As conservatives wrestle with the question of their movement’s commitment to national security, one young war veteran made the case for a strong national defense and Ronald Reagan’s entreaty that America pursue “peace through strength.” Speaking Thursday morning at CPAC, freshman congressman Tom Cotton of Arkansas tried directly to appeal to those conservatives wary and weary of American wars against radical Islamic terrorists.

“I know there is war weariness among the American people, just like there is war weariness among conservatives, and in this audience, no doubt,” said Cotton. “It’s no surprise, though, that the American people are war weary when their commander in chief is the weariest of them all.”