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Dennis Kucinich on Homeland Security
Democratic Representative (OH-10); Democratic Candidate for President
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Bush doctrine of preemption and unilateralism is wrong
Q: Terrorism wasn't on the agenda, was it, in the Congress during the previous administration? A: I wouldn't say it wasn't on the agenda. The Clinton administration handled its approach in a way that tried to create international cooperation.
Where the problem is today is that the Bush administration's doctrine is wrong. The doctrine of preemption led us into Iraq. The doctrine of unilateralism essentially led us into Iraq. The doctrine of first strike puts us at risk of expanding war.
Source: Democratic 2004 primary Debate in Greenville SC
Jan 29, 2004
Weapons in outer space and missile shields are DOD waste
Q: How do you insure national security if you cut the defense budget by 15%?KUCINICH: I'm the ranking Democrat on a Department of Defense investigative subcommittee. I know the kind of waste that goes on there. There's waste when you talk
about building weapons in outer space; waste when you talk about building new nuclear weapons; waste when you talk about building a missile shield that even those who have studied it know that there's been fraud involved in the development of it.
Source: Democratic 2004 Presidential Primary Debate in Iowa
Jan 4, 2004
Create domestic Dept. of Peace & make all war obsolete
Q: You have proposed changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of Peace, but in a world in which our enemies are willing to kill themselves to kill us, is it not better that we stand and fight?
KUCINICH: My proposal was to create a separate Department of Peace, which would work to make nonviolence an organizing principal in our society. When we contrast that with the purpose of the Department of Defense, that's to provide military force.
Now, I think that we have to have a commitment to work with the nations of the world to make war archaic so we won't need to send our men and women abroad in search of wars or to fight wars that they never should have had to fight in the first place.
Source: Democratic Presidential 2004 Primary Debate in Detroit
Oct 27, 2003
$550B defense budget implies more taxes
[We should all] make the connection between the rising deficit and the war in Iraq. Because unless we commit ourselves to get out of Iraq-get the UN in and get the US out-we're going to see rising deficits. Are we going to have tax cuts for the wealthy
and then ask people later on to increase their taxes? Are we going to have the Pentagon budget go to $550 billion within eight years and ask the people to pay more taxes? I think we have to reorder our priorities. It begins with getting out of Iraq.
Source: Debate at Pace University in Lower Manhattan
Sep 25, 2003
Cut defense budget by 15%, even if unpopular
Q: As president, what would be the least popular, most right thing you would do?KUCINICH: I would move to cut the Pentagon budget by 15%, which would in no way affect adversely our national defense, and put the money into child care.
And I would move to create a Department of Peace which would seek to make nonviolence an organizing principle in our society and to work with the nations of the world to make war itself archaic.
Source: Debate at Pace University in Lower Manhattan
Sep 25, 2003
End the ban on gays in military
End the ban on openly gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals serving in the US armed forces.
Source: Campaign website, www.Kucinich.us, "On The Issues"
Aug 1, 2003
Terminating ABM treaty was unconstitutional
Kucinich filed a lawsuit in federal district court to block the President from withdrawing from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972.
The President's termination of the ABM Treaty represents an unconstitutional repeal of a law duly enacted by Congress.
Source: Campaign website, www.Kucinich.us, "On The Issues"
Aug 1, 2003
Violence and war are not inevitable
Violence is not inevitable. War is not inevitable. Nonviolence and peace are inevitable. We can make of this world a gift of peace which will confirm the presence of universal spirit in our lives.
We can send into the future the gift which will protect our children from fear, from harm, from destruction.
Source: Campaign website, www.Kucinich.us, "On The Issues"
Aug 1, 2003
Confront the bloat and waste in Pentagon budget
The US military is the strongest in the world by far, and will remain so. But Democrats cannot lead the nation without being strong enough to confront the bloat and waste in the Pentagon budget. Our military budget is almost as big as that of
all other countries combined. I don't agree with other Democrats that we can continue to increase military spending, and still deliver on our domestic agenda for middle class and working Americans. We can't. That's voodoo budgeting.
Source: Campaign website, www.Kucinich.us, "On The Issues"
Aug 1, 2003
Hometown Security: social spending instead of military
I plan to make a major issue of hometown security -- healthcare, jobs and education for all -- and misspent Pentagon dollars, even as other Democratic candidates join President Bush in pressing for still more exorbitant military budgets.
Source: Campaign website, www.Kucinich.us, "On The Issues"
Aug 1, 2003
Abide by Non-Proliferation, ABM, and Test Ban Treaties
We must abide by the principles of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, stop the development of new nuclear weapons, take all nuclear weapons systems off alert, and persist towards total, worldwide elimination of all nuclear weapons.
Our nation must revive the Anti Ballistic Missile treaty, sign and enforce the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, abandon plans to build a so-called missile shield, and prohibit the introduction of weapons into outer space.
Source: Campaign website, www.Kucinich.us, "On The Issues"
Aug 1, 2003
Bush's foreign policy of preemption is destabilizing
KUCINICH [to Lieberman]: You and Dick Gephardt were two of the biggest supporters of President Bush's war against Iraq. You both endorsed his proposal for unilateral first strike. The president's ever-changing reasons for going to war have not been
justified by the evidence. Now how can we as Democrats win this election if we simply rubber stamp this president's destabilizing foreign policy of preemption, and nuclear first-strike, without offering a serious alternative?
LIEBERMAN: I'd say how can we win this election if we send a message of weakness on defense and security after September 11, 2001? Protecting the American people's security, giving them a sense of safety, making sure people in this country
are not worried when their loved ones go out to the mall, or take a train, go to a movie theater--that is the first goal of our government, and that means being strong on defense and homeland security.
Source: [X-ref to Lieberman] Democratic Debate in Columbia SC
May 3, 2003
Abandon plans for a missile shield
At this moment of peril we must move away from fear's paralysis. This is a call to action to replace expanded war with expanded peace. We must demand that our nation and all nations:-
Abide by the principles of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- Stop the development of new nuclear weapons.
- Take all nuclear weapons systems off alert.
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Persist towards total, worldwide elimination of all nuclear weapons.
Our nation must:- Revive the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
- Sign and enforce the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
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Abandon plans to build a so-called missile shield.
- Prohibit the introduction of weapons into outer space.
Source: Speech on House floor, in Prayer for America, p. 88-89
Mar 20, 2002
We did not authorize a permanent war economy
We did not authorize a permanent war economy. Yet we are upon the threshold of a permanent war economy. The president has requested a $45.6 billion increase in military spending. All defense-related programs will cost close to $400 billion.
Consider that the Department of Defense has never passed an independent audit. Yet the defense budget grows with more money for weapons systems to fight a cold war which ended, weapons systems in search of new enemies to create new wars.
This has nothing to do with fighting terror.
This has everything to do with fueling a military industrial machine with the treasure of our nation, risking the future of our nation,
risking democracy itself with the militarization of thought which follows the militarization of the budget.
Let us pray for our children. Our children deserve a world without end. Not a war without end.
Source: Speech to the So. Cal. ADA, in Prayer for America, p. 16-17
Feb 17, 2002
Voted NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan.
Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2003: Vote to pass the bill that would supply $77.9 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations in fiscal 2003, including $62.5 billion for military operations in Iraq and the war on terrorism. The bill would also provide for $4.2 billion for homeland security, $8 billion in aid to allies and for Iraqi relief and rebuilding; $3.2 billion for U.S. airlines to cover additional security costs; and $1 billion in aid to Turkey.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Young, R-FL;
Bill HR 1559
; vote number 2003-108
on Apr 3, 2003
Voted NO on permitting commercial airline pilots to carry guns.
Armed Airline Pilots Bill: Vote to pass a bill that would create a program where commercial pilots would be deputized as federal law enforcement officers and would then be permitted to carry guns aboard airlines. To participate in the program, commercial pilots would have to undergo specialized training. At least 250 commercial pilots would undergo the training. Within two months of the bill's enactment, the Transportation Security Agency or TSA, would then be required to begin weapons training for pilots who had volunteered for the program. Airlines and pilots will not be held legally accountable when defending planes from terrorist acts except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence The TSA could temporarily put the program on hold if a pilot's gun unintentionally discharges and causes injury to a crew member or passanger. The bill also would entail flight attendants to undergo self-defense training. Also study training all federal law enforcement officers on aviation anti-terrorism.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Young, R-FL;
Bill HR 4635
; vote number 2002-292
on Jul 10, 2002
Voted NO on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill.
Vote to pass a bill appropriating $266 billion in defense spending for FY 2000. Among other provisions the bill would allot $1.2 billion for research and development for next-generation tactical aircraft, yet would not include $1.8 billion in procurement funds for the new F-22 Raptor combat aircraft. The bill would also fund a 4.8 percent pay increase for military personnel. The bill would also allot $93.7 billion for operations and maintenance to be used to maintain military properties and spare parts that have been reduced due to overseas military combat missions.
Reference: Bill introduced by Lewis, R-CA;
Bill HR 2561
; vote number 1999-334
on Jul 22, 1999
Voted NO on deploying SDI.
Vote to declare it to be the policy of the United States to deploy a national missile defense.
Reference: Bill introduced by Weldon, R-PA;
Bill HR 4
; vote number 1999-4
on Mar 18, 1999
Take US nuclear missiles off high alert.
Kucinich sponsored the MX Missile Stand-Down Act:
Title: To take the 50 Peacekeeper (MX) missiles off of high-alert status.
- Requires the Secretary of Defense, during FY 2002, to remove the warheads from the 50 Peacekeeper (MX) intercontinental ballistic missiles.
- Urges the Secretary to take measures to lengthen the time for launch of U.S. nuclear weapons while remaining consistent with national security.
- Requires an annual report from the Secretary on the inventory of Russian nuclear forces, their alert status, and the condition of Russian early-warning systems.
Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR2718 on Aug 2, 2001
End the use of anti-personnel mines.
Kucinich sponsored the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act:
Expresses the sense of Congress that: - the Department of Defense should field currently available weapons and other technologies, and use tactics and operational concepts, that provide suitable alternatives to anti-personnel mines and mixed anti-tank mine systems; and
- the United States should end its use of such mines and join the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.
- Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to make permanent (currently terminates on October 23, 2003) the prohibition on the transfer of anti-personnel landmines.
- Directs the President to establish an interagency working group to develop a comprehensive plan for expanded mine action programs, including victim rehabilitation, social support, and economic reintegration.
Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR948 on Mar 8, 2001
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record.
Kucinich scores 100% by SANE on peace issues
Peace Action, the merger of The Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE) and The Freeze, has effectively mobilized for peace and disarmament for over forty years. As the nation's largest grassroots peace group we get results: from the 1963 treaty to ban above ground nuclear testing, to the 1996 signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, from ending the war in Vietnam, to blocking weapons sales to human rights abusing countries. We are proof that ordinary people can change the world. At Peace Action we believe...
- That every person has the right to live without the threat of nuclear weapons.
- That war is not a suitable response to conflict.
- That America has the resources to both protect and provide for its citizens.
As the Pentagon’s budget soars to $400 billion, 17% of American children live in poverty. For what the US will spend on Missile Defense in one year we could: put over a million children through Head Start OR provide healthcare for over 3.5 million children OR create over 100,000 units of affordable housing OR hire over 160,000 elementary school teachers. At Peace Action our priorities are clear.The ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
Source: SANE website 03n-SANE on Dec 31, 2003