The New York Times: on War & Peace


Donald Trump: One-time missile strike in response to Syria chemical attack

As a private citizen and candidate, Trump argued that Syria's civil war was not America's problem. But as president, Trump launched a missile strike on Russia's ally Assad, after the Kremlin intervened in last year's election on his behalf.

The missile strike, in response to a chemical weapons attack, was intended to be a limited, one-time operation, and the president seemed determined to quickly move on. Critics, including Senator Marco Rubio, argued that Syria's President Assad felt free to launch a chemical attack precisely because the Trump administration had given him a green light.

Trump's action in Syria was welcomed by many traditional American allies who had fretted over Obama's reluctance to take a greater leadership role in the Middle East. After the missile strike, Israeli news outlets were filled with headlines like "The Americans Are Back," and European leaders expressed relief both that he had taken action and that he had not gone too far.

Source: N.Y. Times on Trump Administration promises & actions Apr 8, 2017

Donald Trump: OpEd: now believes that US has national interest in Syria

Intentionally or not, Trump has adopted language similar to that used by Obama & many other presidents in defining American priorities in Syria. While in the past Trump said the US did not have a national interest in Syria, last week he said instability there was "threatening the US and its allies." He also said that "America stands for justice," espousing a responsibility to act in cases of human rights abuses, as other presidents have at times. Until now, Trump has largely eschewed such language.
Source: N.Y. Times on Trump Administration promises & actions Apr 8, 2017

James Mattis: Supports the Iran nuclear agreement

Highlights from Mattis' confirmation hearings:

Mattis said he supported the Iran nuclear agreement, which Trump has repeatedly criticized.

Source: N.Y. Times on 2017 Trump transition Confirmation Hearings Jan 12, 2017

Rick Perry: ISIS is worst threat to freedom since Communism

A former Air Force pilot, Perry advocates muscular intervention on foreign policy. He believes that American ground troops may have to be deployed to fight the Islamic State, an extremist group that he said "represents the worst threat to freedom since Communism." He blames what he calls President Obama's "incompetence" in handling Iraq and Syria for the rise of the Islamic State.
Source: N.Y. Times 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls Jun 4, 2015

Rick Perry: Provide lethal aid to Ukraine against Russian separatists

Perry has called for providing lethal aid to the Ukrainian military to fight Russian-backed separatists, support that Obama has resisted giving. He has warned against Russian and Chinese aggression, and criticized Obama's warming of ties with Cuba, saying the administration "empowered the Castro regime with no thought of the Cuban people."
Source: N.Y. Times 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls Jun 4, 2015

Jeb Bush: Non-state terrorists are greatest threat we now face

Last week, as former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida sought to distance himself from his brother's foreign policy record at a speech in Chicago, he found himself embracing the sort of muscular engagement that had characterized the 43rd president's administration.

The former Florida governor called non-state terrorist groups such as the Islamic State "perhaps the greatest security threat that we now face for our own homeland."

He added, "Taking them out is the strategy."

Source: N.Y. Times 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls Feb 25, 2015

Chris Christie: Syria: If we draw a red line, we must finish the job

Christie expressed confidence that his brand of resolute, no-nonsense foreign policy would have avoided the dilemma the United States faced when Syria deployed chemical weapons against its own citizens in the civil war. Christie said he would have never drawn a "red line," as Obama did with President Bashar al-Assad, but, "if you do, you better finish the job."
Source: N.Y. Times 2014 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls Sep 2, 2014

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