US Sen. Tom Cotton – Author, "Sacred Duty"

Background and Political Evolution

• J.D. Cotton grew up on a cattle farm in Dardanelle, Arkansas (population ~4,500), in a non-political, working-class household within a historically one-party Democratic state.
• His political consciousness began in 1992 at age 15 when then-Governor Bill Clinton ran for president, followed by a disillusionment with Clinton's presidency that catalyzed his shift to Republicanism.
• Cotton attributes his conservative philosophy to traditional values learned through farm work starting at age five rather than family political discourse.

Military Service and Transformation

• The September 11, 2001 attacks occurred while Cotton was in evidence class at Harvard Law School, prompting a shift in his life trajectory from private law to military service.
• After completing law school and a federal clerkship to satisfy financial obligations, he enlisted as an infantryman rather than joining the JAG Corps.
• At age 29, Cotton served as a platoon leader in Iraq; he noted the unique challenge of leading junior soldiers despite being the least experienced officer in his unit.
• Following his first tour, Cotton was assigned to the Old Guard, where his primary duty was performing military honor funerals and guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
• He emphasizes the Old Guard's "perfection" standard, involving two months of rigorous training and daily rehearsals to ensure solemnity for grieving families, contrasting sharply with the improvised planning typical of combat zones.

Foreign Policy: Brexit and Global Relations

• Cotton views Brexit primarily as an immigration-driven vote and argues that the UK political class must honor the 2016 referendum result to avoid eroding public trust.
• He warns that a second referendum or political negation of the 2016 vote would be "corrosive of public trust in public institutions" in the UK.

Foreign Policy: China Strategy

• Cotton categorizes China as an "adversary" and "rival," rejecting the post-1990s consensus that views China merely as a competitor.
• He identifies two "bipartisan mistakes" over the last 25 years: granting China permanent Most Favored Nation status and allowing WTO accession on U.S.-friendly terms.
• He notes China has increased defense spending tenfold over the last 25 years, compared to minimal increases by peripheral nations like Japan and India.
• Regarding Huawei, Cotton states the company is an "arm of the Chinese Communist Party" and a core component of Beijing's trade and security policy.
• The primary U.S. security concern regarding Huawei is its potential to set global 5G standards in allied countries, rather than its limited presence in the U.S. handheld market.
• On Hong Kong, Cotton supports the protestors' desire to avoid Beijing's control, warning that martial law or the imposition of Beijing's judicial system would be a "grievous mistake of historic proportions."

Foreign Policy: Iran and Nuclear Issues

• Cotton asserts the 2015 Iran nuclear deal was flawed because it merely postponed Iran's nuclear capabilities without addressing state-sponsored terrorism or regional aggression.
• Since the U.S. withdrawal from the deal 15 months prior, Iran's oil exports dropped from nearly 3 million barrels per day to approximately 100,000 barrels per day due to sanctions.
• He argues that economic pressure denies funding to proxies such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and militias in Iraq, preventing Iran from exporting instability.
• Cotton acknowledges Iran's willingness to endure economic depression to achieve strategic objectives, warning that the ayatollahs will impose pain on their own populace to fund these initiatives.

Immigration Reform Proposal

• Cotton and Senator Perdue proposed a reform to the U.S. green card system, arguing that roughly 93% of the million annual green cards are awarded via chance (chain migration or lottery) rather than merit.
• The proposal advocates for a points-based system modeled after Canada and Australia, prioritizing age, education, field of study, English proficiency, and local wage competitiveness.
• He argues the current system fails to align with modern economic needs, noting that 19th-century open borders were facilitated by land distribution policies (160 acres) that no longer exist.
• Despite the rigor of their proposed system, industry leaders in Canada and Australia reportedly prefer the U.S. due to its larger population, natural resources, and favorable environment for capital formation.

Future of the Republican Party

• Cotton attributes the 2016 Republican success to a disconnect between Washington insiders and grassroots voters, a gap the current administration and newer congressional members are bridging.
• He envisions a Republican Party focused on national security, protecting all American workers (not just the wealthy), and ensuring a strong education system that produces good citizens.
• He cautions against hubris, noting that no party has maintained a permanent majority in the last 20 years and that the future requires balancing partisan interests with broad national stability.