State of Colorado Archives: on War & Peace
Bob Schaffer:
Surge is working; but it might take years
Q: You have said a definition of success is that if Iraq on its own has security, a police department that functions, and a political and an economy that is stable, you said, “It’s not going to be in the next two or three years, most likely.”
Do you think that the American troops will be there five years from now in Iraq?SCHAFFER: Hard to say. If they are, I hope that it’s not involved in tactical involvement on a day-to-day basis, but strategic. But I’d hoped that we’d have
American troops out even sooner. That definition you read, was before there was a clear indication that the surge has worked. I am optimistic, however, that we are achieving those objectives right now.
Q: [to Udall]: A year ago you said that the
surge was a tragic mistake. Were you wrong?
UDALL: It’s time to leave Iraq. It’s time to leave Iraq responsibly.
Q: Were you wrong on the surge?
UDALL: The surge has helped. There are other factors in Iraq that have been helpful.
Source: 2008 Colorado Senate Debate on Meet the Press
Sep 28, 2008
Darryl Glenn:
Iran nuclear deal has made America less safe
By voting for the Iran deal, Michael Bennet has made America less safe. Iran is unquestionably pursuing nuclear weapons. President Obama and Senate Democrats' support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was a national security disaster of
immeasurable proportion. By capitulating to this misguided treaty, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, can continue to pursue nuclear weapons free of the hard-won international sanctions passed over a decade of international diplomacy.
Moreover, they can do it with a windfall of billions of dollars unfrozen from Iranian accounts, all while the international community is still denied access to suspected nuclear sites for inspection.
Once in the Senate, I will support withdrawal from the treaty, reimposition of tough sanctions, and a tightening of restrictions on senior Iranian leadership.
Source: 2016 Colorado Senate campaign website, ElectDarrylGlenn.com
Aug 31, 2016
Darryl Glenn:
Nuclear armed Iran poses greatest threat to the U.S.
Q: What do you view as the biggest threat to national security--both from external threats and internal threats?Darryl Glenn: While radical Islamic terrorism poses a grave danger to our nation and the international community, a nuclear armed
Iran poses a greater threat to the U.S. than any other security challenge. Iran is unquestionably pursuing nuclear weapons and has stated unequivocally that it wishes to use them against the U.S. and our close ally Israel.
Source: LWV's Vote411.org on 2016 Colorado Senate Race
Sep 19, 2016
Doug Robinson:
Trump is right with strong response on Syria
Q: What do you think of Trump's policies?A: I've been happy with some of the things he's done, and concerned about others. I'm especially happy about Neil Gorsuch. I think it's a real coup for Colorado to have a Supreme Court justice.
It's been quite a number of years since Byron White. I don't know Neil personally, but I have friends who know him well and who went to school with him, and I think he's a terrific choice.
That's the best thing he's done. I also think he's been strong internationally in terms of the response to Syria, and
I'm hopeful we're going to have a health care bill that is going to put a better plan forward for working Americans and for other folks.
Source: Westword.com on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Apr 25, 2017
Joe O`Dea:
When America shows weakness, the world is less safe
Reckless decisions from left-wing politicians are making the world more dangerous. What happened in Afghanistan is an outrage and a foreign policy blunder of epic proportions. Overseas, we are caving to extremists, authoritarians, and communist
governments everywhere: The Taliban. Russia. China. Iran. We aren't listening to our military and other people on the ground. And when America shows weakness, the world is less safe.
Source: 2022 Colorado Senate campaign website JoeODea.com
Jul 19, 2022
John Hickenlooper:
Veterans deserve priority in help to re-enter civilian life
We owe a priceless debt to those in active service and to our veterans. Too often, we fail them. Access to health care and job training can help ease this transition to civilian life, and I pledge to support funding for these programs.
When veterans are finished with their service, they deserve priority in training that helps them get high-quality jobs and re-enter civilian life more easily.
Source: 2020 Colorado Senate campaign website Hickenlooper.com
Jul 9, 2020
Jon Keyser:
Iranian regime is evil, and cannot be trusted
Q: What three policy issues set you apart from your opponent?A: The list of policy differences between my opponent and me is a long one, but here are three important points of differentiation:
- Iran Deal: I strongly disagree with Senator
Bennet's support for the Iran deal. As an Intelligence Officer, I know the Iranian regime is evil, and cannot be trusted. The Iran deal makes the US less safe, but also gravely endangers some of our closest allies, like Israel. It virtually guarantees
the Iranians will obtain nuclear weapons, probably before my kids are in middle school.
- National Debt: I'll fight to cut our national debt, balance our budget, and get our fiscal house in order. I believe it is immoral for us to mortgage the futures
of our kids and grandkids.
- ObamaCare: We would not have ObamaCare today if Senator Bennet voted against it. We need to repeal ObamaCare immediately and replace it with innovative, free-market solutions.
Source: Denver Post Voter Guide on 2016 Colorado Senate race
Jun 7, 2016
Ken Buck:
Don't allow Iran to obtain nukes, even via military
As for Iran, Buck said it should not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. "And we should take appropriate action if necessary," he added, a reference to a possible military strike.
Buck challenged Bennet, saying he'd voted against imposing sanctions on companies doing business with Iran, a claim Bennet denied, but Buck insisted was accurate.
Source: Pueblo Chieftan coverage of 2010 Colorado Senate Debate
Oct 8, 2010
Ken Buck:
Afghanistan war ok; nation-building not ok
While endorsing the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, Buck said it was a mistake to attempt to build a democratic nation there. He said
U.S. policy should be limited to three goals--to prevent the country from becoming a haven for terrorists; to disrupt the illegal drugs coming out of Afghanistan; and to promote peace in the area by leaving a minimal force behind.
Bennet's view was even briefer, saying U.S. goals in Afghanistan should be to destroy al-Qaida groups on the Pakistan border and then to support the
Pakistan military to make certain that country's nuclear weapons are secure from terrorists. Then U.S. troops should be brought home.
Source: Pueblo Chieftan coverage of 2010 Colorado Senate Debate
Oct 8, 2010
Ken Buck:
No deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan
Q: If President Obama and General Petraeus were to determine that they need a significant number of troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the July 2011 deadline, is that a position that you'd be able to support?BUCK: Well, I don't think we set
artificial deadlines. I think that we set realistic goals, and, and try to accomplish those goals. I don't think we should be nation-building, I don't think we should be staying there over the long-term
Q: What if General Petraeus says, "You know what,
it's July 2011, but if we're going to achieve our goals, we can't pull any troops out. May need more troops, may need to surge up again here." Well, you could support that because you don't believe in deadlines?
BUCK: No, I didn't say
I could support that. I don't believe in deadlines, I don't believe in telling the enemy when we're going to withdraw. I need to know what he thinks the goals are. And if I agree with those goals, then evaluate at that point.
Source: NBC's Meet the Press: 2010 Colorado Senate debate
Oct 17, 2010
Ken Salazar:
Bush was not for a Department of Homeland Security
Q: Kerry said "this was the wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time." Do you agree with that? A: I wouldn't have chosen those same words. The reality of it is that if you look at the time before 9/11, that we knew that we were involved in
dealing with the greatest threat that America has seen in modern history, and that's the whole issue of terrorism. Look at the Hart-Rodman report that came out long before 9/11, and they said we were going to be attacked here at the homeland and that we
needed to create a Department of Homeland Security. And yet what happened? The nation slept. Washington slept on that issue. I was in a meeting with Bush and with Secretary Ridge some six months after 9/11 occurred, and they were still in a position that
we did not need to have a Department of Homeland Security. Washington has acted with the kind of urgency to deal with the issue of global terrorism in an effective way.
Source: Colorado Senate Debate on Meet the Press
Oct 10, 2004
Ken Salazar:
We have a mess on our hands in Iraq
SALAZAR: I would have voted for the resolution to give Bush the authority to move forward. The most important question to me is we in Iraq today and how do we move forward in Iraq, and the way we've got to move forward in Iraq is with a plan that's going
to bring stability to the country and allow us to accomplish the mission. I agree with Sen. Lugar & with Sen. McCain and others who have been critical of what's happening in Iraq and we have a mess on our hands, but we need to figure out the plan on how
exactly we're going to move forward. I have a plan on how we're going to do that. COORS: We have an enemy who is a horrific enemy. These are barbaric people who want to destroy our civilization. Every vote, you go with the best intelligence
you have. I don't think it's appropriate today to second-guess what decision would be made today based on the information we have. I suspect that given what we know today, there would be a much different outcome than we had a couple of years ago.
Source: Colorado Senate Debate on Meet the Press
Oct 10, 2004
Mark Udall:
Proposed votes against the declaration of war
SCHAFFER: [Since I left Congress in 2002], under Republican leadership, deficits grew, and I think it has mainly been a function of war. UDALL: That's a great narrative, but go back to 2002. You cast votes for a war.
SCHAFFER: You proposed votes against the declaration of war.
UDALL: You cast votes against an energy policy set of proposals that would have us much closer to being energy independent today.
SCHAFFER: I cast votes in favor of an energy policy.
Source: 2008 Colorado Senate Debate on Meet the Press
Sep 28, 2008
Mark Udall:
Surge has helped, but it's time to leave Iraq
Q: A year ago you said that the surge was a tragic mistake. Were you wrong?UDALL: It's time to leave Iraq. It's time to leave Iraq responsibly.
Q: Were you wrong on the surge?
UDALL: The surge has helped. There are other factors in
Iraq that have been helpful. The Al Anbar Awakening, Muqtada al-Sadr's call for a cease-fire. There's ethnic cleansing to a great extent now that you don't hear that story. Sunni and Shia do not live together anymore in places like Baghdad.
But whatever the situation was then, it's now time to leave Iraq in an honorable & responsible way. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I know how stretched our military is. I also know we haven't finished the job in Afghanistan and in Pakistan.
Bin Laden is still at large. I also know we have no capacity to defend our own country or to respond to any other emergencies all over the world. It's time to turn Iraq back over to the Iraqis and refocus on a tough and a smart national security policy.
Source: 2008 Colorado Senate Debate on Meet the Press
Sep 28, 2008
Michael Bennet:
Afghan exit after al-Qaida groups destroyed in Pakistan
While endorsing the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, Buck said it was a mistake to attempt to build a democratic nation there. He said
U.S. policy should be limited to three goals--to prevent the country from becoming a haven for terrorists; to disrupt the illegal drugs coming out of Afghanistan; and to promote peace in the area by leaving a minimal force behind.
Bennet's view was even briefer, saying U.S. goals in Afghanistan should be to destroy al-Qaida groups on the Pakistan border and then to support the
Pakistan military to make certain that country's nuclear weapons are secure from terrorists. Then U.S. troops should be brought home.
Source: Pueblo Chieftan coverage of 2010 Colorado Senate Debate
Oct 8, 2010
Michael Bennet:
Commit to bring home troops from Afghanistan in July 2011
Q: If President Obama and General Petraeus were to determine that they need a significant number of troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the July 2011 deadline, is that a position that you'd be able to support?BENNET: My position is that we ought to
begin bringing our troops home in July '11. And there will be troops there, they'll have to leave troops there, and I recognize that. But this is the longest shooting war in our country's history.
Q: But if a significant number of combat forces must
remain to achieve US goals, you'd be for it or against it?
BENNET: I would have to look at it then, but what I want to make clear is that I believe the president needs to honor the commitment that he made to begin bringing our troops home. I don't know
what "significant" is. I imagine that there will be a substantial number of troops there for the foreseeable future.
Q: And you could support that?
BENNET: I believe what the American people need to see that our commitment there is coming to an end.
Source: NBC's Meet the Press: 2010 Colorado Senate debate
Oct 17, 2010
Michael Bennet:
AdWatch: Supports Iranian nuclear deal
Children deliver the countdown and presumably Iran delivers the bomb in a TV ad. After the mushroom cloud flashes, a smoldering post-apocalyptic hellscape smolders in the background of the ad from a conservative group called Advancing Colorado. The ad
instructs viewers to call Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and ask him about his controversial vote in favor of President Obama's nuclear agreement with Iran.Truth Test: CLAIM: "Senator Michael Bennet supports the Iran deal."
VERDICT: TRUE. Sen. Bennet
voted in favor of the deal.
CLAIM: "A nuclear Iran is a threat to the entire world" and "Michael Bennet is jeopardizing our safety."
VERDICT: OPINION. Both sides of the debate over the Iran deal have experts who'll argue the merits and detriments of
the deal.
THE POLITICS BEHIND THE AD: It's hard to avoid comparisons to the 1964 "daisy ad" from President Johnson's campaign. Both ads feature children, countdowns and nuclear explosions--and both ads were meant to evoke the same emotional response.
Source: KUSA 9 News AdWatch on 2016 Colorado Senate race
Sep 22, 2015
Peg Littleton:
Oppose irresponsible and dangerous nuclear deal with Iran
One reason I seek to replace Sen. Michael Bennet is my opposition to President Barack Obama's irresponsible and dangerous nuclear deal with Iran. Bennet supported the Iran deal against the will of most Coloradans.
We live in dangerous times, challenged by nuclear proliferation in rogue nations and international terrorism sponsored by rogue dictatorships.
Source: 2016 Colorado Senate campaign website PegLittleton.com
Feb 3, 2016
Pete Coors:
Go with the best intelligence you have
SALAZAR: I would have voted for the resolution to give Bush the authority to move forward. The most important question to me is we in Iraq today and how do we move forward in Iraq, and the way we've got to move forward in Iraq is with a plan that's going
to bring stability to the country and allow us to accomplish the mission. I agree with Sen. Lugar & with Sen. McCain and others who have been critical of what's happening in Iraq and we have a mess on our hands, but we need to figure out the plan on how
exactly we're going to move forward. I have a plan on how we're going to do that. COORS: We have an enemy who is a horrific enemy. These are barbaric people who want to destroy our civilization. Every vote, you go with the best intelligence
you have. I don't think it's appropriate today to second-guess what decision would be made today based on the information we have. I suspect that given what we know today, there would be a much different outcome than we had a couple of years ago.
Source: [Xref Salazar] Colorado Senate Debate on Meet the Press
Oct 10, 2004
Pete Coors:
Support adding more troops, oppose setting a war deadline
If the military was to ask Congress for more troops (in Iraq), I'd be the first to step up and say, ‘You've got it,' Coors said, adding that it would be a mistake to set a deadline on when to bring U.S. troops home.
Source: Colorado Senate Debate in Rocky Mountain News
Oct 30, 2004
Ron Hanks:
Go slow on NATO expansion; Biden to blame for Ukraine war
As for the recent news that Sweden and Finland are seeking to join NATO Hanks took a more measured approach, saying the U.S. should urge the Nordic countries not to pursue membership until the war in Ukraine is resolved.
He said Russia's invasion is "100 percent Biden's fault" and warned, "At some point, (Putin) can extract great pain against the United States."
Source: Colorado Public Radio on 2022 Colorado Senate race
May 22, 2022
Tim Neville:
Iranian nuke deal betrays our strong ally Israel
Just recently, Michael Bennet supported an agreement which betrays our strong ally Israel by providing political cover for Iranian mullahs who shout `Death to America`--an agreement which frees up money they can use to terrorize their neighbors
and continue building their nuclear capabilities and ballistic missile systems to deliver death to Israel and perhaps even Europe. I believe this deal is dangerous, and would strongly oppose it if elected to the U.S. Senate.
Source: 2016 Colorado Senate campaign website, NevilleForSenate.com
Oct 9, 2015
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023