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Gary Johnson on Foreign Policy
Libertarian presidential nominee; former Republican NM Governor
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We can no longer afford to shell out billions in foreign aid
When I visited Occupy Wall Street, I felt the frustration of young people who wanted to work but couldn't get an interview, much less a job. When I visit business owners and employers, I meet people who want to hire, but can't.
Meanwhile, the federal government is spending us deeper and deeper into debt while we shell out billions in foreign aid we can no longer afford and trillions more for foreign wars in which our national interest is just not apparent to me.
Source: Gary Johnson, "America moving again" in The Washington Times
, Feb 2, 2012
No foreign aid spending unless it protects U.S. interests
Maintaining a strong national defense is the most basic of the federal government's responsibilities. However, building schools, roads, and hospitals in other countries are not among those basic obligations. Yet that is exactly what we have been doing
for much of the past 10 years. Given trillion-dollar deficits, America simply cannot afford to be engaged in foreign policy programs that are not clearly protecting U.S. interests. There is nation-building and rebuilding to be done right here at home.
Source: 2012 presidential campaign website, garyjohnson2012.com
, Nov 15, 2011
Flights to Cuba ok; trade promotes friendship
Q: Here in Florida, charter flights from Ft. Lauderdale to Havana, Cuba, have resumed. Is there a problem with that? And what are your thoughts on U.S.-Cuba policy?JOHNSON: With regard to flights to Cuba, I'm in favor of the whole
notion that trade promotes friendship, as opposed to not. So I would be inclined to looking at establishing or supporting those kinds of flights.
BACHMANN: We would never have flights between the United States and Cuba. It's a state sponsor of terror.
Source: 2011 GOP Google debate in Orlando FL
, Sep 22, 2011
Act in US self-interest, but wary of unintended consequences
Q: What is your criteria for foreign policy?A: I think we should act in our self-interest. As I understand it, I think Eisenhower was a pretty good role model for that. Morally, you can justify almost anything we do by saying that we're doing it for
the sake of others. I would point to past realities that have unintended consequences. For example, by taking out [the secular regime in] Iraq, we removed a threat to [the religious totalitarian regime] Iran.
Source: Interview by Scott Holleran on scottholleran.com blog
, Aug 21, 2011
Page last updated: Oct 17, 2012