going to be an auction. I don't think it's going to be won just simply by the person who has the most money.”

During the taping, Jindal was asked about former President George W. Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq, a question that was posed to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush this week. Jindal said the former president 'absolutely made the right decision” to invade Iraq.

'The problems we face in Iraq today I don't think were because of President Bush's strength, but rather have come about because of President Obama's weakness,” he said.