In New Hampshire, we value independence, responsibility, and restraint. We believe in strong leadership — but we also believe that strength must be governed by law.
In recent days, Americans have heard rhetoric at the highest levels of government that raises serious concerns about the use of military power and adherence to the laws of war. These are not abstract debates. They go to the heart of who we are as a nation.
Because the question is not whether America should be strong. The question is whether America will remain governed by the rule of law.
That principle is foundational. It is what separates a constitutional republic from unchecked power. And it is especially critical in moments of crisis, when the temptation to bypass limits is greatest.
Our servicemen and women understand this. They swear an oath not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution. They are trained to follow lawful orders — and to reject unlawful ones.
They should never be placed in a position where that distinction becomes unclear.
That is why the Constitution does not leave decisions of war and peace to one branch of government alone.
Congress has a clear and essential role: to authorize sustained military engagement, to conduct oversight and to ensure that American actions comply with both domestic and international law.
When Congress fails to act — when it remains silent or absent — it does more than avoid responsibility. It weakens the very system designed to prevent the abuse of power.
This is not a partisan issue. It is a structural one.
New Hampshire has long stood for limited government. But limited government only works if its limits are enforced. Otherwise, it becomes a slogan rather than a safeguard.
And the consequences of ignoring those limits are not theoretical.
They are borne by the men and women in uniform asked to carry out policy. They are borne by civilians caught in the path of conflict. And they are borne by future generations who inherit the precedents we set today.
Concord — and communities across our state — are not removed from these decisions. We are home to veterans, to working families and to students who will one day lead this country.
What kind of example are we setting for them? One where power expands in the absence of accountability? Or one where even in difficult moments, we insist on constitutional discipline? History will answer that question based on what we do now.
If we believe in law and order, then it must apply everywhere — including at the highest levels of government. If we believe in limited government, then we must be willing to limit power—even when it is politically inconvenient.
Because in the end, the strength of this country has never come from acting without restraint. It has come from choosing principle over power. And that choice is before us again.
David Preece is a state representative and the executive director of the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission. He lives in Manchester.