Interviews during 2017-2019: on Foreign Policy
Kanye West:
Praises Mideast peace treaties; expects Israel-Saudi next
West appears to support [Trump's son-in-law Jared] Kushner's work for the Trump administration, tweeting on Tuesday, "Jared Kushner will have done more for peace in the Middle East than anyone in 30 years," [regarding the normalization of relations
between Israel-UAE and Israel-Bahrain]. West tweeted alongside a news alert that read, "AFP: President Trump expects Saudi Arabia will join move to recognize Israel."
Source: New York Post on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Sep 16, 2020
Gloria La Riva:
Demands an end of U.S. aid to the state of Israel
U.S. imperialism has created a massive arsenal of economic and political weapons that comprise what is more accurately called "Blockade.""Embargo" does not begin to describe what Washington heaped on Cuba, causing $1.2 trillion in economic damages.
In all these years, Cuba never surrendered. Despite the harsh blows caused by the U.S. financial, commercial and trade blockade, Cuba has survived precisely because of socialism and the overwhelming support of the people.
We express our full solidarity with the people of Palestine, and the various ongoing movements to bring mass attention to their struggle for emancipation, such as the international call for BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions).
My campaign calls for no annexation and supports true self-determination for the Palestinian people including the right of return to their stolen homeland for all Palestinian refugees.
Source: Liberation News blog on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Jul 15, 2020
Howie Hawkins:
Self-determination for Kurdish people
The Kurdish people are the largest ethnic group in the world that is without an independent state. As a result, Kurdish people have historically suffered persecution and injustice. The Kurdish people have been besieged to the point of a current
humanitarian crisis in towns such as Kobani, Syria. The GPUS expresses solidarity for and affirms the right to self-determination, self-defense, communal autonomy, freedom from persecution, and release of political prisoners for the Kurdish population.
Source: Green Party Platform adopted by 2020 presidential hopeful
Jul 12, 2020
Howie Hawkins:
Supports a Palestinian right of return, and a single state
- We reaffirm the right and feasibility of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in Israel.
- We acknowledge the significant challenges of equity and restitution this policy would encounter and call on the
U.S. government to make resolution of these challenges a central goal of our diplomacy in the region.
-
We support a U.S. foreign policy that promotes the creation of one secular, democratic state for Palestinians and Israelis on the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the River Jordan as the national home of both peoples, with
Jerusalem as its capital.
- We encourage a new U.S. diplomatic initiative to begin the long process of negotiation, laying the groundwork for such a single-state constitution.
Source: Green Party Platform adopted by 2020 presidential hopeful
Jul 12, 2020
Howie Hawkins:
Member of the community of nations; not above it
We strongly feel that our country should view itself as a member of the community of nations... not above it.
The United States could well play a leadership role in that community but only if we become committed to an eco-social vision of peace, national self-determination, and international cooperation.
Source: Green Party Platform adopted by 2020 presidential hopeful
Jul 12, 2020
Don Blankenship:
NATO serves no US defense purpose; we should withdraw
The United States is committed by treaty to defend foreign nations in all parts of the world, and by agreements other than treaties to defend more. We call upon the President, and Congress, to immediately commence a systematic
withdrawal from these treaties and agreements, each of which holds the potential to plunge America into war in some far-flung corner of the earth. NATO serves no defensive purpose for the United States, and this country should withdraw from it.
Source: Constitution Platform adopted by 2020 presidential hopeful
May 2, 2020
Justin Amash:
We need to be engaged with the world
We need to be engaged with the world, but that doesn't mean we have to be at war throughout the world. It would be a mistake for the US to retreat from the world in the sense of not talking or engaging with other countries.
If we don't have that engagement, if we don't have trade with other countries as well, you will have countries like China come in and take advantage of the situation and potentially present a threat to us down the road.
Source: Reason magazine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 1, 2020
Tom Steyer:
America's brand in the world our most important protection
America's brand in the world is the most important protection we have. That even when we are not getting along with an Iranian regime or we're not getting along with Vladimir Putin, the point is that the people around the world know that we stand for
what is right, and that was true when President Obama was the president, is that around the world it didn't matter if we were disagreeing with the Iranian regime, everybody in the world knew we stood for what is right.
Source: CNN SOTU 2020 interview of presidential hopefuls
Jan 12, 2020
Joe Walsh:
Steadfastly support NATO
Walsh says he would steadfastly support the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which Trump has repeatedly criticized. Walsh claims that Trump "bear hugs" the leaders of adversarial states such as Russia and North Korea while he "stiff-arms our
allies."Walsh emphasizes the benefits of traditional U.S. alliances and criticizes President Trump for undermining long-standing relationships. Walsh says Trump "embarrasses our allies" and "embraces tyrants abroad."
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Dec 24, 2019
Donald Trump:
Refuses to consider mass killings of Armenians as genocide
The Trump administration does not consider the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 to be genocide, rejecting votes in Congress. Mr. Trump said the US paid tribute to the victims of "one of the worst mass atrocities of the
20th century", but he did not use the word genocide. Instead he encouraged Armenians and Turks to "acknowledge and reckon with their painful history."
Source: BBC.com on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Dec 17, 2019
Bill Weld:
China promised two systems for Hong Kong; we're watching
Q: How should China's treatment of the Uighurs and the situation in Hong Kong affect broader U.S. policy toward China?A: China's behavior should be a wake-up call for the United States, its allies, friends, and partners. While the US can and must do
business with China, it can have no illusions about the type of state China is and about its ambitions. It also needs to be clear that it will not accept China continuing to follow the old line, "we're big, you're small. What don't you understand?"
It is not acceptable in the 21st century. China should have no doubt that the world knows what it is doing, and is watching. China promised the peoples of Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the world, at the 1997 handover ceremony which I attended in
Hong Kong, that there would be and could be two systems in a single country. If China takes a punitive approach, China will demonstrate that its political word is suspect. The implications for Taiwan, a real Chinese democracy, are ominous.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Oct 3, 2019
Bill Weld:
Support democracy, the rule of law, and prosperity in Africa
Q: By 2050, Africa will account for 25% of the world's population. What are the implications of this demographic change for the U.S., and how should we adjust our policies to anticipate them?A: We should be thrilled that a continent that was
historically underdeveloped and a playground for outside powers is finally growing in wealth as well as population and able to make its voice heard on the world stage. And we should be forging relationships with African countries to support democracy,
the rule of law, and prosperity. In some countries, the Catholic Church could be helpful to our efforts. Right now we are getting our brains beat in by China in courting African nations, because we simply don't make it a high enough priority. In my
Administration, the Secretary of State for African Affairs would have my ear. On security matters, we and our allies need to continue to help Africa fight terrorists. Al Qaeda offshoots pose a threat to the entire continent, not just the sub-Sahara.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Oct 3, 2019
Bill Weld:
Multi-party talks to resolve Venezuelan situation
Q: What additional steps should the U.S. take to remove Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela?A: We have to go through Cuba, China and Russia to rationalize the situation in Venezuela. Most of the top decision makers there are Cuban, which has
hollowed out Venezuela's government, & the spillover into our ally Colombia has been dramatic. I would propose multi-party talks, in which the dynamic new Pres. Duque of Colombia, who greatly impressed me recently in Cartagena, could perhaps play a role.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Oct 3, 2019
Gloria La Riva:
Won Cuba's Friendship Medal for opposing US blockade
Gloria has worked for decades to defend Cuba's sovereignty and against the U.S. blockade. She was awarded Cuba's Friendship Medal in 2010, approved by the Council of State, for her many years of Cuba solidarity, and was the coordinator of the
National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, Cuban heroes unjustly imprisoned in the U.S. for defending Cuba from U.S.-sponsored terrorism.
Source: Liberation News on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Sep 29, 2019
Bill Weld:
Foreign-owned debt poses national security problem
Well, it's going to be a drag, not just on the economy, but on our national security. Because we're effectively relying on other countries to buy our treasury bills to, you know, get us out of this terrible deficit position we're in or to forestall the
United States going into bankruptcy. And that's economics 101. And so it's just very much against the economic interest of the American people to keep going in this direction. And everybody who thinks about it knows it.
Source: Meet the Press interview for 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Aug 25, 2019
Donald Trump:
Postpone meeting with Denmark if no Greenland discussion
Months before President Donald Trump expressed an interest in buying Greenland, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) said he suggested the idea to the President and met with the Danish ambassador to propose the sale of the large land mass to the U.S.Greenland,
owned by the European nation of Denmark, has a population of just over 56,000 on the 836,300 square mile island. The primary U.S. military base on Greenland is Thule Air Base, home to the 21st Space Wing's global network of sensors providing missile
warning to NORAD's Air Force Space Command.
However, the deal is not likely to soon happen. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the idea "absurd." Trump responded by canceling a planned state visit to Denmark.
"Denmark is a very special
country with incredible people, but based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time," Trump tweeted.
Source: TalkBusiness.net on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Aug 21, 2019
Donald Trump:
Buying Greenland is strategically interesting
Amid reported interest for buying Greenland, Trump said, "Denmark essentially owns it. We're very good allies with Denmark. We protect Denmark like we protect large portions of the world." Trump added, "Strategically, it's interesting, and we'd be
interested, but we'll talk to them a little bit. It's not number one on the burner." Trump has reportedly mulled attempting to buy the largest island in the world that is home to more than 50,000 people from Denmark, though no official inquiries have
been made yet.Trump compared buying the territory from Denmark to a "large real estate deal." He said, "A lot of things could be done. It's hurting Denmark very badly because they're losing almost $700 million a year carrying it. So they carry it at
a great loss. And strategically for the United States, it would be nice."
Greenland's foreign minister responded to the reports saying the territory is "open for business, but we're not for sale." The U.S. does currently have an airbase on the island.
Source: The Hill e-zine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Aug 18, 2019
Joe Sestak:
Restore U.S. status abroad; protect American dream at home
Sestak said in a press release on his campaign website, "What Americans most want today is someone who is accountable to them, above self, above party, above any special interest. A President who has the depth of global experience to restore
America's leadership in the world to protect our American Dream at home, and one who is trusted to restructure policies where too many see only the growth of inequity not of the economy,"
Source: The Hill e-zine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Jun 23, 2019
Bernie Sanders:
Even-handed Mideast policy; open to moving Jerusalem embassy
Q: Would you move embassy out of Jerusalem, if you thought it was a way to get a peace deal?A: I can't give you a definitive answer, but yeah. Whether it is Iran and Saudi Arabia, whether it is Israel and the Palestinians, the
United States needs to bring people together, needs an even handed policy. We'll take that one step at a time. We are the most-powerful country on Earth. Let's bring people together and try to bring peace.
Source: Meet the Press 2019 interview of 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 19, 2019
Bernie Sanders:
Must support human rights, even with trading partners
Q: What about relations abroad?A: Donald Trump supports authoritarian governments all over the world. I believe we have to support democracy and human rights. I think we have to deal with trade issues. But I think it should be known
that we cannot allow -- we have to stand up and oppose, governments that are doing terrible things to minorities.
Q: Are humanitarian reasons enough to use military force?
A: It depends. Obviously, you have to look at case by case.
Source: Meet the Press 2019 interview of 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 19, 2019
Julian Castro:
21st century Marshall Plan for Central and Latin America
We need a 21st century Marshall Plan for Central and Latin America, because the problem is that folks can't find safety and opportunity in Honduras or El Salvador or Guatemala [the "Northern Triangle" which is the source of most refugees top the U.S.].
If we can partner with those countries so that people can find safety and opportunity there, instead of having to come and knock on the door of the United States, you know, that's what they want. That is going to be better for those countries.
Source: CNN Town Hall: 2020 presidential hopefuls
Apr 11, 2019
Julian Castro:
Rebuild alliances & reclaim role as world leader
I would repair the damage that this president has done to alliances around the world that have helped keep us safer. My first order of business would be to make sure that we repair those alliances. The country has a role to lead for the values that we
believe in, for freedom, democracy, and opportunity. That doesn't mean that we entangle ourselves in wars. However, we need to reclaim our role as the world leader in standing up for things like human rights around the world.
Source: CNN Town Hall: 2020 presidential hopefuls
Apr 11, 2019
Donald Trump:
Support goals of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
As president, Trump has: - reversed U.S. policy and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau that Israel seized from Syria after the Six-Day War of 1967.
- recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved the
U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv.,
- eliminated hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians and closed their representative office in Washington.
- ended the decades-long U.S. practice of opposing Israeli settlement activity in the
West Bank in what would be the core of a future Palestinian state.
- withdrawn from the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had fiercely opposed, and re-imposed stringent new sanctions on the country that
Israel regards as an existential threat.
- pulled the U.S. out of several U.N. organizations, the U.N. Human Rights Council and UNESCO, citing anti-Israel bias in their agendas.
Source: PBS Newshour, "Jewish voters," on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Apr 6, 2019
Joe Biden:
Work with NATO, with U.S. as the indispensable leader
- He accuses Trump of abandoning U.S. global leadership and wants to see the U.S. regain its place as the "indispensable leader of the free world."
- While Biden emphasizes diplomacy, he favors the NATO alliance so that "when we
have to fight, we are not fighting alone."
- Biden sponsored the McCain-Biden Kosovo Resolution, which authorized the U.S. to lead the NATO assault on Yugoslavia and invasion of Kosovo in 1999.
Source: Truthout.org, "War and Peace," on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Mar 27, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Use diplomatic strategies in Venezuela, not military
The situation in Venezuela is highly disturbing. I think the Maduro regime has lost its legitimacy. That doesn't mean we carelessly threaten military force. To the extent that sanctions can be targeted and focused on trying to bring about free and fair
elections so that there can be self-determination by the Venezuelan people, that puts in a government that has legitimacy, then we should do our part not through force, but through the diplomatic toolkit to try to bring that outcome about.
Source: CNN Town Hall: back-to-back 2020 presidential hopefuls
Mar 10, 2019
John Hickenlooper:
Supports a strong NATO, strengthening ties with allies
- Supports a strong NATO, strengthening ties with allies.
- The former governor has been an outspoken critic of Trump's foreign policy, especially when it comes to America's allies and world leadership.
-
Hickenlooper recently addressed the Munich Security Conference in Germany, and stressed the importance of the NATO alliance and global trade.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Mar 4, 2019
Jay Inslee:
Welcome Syrian refugees
Inslee supports refugees' rights, and has focused on people displaced by the conflict in Syria. Inslee wrote a letter to the State Department last year after
U.S. airstrikes in Syria in which he criticized the Trump administration's restrictive refugee policies.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Mar 1, 2019
Joe Biden:
US can't do it alone: stay engaged in the world
Biden discussed how it's important to reassert the U.S.' commitment to the world. "Seventy percent of American people think we should stay engaged in the world," he said. "We're being told that somehow America wants to walk away, not from
our obligations but from our opportunities. Tell me, name me one consequential problem from global warming to the nuclear arms race that can be solved by us alone? Name me one."
Source: The Daily Pennsylvanian on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Feb 19, 2019
Amy Klobuchar:
Stand with our allies, invest in diplomacy
I believe that we must stand tall as a beacon of democracy, but I also believe that we must stand with our allies. We have to invest in diplomacy.
The other thing I'd mention is modernizing our military. Cyber is the next arena for warfare.
So working with our allies, investing in diplomacy, modernizing our military, and then taking on those big challenges that are in front of us.
I would list them as the Mideast, the challenge we have with climate change. And, of course, dealing with the nuclear threat that we have with North Korea as well as with Russia's continuing pushing at our country.
Source: CNN Town Hall: 2020 presidential hopefuls
Feb 18, 2019
Howard Schultz:
China is not an ally, but we need to work with them
I don't believe China is our ally. But I also do not believe China is our enemy. China is a fierce competitor of the United States. There are areas that are in our national interest to cooperate with China.
We need China's cooperation to help solve the problem of North Korea. We need China's cooperation specifically with lots of other nations, with regard to doing everything we can to solve the climate change issue.
Source: CNN Town Hall: 2020 presidential hopefuls
Feb 12, 2019
Cory Booker:
Re-examine relationship with Saudi Arabia
- A member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Booker has grown increasingly critical of the Trump administration's policy in Saudi Arabia, especially after the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
-
Booker believes it's time to "re-examine" the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia and previously voted against arms sales to the kingdom.
-
Booker has also criticized U.S. policy and airstrikes in Syria, and believes the 2001 military authorization passed by Congress after the 9/11 terror attacks should not be used to justify continued action in Syria.
-
Booker believes Trump's planned withdrawal of troops from Syria is "reckless and dangerous" but also voted against a Senate resolution that warned against a hasty withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Feb 1, 2019
Tulsi Gabbard:
Defends meeting Syria's Assad; supports Trump on North Korea
Q: You met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during that trip to Syria in 2017...A: It continues to be very important for any leader in this country to be willing to meet with others, whether they be friends or adversaries or potential
adversaries, if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country. It's why I have urged and continue to urge President Trump to meet with people like Kim Jong-un in North Korea, because we understand what's at stake here.
Source: CNN 2019 "State of the Union" on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Jan 20, 2019
John Kasich:
America First should not be America Alone
Kasich criticized President Trump over his rebuke of "globalism" during remarks at the United Nations, while taking a cue from Trump's 2016 Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. Kasich warned Trump that his policy of "America First"
could result in "America Alone." He added that the U.S. and other nations are "Stronger Together," a nod to Clinton's campaign slogan.
Trump told members of the U.N. General Assembly that his administration "reject[s] the ideology of globalism and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism."
Source: John Bowden in The Hill: 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Sep 26, 2018
John Kasich:
Cooperation and engagement instead of "Fortress America"
Although American leaders should always put American interests first, that does not mean that we have to build walls, close off markets, or isolate the United States by acting in ways that alienate our allies. Continuing to do that will not insulate us
from external challenges; it will simply turn us into bystanders with less and less influence.I choose cooperation and engagement. Only those who have forgotten the lessons of history can credibly contend that peace and prosperity await us inside
"Fortress America." Yet the way forward is not to retreat but to renew our commitment to supporting those who share our values, to reboot our capacity to collaborate, and to forge a new consensus on how to adapt our policies and institutions to the
new era.
On challenge after challenge, we are better off working together than going it alone. To secure our economic future, we must prepare our workers for the future rather than retreat into protectionism.
Source: 2020 presidential hopeful Kasich column in Foreign Affairs
Jun 6, 2018
John Kasich:
China is converting economic power into regional influence
China wants to push the US out of the western Pacific, undermine our alliances in the region, and re-create a Sinocentric sphere of influence in Asia free from challenges to its authoritarian rule.Beijing is already seeking to convert its economic
power into regional influence through such projects as the Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure venture, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a rival to Western-led development banks.
Confounding our hopes and expectations,
China's regime has managed to deliver economic growth without being forced to democratize. But China is not 12 feet tall: its economy has serious structural flaws, including exceedingly high levels of debt, a cohort of retirees whose living expenses
will be difficult to fund, and wages that are increasingly uncompetitive with those paid by China's neighbors. Nor is China a monolith: like the U.S., the country is riven by rival factions, leading to infighting that diverts productive resources.
Source: 2020 presidential hopeful Kasich column in Foreign Affairs
Jun 6, 2018
John Kasich:
Opportunity to cooperate with China instead of containment
China does not need to be contained as the Soviet Union once did, since its provocative behavior is already driving some of its neighbors into our arms. Indeed, through its actions, Beijing can largely be counted on to contain itself.
Another difference between the rivalry with China today and that with the Soviet Union during the Cold War is that China and the United States are so economically intertwined. This means not only that the two countries will remain co-dependent for the
foreseeable future but also that relations between them need not be a zero-sum game. There are ample opportunities to pursue strategies with China that can adapt the world system to reflect Beijing's growing international role while benefiting both
sides. Those opportunities include reining in North Korea, addressing climate change, and promoting international investment and economic growth.
Source: 2020 presidential hopeful Kasich column in Foreign Affairs
Jun 6, 2018
Lindsey Graham:
Recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel
Sen. Lindsey Graham ripped the United Nations, dubbing the global body as weak and increasingly anti-semitic. "I don't mind the United Nations expressing displeasure with American foreign policy decisions through a non-binding vote of the General
Assembly," Graham said in a tweet referring to a UN resolution condemning U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.However, I do MIND sending American tax dollars to:- an inefficient UN,
- a weak UN in the face of evil,
- and a growing anti-semitic UN.
We will deal with these issues in 2018," he continued. Graham's comments come one day after 128 nations, including some of the U.S.'s most loyal allies, voted in favor of a resolution
condemning President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The senator has often been critical of the UN in the past.
Source: The Hill: coverage of 2020 presidential hopefuls
Dec 22, 2017
Tulsi Gabbard:
Skeptical of Iran nuclear deal
Gabbard told Fox News she was "cynical" toward the pact and agreed with host Greta van Susteren that it was akin to Neville Chamberlain's infamous Munich agreement with Hitler in 1938. On the day the agreement was finalized, she issued a statement
saying, "We cannot afford to make the same mistake with Iran that was made with North Korea," citing North Korea's abrogation of the Agreed Framework agreement it had signed in 1994.
Source: Jacobin Mag., "Not your friend": 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 27, 2017
Tulsi Gabbard:
Supports Egyptian dictator in fight against terrorism
In November 2015, she traveled to Egypt as part of a congressional delegation and met Egyptian dictator Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. "President el-Sisi has shown great courage and leadership in taking on this extreme Islamist ideology, while also fighting
against ISIS militarily to keep them from gaining a foothold in Egypt," Gabbard said, urging US political leaders to "recognize President el-Sisi and his leadership" and "stand with him in this fight against Islamic extremists."
Source: Jacobin Mag., "Not your friend": 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 27, 2017
Tulsi Gabbard:
Against criticizing India's treatment of Muslims
Gabbard voted against HR 417, which criticized India's record on religious violence and called for specific measures to guarantee religious freedom in the country, explaining that its passage wouldn't help US-India relations. Yet two years later,
Gabbard introduced a similar resolution that covered neighboring Muslim-majority Bangladesh, saying she was "particularly concerned over issues of religious freedom, and specifically, attacks against minority Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and others."
Source: Jacobin Mag., "Not your friend": 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 27, 2017
Tulsi Gabbard:
U.S. should focus on fighting terrorism, not regime change
Gabbard has long advocated that the U.S. should focus its efforts in Syria on Islamist groups instead of ousting Assad. She introduced legislation that would bar the U.S. government from supporting groups allied with or supporting terrorist
organizations, some of which are fighting against the Assad regime. Her views on Syria appear to align more closely with those of President Trump, who says the U.S. should focus its efforts on defeating ISIS.
Source: The Atlantic, "Gabbard to Syria": 2020 presidential hopefuls
Jan 31, 2017
Lincoln Chafee:
After Iraq war, we have to repair American credibility
We have to repair American credibility after we told the world that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, which he didn't. Any time someone is running to be our leader, and a world leader, which the American president is,
credibility is an issue out there with the world. And we have repair work to be done. I think we need someone that has the best in ethical standards as our next president.
Source: Vox.com e-zine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Oct 16, 2015
Lincoln Chafee:
Outspoken backer of Iran nuclear agreement
Chafee is an internationalist. He's not advocating for an isolationist approach. An outspoken backer of the Iran nuclear agreement and a supporter of broader diplomatic initiatives,
Chafee argues that the United States has a responsibility to work with international organizations to promote peace and justice in the Middle East and globally.
Source: The Nation magazine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Aug 20, 2015
Joe Walsh:
Two-state solution for Israel-Palestine failed for 64 years
It has been 64 years since the UN General Assembly approved the Partition Plan for Palestine and the struggle to implement a "two-state solution" began. Today, we are no closer to that end. That reminds me of the definition of insanity: doing the same
thing over and over again and expecting different results. By that definition, everyone who continues to cling to the delusion of a two-state solution is insane. There is no such thing as a two-state solution. It cannot work, it has not worked, and it
will not work.The Palestinians continue to fire rockets directly at innocent Israeli families and children, and they have betrayed the fundamental tenet of the two-state solution they tout by cutting Israel out of negotiations and going directly to
the UN.
The only viable solution for the Middle East is a one-state solution: one contiguous Israeli state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. There will not and cannot be lasting peace in the Middle East until then.
Source: Washington Times on 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 3, 2012
Page last updated: Nov 01, 2021