Lamar Alexander on Foreign Policy

Republican Sr Senator (TN); previously candidate for President

Supports strategic alliance with Israel

Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East, and Israel with the United States stand together in the fight against terror and the protection of individual’s rights against our collective enemies. The despicable acts of September 11th strengthen the already close and collaborative relationship Israel and the U.S. share.

I support and encourage the United States government’s continued strategic alliances with Israel which jointly benefit both nations. Projects such as the Arrow Missile Defense System and the Tactical High Energy Laser project are excellent examples of how allies can work together with common goals. In addition, I support a collaborative effort between Israel and the United States in joint anti-terrorism strategies and intelligence gathering.

Source: Campaign web site, www.AlexanderForSenate.com, “Agenda” , May 27, 2002

No US military action under UN command

We need a President who will stop the free fall in defense spending. We need a President who knows that you never point the gun unless you are prepared to pull the trigger. We need a President who will never send our armed forces into battle under United Nations command. We need a President who understands that we are the number one superpower, but we should never become involved in anyone else’s civil war unless we are prepared to commit more than sufficient forces to pick one side to win that war. Source: [X-ref Defense] p.312 , Aug 12, 1995

Blue-ribbon commission to investigate China spying

[Regarding the Cox Report,] Lamar Alexander has called for an independent, blue-ribbon commission to “get to the bottom of the current China mess.” Source: Associated Press, “Republicans on China”, by K. Srinivasan , May 26, 1999

Voted YES on cooperating with India as a nuclear power.

Congressional Summary:US-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act:

Approves the US-India Agreement for Cooperation on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.
Declares that it is US policy to prevent the transfer to India of nuclear equipment, materials, or technology from other participating governments in the Nuclear Suppliers Group or from any other source; and
any nuclear power reactor fuel reserve provided to India for use in safeguarded civilian nuclear facilities should be commensurate with reasonable reactor operating requirements.

Proponent's argument to vote Yes:Rep. HOWARD BERMAN (D, CA-28): Integrating India into a global nonproliferation regime is a positive step. Before anyone gets too sanctimonious about India's nuclear weapons program, we should acknowledge that the five recognized nuclear weapons states have not done nearly enough to fulfill their commitments under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, including making serious reductions in their own arsenals, nor in the case of the US in ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Opponent's argument to vote No:Rep. BARBARA LEE (D, CA-9): In withholding my approval, I seek not to penalize the people of India but, rather, to affirm the principle of nuclear nonproliferation. Jettisoning adherence to the international nuclear nonproliferation framework that has served the world so well for more than 30 years, as approval of the agreement before us would do, is just simply unwise. It is also reckless.

Approval of this agreement undermines our efforts to dissuade countries like Iran and North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. By approving this agreement, all we are doing is creating incentives for other countries to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Reference: US-India Nuclear Agreement; Bill HR.7081 ; vote number 2008-S211 on Oct 1, 2008

Monitor human rights in Uganda-Sudan crisis.

Alexander sponsored the Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act

support efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in northern and eastern Uganda;
work with the Government of Uganda and the international community to make available sufficient resources to meet the relief and development needs of the towns and cities that are supporting large numbers of displaced people;
urge the leaders and members of the Lord's Resistance Army to stop the abduction of children, and urge all armed forces in Uganda to stop the use of child soldiers, and seek the release of all individuals who have been abducted;
urge the Government of Uganda to improve the professionalism of Ugandan military personnel currently stationed in northern and eastern Uganda, with an emphasis on respect for human rights and civilian protection;
work with the international community to assist and increase the capacity of Ugandan civil institutions to monitor the human rights situation in northern Uganda;
make clear that the relationship between Sudan and the United States cannot improve unless no credible evidence indicates that authorities of the Government of Sudan are providing support to the Lord's Resistance Army.

Became Public Law No: 108-283. Source: Bill sponsored by 9 Senators 04-S2264 on Mar 31, 2004

Rated 0 by AAI, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record.

Alexander scores 0 by AAI on Arab-Israeli issues

The Arab American Institute has compiled a Scorecard to catalogue the voting record of the 112th Congress on issues of importance to the Arab American community. Though not comprehensive, we have attempted to provide a snapshot of legislation concerning many of the primary issues concerning Arab Americans. For the Senate, we have included 10 items: two bills on the Arab Spring, three on Palestine, one on Lebanon, one regarding civil liberties, and two for immigration reform.

S. Res. 44: (+) calls on former President Hosni Mubarak to immediately begin a peaceful transition to a democratic political system
S. Res. 109: (+) honoring and supporting women in North Africa and the Middle East
S. Res. 138: (-) calling on the United Nations to rescind the Goldstone report, formally known as the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which accused the Israeli government of targeting Palestinian civilians.
S. Res. 185: (-) reaffirming the commitment of the US to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and calling for a US veto of any UN resolution on Palestinian statehood without a settlement.
S. Con. Res. 23: (-) supporting Israel in maintaining defensible borders, and against Israel returning to the armistice lines that existed on June 4, 1967
S. 558: (+) the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act, to limit the use of cluster munitions in areas normally inhabited by civilians.
S. 1125: (+) greater judicial review of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and greater protections to individuals being monitored or gag-ordered by the FBI.
S.1038, the PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act, in opposition of PATRIOT Act extension.
S. 723: (-) The Birthright Citizenship Act, limiting citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants born in the US.
S. 952: (+) the DREAM Act, allowing undocumented minors to become US citizens, provided they meet certain conditions, including good moral character

Source: AAI website 12-AAI-S on May 2, 2012

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Page last updated: Apr 22, 2013