Survey of 2016 Presidential campaign websites: on War & Peace
Darrell Castle:
I don't see why it's any of our business who runs Syria
Q: What is your position on the War on Terrorism?A: I don't like war in general, having experienced it firsthand when I served in the military. There's nothing glorious about war. It's hard to fight a war on terrorism if your borders are wide open.
We need to secure our borders before we talk about going after the terrorists overseas. I don't see why it's any of our business who runs Syria.
If there were no war in Syria, there'd be no Muslim refugees from Syria. Of course, as president I'd have to talk to all 16 directors of the various
intelligence agencies to fully understand the threats, and make policy decisions accordingly. But in general, I favor the policy of nonintervention in foreign affairs, just as the Founders did.
Source: 2016 Presidential campaign website castle2016.com
Oct 9, 2016
Ajamu Baraka:
U.S. complicity created Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan
There is a context--no matter how painful to admit--of U.S. and Western complicity in creating the very forces that now terrorize the imagination of publics in the West. Just a cursory glance of that sordid history reveals the baselessness of the
assumption of innocence that makes up the dominate narrative being pushed by the corporate press.President Carter's strategy [created] the "Soviet Union's Vietnam" by bogging it down militarily in Afghanistan with the an international corps of
right-wing Islamists ready to fight the godless Soviets. The Mujahedeen performed marvelously, destroying a secular nationalist government with Marxist leanings and plunging the nation into the chaos that led to the establishment of the Taliban and
al-Qaeda.
These kinds of cynical calculations have always been a cornerstone of colonial "divide and rule" politics. However, the religious fervor and commitment of these Islamic elements could not be turned on and off.
Source: 2016 vice-presidential campaign website, AjamuBaraka.com
Jul 6, 2016
Ajamu Baraka:
CIA training & equipment created ISIS in Syria & Iraq
With the CIA fully involved in training and equipping what was referred to as the "rebel" forces, the Administration didn't appear to be too concerned when ISIS broke off from al-Qaeda and began to establish its own independent economic base once it
captured the oil fields in Syria. It all seemed like part of the plan, especially when it became clear that NATO member Turkey was being used to get the Syrian oil to world markets.But this strategy turned into disaster when ISIS double-crossed their
benefactors by breaking the rules and attacking the "good Kurds" in Iraq. The strategy appeared to be more concerned with holding territory in Iraq and Syria than carrying out their assignment to overthrow the Assad government and completing the
dismemberment of the Syrian state--the strategic objective of U.S. and Israeli policy to counter the regional power of the Iranians. This "blowback" theory is controversial.
Source: 2016 vice-presidential campaign website, AjamuBaraka.com
Jul 6, 2016
Jill Stein:
We have killed millions of civilians in our war for oil
This year's Pentagon budget is roughly $600 billion. "Much of what we spend our military budget on is morally wrong. We have killed and destroyed the lives of millions of civilians in our war for oil. We routinely invest American tax dollars in propping
up governments and dictators that systematically violate the human rights of their own citizens," noted Stein. Stein also condemned the escalation of the use of drones under the Obama administration that have killed an untold number of civilians.
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website, Jill2016.com
Apr 18, 2016
Ted Cruz:
U.S.-Israel alliance is a strategic bedrock
We must make clear to the world that the U.S.-Israel alliance is once again a strategic bedrock for the United States.- America's security is significantly enhanced by a strong Israel. Israel has been, is, and always will be the Middle East bulwark
in defense of the West.
- A Cruz administration will on day one recognize Jerusalem as the eternal, undivided capital of Israel and the US embassy will be moved to Israel's capital city.
- A Cruz administration will continue to support
Israel's regional qualitative military edge and make sure that Israel has everything it needs to defend itself.
- We should strengthen our partnership with Israel by supporting cooperative efforts such as missile defense to counter terrorism.
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A President Cruz will immediately reassess US policy towards the Palestinian Authority. Not one penny of American tax dollars should go to an organization that incites hatred against Jews and seeks to partner with the terrorist group Hamas.
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website TedCruz.org
Mar 15, 2016
Lawrence Lessig:
No US ground troops in Syria; but create safe zones
I recognize the frustration that many feel about Syria. After a decade, things are no better than they were. And given Russia's involvement, that will not change anytime soon. But we cannot ignore the incredible instability Syria is bringing to the
region. Eleven million Syrians are displaced and effectively refugees. That fact will put enormous pressure on the region and Europe. And we cannot simply ignore that fact and hope it goes away.
I do not now support sending ground troops to Syria. But I do believe we must act with allies to secure at least humanitarian ends. I would support a policy like that which protected the Kurds.
The topography of Syria will make that policy more difficult than it was in Kurdistan, but it could be effective nonetheless. There need to be safe zones in Syria. We need to work with allies to secure them now.
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website Lessig2016.us, `Issues`
Oct 29, 2015
Lawrence Lessig:
Vigorously support nuclear agreement with Iran
As President, I would vigorously support [President Obama's nuclear] agreement with Iran. We must exercise a cautious skepticism of course, but we must also recognize that across history, such is always how peace begins. We have fundamental disagreements
with Iran. We cannot tolerate the exporting of terrorism, and we must remain committed to defending the Israeli people. But this first step is an historic achievement. We should celebrate it, and work to make it succeed.
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website Lessig2016.us, `Issues`
Oct 29, 2015
Lawrence Lessig:
Work with Sunnis and Iraq against ISIS
I don't believe ISIS is like Al-Qaeda. ISIS has engaged in horrific and criminal acts to recruit. But its ultimate objective is not to challenge us. Its objective is to achieve a dominant position in the region. Our strategy must be to work with the
Sunnis & Iraq, to give the Sunnis a reason to support the Iraqi government against ISIS. I fear Iraq is looking elsewhere to build this anti-ISIS coalition. We need to move quickly to avoid an alliance that will only create more instability in the future
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website Lessig2016.us, `Issues`
Oct 29, 2015
Lawrence Lessig:
Maintain 5,500 or more US troops in Afghanistan
I support the President's decision to maintain a small number of troops in Afghanistan. It may be that number should be higher than just 5,500. Those troops are not engaged in combat. They are only providing essential support. I fear that too hasty a
retreat would bring to naught the sacrifices of so many Americans in that war. Obama made a commitment to get us out. But he is acting as a statesman, recognizing that rational policy doesn't necessarily track the life of an American administration.
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website Lessig2016.us, `Issues`
Oct 29, 2015
Lincoln Chafee:
Averse to foreign entanglements, including Iraq
Aversion to Foreign Entanglements: Only 23 of 100 Senators saw the folly of allowing Bush/Cheney to invade Iraq. I am very proud to be one of the 23.
The tragedies of the Iraq War are manifold; lost and injured lives, hundreds of billions of squandered tax dollars, the difficulty of providing just and proper care for our brave veterans, but maybe the most tragic, the loss of American credibility.
I commit to the repair needed to all the harm done. Our credibility will be restored when we respect our world partners and truly listen when they speak.
In a world of nuclear weapons, the United States must make international decisions with brains and not biceps.
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website Chafee2016.com
Jun 4, 2015
George Pataki:
Make sure Iran never has a nuclear weapon
Allies and friends of America must know that our word is our bond. We will stand with our ally Israel, a democracy on the front lines of terror and barbarism. We will stand with our allies in NATO and the free Baltic states against a resurgent Russia.
We will make sure the number one sponsor of state terror in the world, Iran, never has a nuclear weapon. We will provide whatever aid necessary to those already fighting ISIS on the ground to stop their barbarism and inhumanity.
And yes, if necessary American force will be used to actually defeat and destroy ISIS, so they can pose no threat to us here.
We will not spend a trillion dollars or a decade nation building overseas.
But, I will never forget the lesson of September 11th. We will destroy radical Islam's ability to attack us over there, before they have the chance to attack us here.
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website: Announcement speech
May 28, 2015
Rick Santorum:
We cannot allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon
Rick served eight years on the Senate Armed Services Committee where he led the fight before the attacks of September 11, 2001 to transform our military from a Cold War force to meet today's threats. He was a leader on US-Israeli relations, authoring
both the "Syria Accountability Act" and the "Iran Freedom and Support Act" which he successfully fought to pass in spite of initial opposition by President Bush. Rick firmly believes that we cannot allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website RickSantorum.com, "About"
May 27, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 09, 2018