State of Arizona Archives: on War & Peace
Alan Keyes:
Respond to facts, not Serb intentions
Q: You’ve said the scale of Serb atrocities in Kosovo was grossly overstated and that the US intervening was more dangerous than what happened inside the province itself. In light of new reports, do you still stand by your view?
A: If I understand
the report, it confirms an intention. [We should not] in foreign policy to intentions. We’ve got to react to facts. And the facts as they have been established on the ground do not support all the reports that came out in the course of that war.
Source: Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Andy Biggs:
Defeat ISIS and protect our homeland from terrorism
Andy is committed to:- Defeating ISIS and protecting our homeland from terrorism
-
Securing our borders and ending illegal immigration
- Reforming our VA system and providing better care for our veterans
Source: 2016 Arizona House campaign website BiggsForCongress.com
Nov 8, 2016
Deedra Abboud:
Diplomacy should always be first
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Avoid foreign entanglements"?
A: Support. Diplomacy should always be first, even military leaders agree.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Arizona Senate candidate
Mar 5, 2018
Doug Marks:
Avoid foreign entanglements
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Avoid foreign entanglements"?
A: Yes
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Arizona Senate candidate
Mar 5, 2018
Doug Ducey:
Eliminate all state income taxes on military pensions
Our vets have already earned their benefits. Put their lives on the line. The government shouldn't be taxing their service to country, it should be honoring their service to country. Our budget does this, by eliminating all state income taxes on
our veterans' military pensions once and for all. We have a goal: To make Arizona homebase for veterans everywhere in the country. These women and men make our state stronger.
Source: 2020 Arizona State of the State address
Jan 13, 2020
Gary Bauer:
No vital US interests in Kosovo
Q: You opposed US military intervention in Kosovo on grounds that it was not in our vital interests. Do you still? A: The fundamental question [is]: Under what conditions does an American president put our sons and daughters in
harm's way? I think that there are many things happening in the world that we don't like. But even a rich, powerful country like the US will be bled dry if we try to intervene every place where our hearts have been touched.
Horrible things are happening in Kosovo, but they're also happening in Indonesia and in many other places around the world. We can use leverage with trade, we can use leverage with our foreign aid but at a time when we
have gutted the American military, it is foolish and imprudent to be sending our men everywhere when the national security of the US is not at stake.
Source: Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
George W. Bush:
War on Terror is not about intelligence and law enforcement
KERRY: When Bush had an opportunity to capture or kill bin Laden, he took his focus off of him, outsourced the job to Afghan warlords and bin Laden escaped. Six months after he said bin Laden must be caught dead or alive this president was asked,
where's bin Laden? He said, "I don't know. I don't really think about very much. I'm not that concerned." We need a president who stays deadly focused on the real war on terror.BUSH:
I don't think I ever said I'm not worried about bin Laden. That's kind of one of those exaggerations. Of course we're worried about bin Laden. We're on the hunt after bin Laden.
We're using every asset at our disposal to get bin Laden. Kerry said this war is a matter of intelligence and law enforcement. No, this is a war as a matter of using every asset at our disposal to keep the American people protected.
Source: [Xref Kerry] Third Bush-Kerry Debate, in Tempe Arizona
Oct 13, 2004
Jim Lamon:
Congress should have a say in the decision to go to war
As a veteran, I know that the choosing to send our troops to war is a weighty one. The ability for Congress to oversee matters of war and peace has been steadily eroding over time. I believe that Congress should have a say in the decision to go to war
and stay at war. This will hold members of Congress responsible for the endless amounts of troops and money we send and spend every time we enter a conflict.
Source: 2022 Arizona Senate campaign website JimLamon.com
Apr 20, 2022
Jim Pederson:
We're going backwards in Iraq; time for end-game
Q: Mr. Pederson, your current ads are pretty strong that we need to get out. From day 1, would you be pushing to get out of Iraq?PEDERSON: I didn't say ‘get out'. We have a regional responsibility there. That region of the word, the entire Mideast,
presents the biggest threat to the US of any locale in the world. This administration has a deer-in-the-headlights look when it comes to any end-game regarding our activities in Iraq, and Sen. Kyl has gone along with the administration every step of the
way. The insurgents are gaining strength, and we're actually going backwards in Iraq.
KYL: My opponent just said he did not say ‘get out'. In one of his ads he says ‘I won't cut-and-run'. But he said on July 5, ‘Let's just retreat to a safe and secure
place.' If he's going to complain about the leadership in this war, imagine him saying that to Marines. That's not leadership calculated to win. He's got a plan to get out, but he doesn't have a plan to win.
Source: Arizona 2006 Senate debate at KPHO in Phoenix
Oct 15, 2006
John Kerry:
Focus on the real war on terror and find bin Laden
KERRY: When Bush had an opportunity to capture or kill bin Laden, he took his focus off of him, outsourced the job to Afghan warlords and bin Laden escaped. Six months after he said bin Laden must be caught dead or alive this president was asked,
where's bin Laden? He said, "I don't know. I don't really think about very much. I'm not that concerned." We need a president who stays deadly focused on the real war on terror.BUSH:
I don't think I ever said I'm not worried about bin Laden. That's kind of one of those exaggerations. Of course we're worried about bin Laden. We're on the hunt after bin Laden.
We're using every asset at our disposal to get bin Laden. Kerry said this war is a matter of intelligence and law enforcement. No, this is a war as a matter of using every asset at our disposal to keep the American people protected.
Source: Third Bush-Kerry Debate, in Tempe Arizona
Oct 13, 2004
John McCain:
Fighting was based on polls and photo-ops
"This administration has conducted a feckless, photo-op policy with no concept of what they want the world to look like," said McCain. He said President Clinton "stumbled" into the fighting there and conducted his policy in an "immoral fashion"
by making decisions based on voter polls. " I won't take a poll," said McCain, "I will act in America's best interest," he said.
Source: CNN.com, "GOP Arizona Debates"
Nov 22, 1999
John McCain:
Kosovo an example of feckless photo-op foreign policy
This administration is poll driven and not principle driven. We didn't have to get into Kosovo. Once we stumbled into it, we had to win it. And this administration has conducted a feckless photo-op foreign policy for which we will pay a very heavy price
in American blood and treasure. You have to have a concept of what you want the world to look like. Our interests and our values lie in how we are going to bring this world into the next century and call it, again, the American century.
Source: Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
John McCain:
Obama "an uncertain trumpet" for Afghan & Iraqi withdrawal
In his debates with Hayworth and Deakin, McCain called Obama "an uncertain trumpet" for promising to begin a withdrawal from Afghanistan by the middle of next year.Some of McCain's former aides wish he would pick his shots more carefully.
One former adviser, who also worked in the Bush administration, said that McCain has let his personal distaste for Obama get in the way of actually influencing the debate. "Certainly through the Bush administration,
McCain was the most credible voice on the conduct and prosecution of the war," this adviser says. "We knew it would lead the news and people would believe him. If there's a missed opportunity with the Obama presidency, it's letting his personal
feelings get in the way of trying to shape the policy. When he talked about Iraq or Afghanistan, we listened." This adviser added, "I think that in some ways he's sacrificed that to deliver messages that other people could deliver."
Source: Vanity Fair on 2010 Arizona Senate Republican Primary Debate
Nov 1, 2010
Jon Kyl:
Iraq is the central front in the war on terror
Q: Mr. Pederson, your current ads are pretty strong that we need to get out. PEDERSON: I didn't say ‘get out'. We have a regional responsibility there. This administration has a deer-in-the-headlights look when it comes to any end-game regarding our
activities in Iraq, and Sen. Kyl has gone along with the administration every step of the way.
KYL: My opponent just said he did not say ‘get out'. In one of his ads he says ‘I won't cut-and-run'. But he said on July 5, ‘Let's just retreat to a safe
and secure place.' If he's going to complain about the leadership in this war, imagine him saying that to Marines. That's not leadership calculated to win. He's got a plan to get out, but he doesn't have a plan to win. We're in a global war with
terrorists. Most agree that Iraq is the central battle in that war. You can't win the war if you bug out of the central battle. Iraq is a critical component to winning the war. This is deadly serious, and we need to win.
Source: Arizona 2006 Senate debate at KPHO in Phoenix
Oct 15, 2006
Kelli Ward:
Can't be world's policeman
Kelli supports military engagement only as a last resort, only when Constitutionally approved by Congress, and only with a clear strategy for decisive victory. She does not support endless occupations and expensive nation-building overseas.
Ward believes in a realistic and restrained foreign policy. We simply cannot afford to be the world's policeman anymore, and weak half-measures often cause more problems than they solve.
Source: 2018 Arizona Senatorial website KelliWard.com
Oct 1, 2017
Kyrsten Sinema:
2003: Led multiple protests against Iraq War
Q [to Senate opponent Martha McSally]: In your debate with Kyrsten Sinema, you said that, back in 2003, Sinema was on a radio talk show where host hypothetically talked about joining the Taliban, and Sinema said "I don't care if you want to do that."
Do you really think that Sinema was approving treason?MCSALLY: Well, it's her words. It's totally out of step with American values.
Q: Sinema says this talk show host was going off presenting all kinds of hypothetical ideas, and she was just trying
to shut him down and get back to the fact that she opposed the Iraq War, which was just about to start in 2003.
MCSALLY: This is a pattern from my opponent. Right after 9/11, Kyrsten Sinema was protesting any military action against terrorists.
She was protesting later in a pink tutu. She was leading multiple protests, handing out flyers at her protest depicting American soldiers as skeletons and saying we are the ones conducting terror in the Middle East. Very much against our military.
Source: Fox News Sunday interviews for 2018 Arizona Senate race
Oct 21, 2018
Mark Kelly:
Services must work for changing veteran population
It's important to Mark that our country keeps its promises to our veterans. There is an urgent need for improvement. From the G.I. Bill to the VA, Mark understands we need veterans services to work for our changing veteran population.
That includes aging and injured veterans who need prompt, quality health care, and young veterans who need mental health care or are looking to translate the skills they learned from their service into a good-paying job.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
Mark Kelly:
Iran deal had problems, but poor decision to pull out of it
Kelly steers clear of criticizing President Donald Trump too harshly. He believes, for instance, that it was "a rather poor decision" to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal. "It had some issues," he said, adding that "we
should try, through another administration in the White House, to get back to a deal with the Iranians by working with our international partners and our allies."
Source: The Jewish Insider on 2020 Arizona Senate race
May 22, 2020
Mark Kelly:
Middle East peace achievable; won't be easy
He believes that peace in the region is achievable. "It's hard," he said. "I mean, if this was easy, we would have done it decades ago, and we would have been successful.
But just because it's hard doesn't mean anybody needs to give up. And the success of the State of Israel is just, I think, from a personal level, it's important to so many Americans. I know it is for me."
Source: The Jewish Insider on 2020 Arizona Senate race
May 22, 2020
Mark Kelly:
Supported killing Iranian general without Congressional OK
Q: Prohibit military attacks on Iran without Congressional approval?Mark Kelly: Unclear. Supported U.S. killing of Iranian General Soleimani without such approval. "It's good that he's dead."
Martha McSally: No. Voted against requiring Congressional authorization of attacks on Iran.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Martha McSally:
Metastasized al Qaeda & others are no longer afraid of us
We are faced with a growing & complex array of global threats, and, unfortunately, the Obama Administration has failed miserably to address these dangers. These threats include: a metastasized Al Qaeda and its extremist affiliates, determined to destroy
us and our way of life; Russia's take-over of Crimea and continued threats to its neighbors; China's massive military build-up and muscle flexing in the South and East China Seas; Iran-the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world-continuing to
march towards a nuclear capability; a nuclear-capable and unpredictable North Korea; instability across the Middle East threatening our vital national interests and our close democratic ally Israel; increased threats of cyber terrorism, and so much more.
The Obama Administration's confusing policy of disengagement and leading from behind is weakening our ability to protect America, our interests, and our citizens. Our enemies are no longer afraid of us, and our Allies can no longer count on us.
Source: 2014 Arizona House campaign website, McSallyForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Martha McSally:
Sinema committed treason by insufficiently opposing Taliban
Q: You and Kyrsten Sinema had a debate this week, in which you said that, back in 2003, your opponent was on a radio talk show where the host hypothetically talked about joining the Taliban, and Sinema said "I don't care if you want to do that." And
that led to this exchange in the debate:(BEGIN VIDEO) MCSALLY: Kyrsten, I want to ask right now whether you're going to apologize to the veterans and me for saying it's OK to commit treason.
SINEMA: Martha has chosen to run a campaign where she is
engaging in ridiculous attacks.(END VIDEO).
Q: Do you really think that Kyrsten Sinema was approving treason?
MCSALLY: Well, it's her words. It's totally out of step with American values.
Q: Sinema says this talk show host was going off presenting
all kinds of hypothetical ideas, and she was just trying to shut him down and get back to the fact that she opposed the Iraq War, which was just about to start in 2003.
MCSALLY: Well, she continues to make excuses.
Source: Fox News Sunday interviews for 2018 Arizona Senate race
Oct 21, 2018
Martha McSally:
Voted against blocking arms sales to Saudi Arabia
Q: Prohibit military attacks on Iran without Congressional approval? Block arms sales to Saudi Arabia?Martha McSally: No. Voted against requiring Congressional authorization of attacks on Iran. Voted against blocking arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Mark Kelly: Unclear. Supported U.S. killing of Iranian General Soleimani without such approval. "It's good that he's dead." No position found on arms sale to Saudi Arabia.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Richard Carmona:
Whatever means necessary to prevent Iranian nukes
On defense, both agreed that the U.S. should take whatever means necessary to prevent
Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Source: The Hill coverage of 2012 Arizona Senate debates
Oct 10, 2012
Steve Forbes:
Arming intended victims would have avoided Bosnia & Kosovo
In Bosnia we didn't have to put ground forces there. This is not hindsight. I wrote about it in the early 90's, that if we had real diplomacy, we could have avoided that disaster by making clear to Milosevic that his intended victims would have the means
to defend themselves. That would have solved that crisis without putting our people there. When finally the Croats and the Bosnian Muslims got arms in ‘94 & ‘95, lo & behold, the aggressors were thrown out. We could have done the same thing in Kosovo.
Source: Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023