https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/15397*** By U.S. Army Gen. Hugh Shelton (ret.) October 6, 2014 7:00 a.m. EDT Hillary Clinton recently said that education â??is one of the most valuable assets that the United States has. Itâ??s something that we have to continue to invest in, to protect and indeed to share with the rest of the world.â?? The reasons for this are endless, and some are more obvious than others. For example, a more educated workforce earns higher wages, which allows people to rise out of poverty and climb the economic ladder, eventually breaking the oppressive cycle of income inequality. With more money in their pockets, people are able to spend more on goods and services, and this increase in consumer spending grows our economy and creates jobs. But investing in education is not just beneficial for our economy â?? it is absolutely critical for our national security. The correlation between education and national security is often overlooked, not only members of the public, but by our policymakers. That is why I, along with 450 other retired admirals and generals, am a member of a group called Mission Readiness. Mission Readiness was launched in 2009 to inform policymakers that the decisions they make about our childrenâ??s education today will have repercussions for our national security well into the future.