State of Alaska Archives: on War & Peace

Al Gross: Military is important but need to attract other businesses

Al Gross: Opposed withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal

Dan Sullivan: Supported withdrawal from "fundamentally flawed" Iran nuclear deal.

Dan Sullivan: At State Department, I pursued global terrorist regimes

Dan Sullivan: Air strikes against ISIS but means US combat troops

The two went back and forth on what constitutes combat troops. Sullivan said troops conducting air strikes are combat troops. Begich said he supports air strikes but not U.S. forces on the ground in an offensive way. Begich said Arab nations need to step up.

Sullivan said there's a misperception that those in the military want to be on the ground in conflicts. "What I want do is defend my country," he said. Begich has been for taking options off the table, he said. "Inaction has its own consequences, as well," Sullivan said to applause.

Dan Sullivan: Supported withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal

Dan Sullivan: No on requiring congressional approval for attacks. Voted against February 2020 measure that would have required this. Supported withdrawal from "fundamentally flawed" Iran nuclear deal.

Al Gross: No position found on military attacks. Opposed withdrawal from nuclear deal.

Dan Sullivan: Voted against blocking arms sale to Saudi Arabia

Dan Sullivan: No. Voted against senate measure to block sale of precision bombs to Saudi Arabia.

Al Gross: No position found.

Joe Miller: Focus on Afghan terrorism, not on nation-building

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan?

A: Yes; increased military and economic aid to Afghanistan must be hand in hand with a change in policy that is focused exclusively on effectuating US national interests (eliminating terroristic threats) rather than nation building.

Q: Should the US continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan?

A: Yes.

Joe Miller: Keep forces in Iraq like we have in South Korea

A: No. We should keep a troop presence in Iraq similar in size to that in South Korea as counterbalance to Iran.

Q: Do you support increasing sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy UN mandates?

A: Yes.

Lisa Murkowski: Surge of US troops worked in both Iraq & Afghanistan

Mark Begich: I was too gung-ho supportive of Afghanistan war

He said that's why he opposed arming Syrian rebels in the current fight against Islamic State militants. He said he's not sure who the rebels are and if they'll next turn into an enemy of the United States.

Begich said a more comprehensive strategy is needed to fight the Islamic State extremists, which Sullivan agrees with.

Mark Begich: Air strikes against ISIS but no US forces on the ground

The two went back and forth on what constitutes combat troops. Sullivan said troops conducting air strikes are combat troops. Begich said he supports air strikes but not U.S. forces on the ground in an offensive way. Begich said Arab nations need to step up.

Sullivan said there's a misperception that those in the military want to be on the ground in conflicts. "What I want do is defend my country," he said. Begich has been for taking options off the table, he said. "Inaction has its own consequences, as well," Sullivan said to applause.

Ray Metcalfe: Bush's Iraq invasion was catalyst that made ISIS possible

A: I protested President Bush's invasion of Iraq and was appalled at the number of Democratic Senators voting to support him. Bush's invasion was the catalyst that made ISIS possible, unleashing a monster that really threatens America's security. We should use air power, and logistics support until ISIS, Al Qaeda, Al-shabaab, Boko Haram, and the Al-Nusra Front, are destroyed.

Ray Metcalfe: Remove troops from Iraq as rapidly as safe

A: Removing our troops from Iraq as rapidly as they are able to safely disengage, repairing the damage the Bush tax cuts have done to our economy, and recognizing health care as a right rather than a privilege. I will vote to usher in a single-payer system of universal medical care caring for all Americans from cradle to grave. Health care is a right not a privilege.

Sarah Palin: Wants exit plan; also assurances to keep our troops safe

A: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe. Every life lost is such a tragedy. I am very, very proud of the troops we have in Alaska, those fighting overseas for our freedoms, and the families here who are making so many sacrifices.

Sarah Palin: We have not been attacked since 2001; so support our troops

KNOWLES: I will challenge that on behalf of the Alaska National Guard. They've served their time. They don't need to be extended. They should understand at the top of the Pentagon, that they need a different strategy for this war.

PALIN: I would certainly have to encourage Don Rumsfeld to please look elsewhere when you consider the sacrifices already made. However, I do support our troops and I thank god that we have a voluntary military right now. Bottom line, I do support our troops and I do support our president, and we know that since Sept. 2001, we have not had an attack on American soil and for that we should be ever thankful, grateful, praying for our troops for the safety that they are providing us.

Sarah Palin: I support the mission of our troops in Iraq

KNOWLES: I think the record books are fairly clear, that there's a lot of concerns on the basis, the reasons that were given for going to war, were not justified. We're not going to second guess and say yes I know what we should do. All I know is that we should pray for a strategy that brings our troops home at the earliest possible time.

PALIN: I think that all Americans agree that every life lost there in Iraq and Afghanistan, it profoundly touches us all. And again, as I said in my previous answer, I do support our troops, I support the mission there, that the idea of keeping the enemy outside of our borders.

Sarah Palin: Our troops in Iraq keep us safe at home

PALIN: In the past five years, there hasn't been a successful terrorist strike on United States soil and that's no accident. It is our gratitude that we need to show to our military, to our troops for keeping us safe.

I support them being over there. I support our president. I support our military. But of course, I want to see that exit strategy being developed and being revealed to our public.

This hits me near and dear to my heart as I'm raising teenagers. A 17-year-old son who is interested in the military. Of course, you know I think about it every day, if that were my son or my daughter over there. I want our troops to come home safely.

Tony Knowles: We need a different strategy for this war

KNOWLES: As a Vietnam veteran, I understand service and having been commander and chief of the National Guard as your governor, I saw them respond magnificently during 9-11, and countless other incidents where they--through their outstanding training and good equipment--stand ready to protect our lives and our safety. I'm proud of them. I'm proud of everything that they do, and they're serving with honor in Iraq. But with a growing number of the top generals who already saying that this war is mismanaged, it's misjudged, it is putting lives unnecessarily at risk. I pray for there to be a new strategy. Donald Rumsfeld's on the line, wanting to extend one more year? I will challenge that on behalf of the Alaska National Guard. They've served their time. They don't need to be extended. They should understand at the top of the Pentagon, that they need a different strategy for this war.

Tony Knowles: Reasons given for going to war were not justified

KNOWLES: I think the record books are fairly clear, that there's a lot of concerns on the basis, the reasons that were given for going to war, were not justified. We're not going to second guess and say yes I know what we should do. All I know is that we should pray for a strategy that brings our troops home at the earliest possible time.

PALIN: I think that all Americans agree that every life lost there in Iraq and Afghanistan, it profoundly touches us all. And again, as I said in my previous answer, I do support our troops, I support the mission there, that the idea of keeping the enemy outside of our borders.