Reason magazine: on Foreign Policy


Bob Barr: Neocon aggression opens can of worms: others will do same

Q: You wrote that neoconservatives want to “rely on the raw and aggressive use of military power to a unique degree.” Where have they called for using military power where you’d prefer not to use force?

A: One place where this already seems to be coming back to haunt us is the Israeli call--temporarily suspended, but it could be resurrected--to go after Arafat and take him out, to kill him. It’s somewhat inconsistent for us to counsel the Israelis not to do that when that’s precisely the tack we seem to take in Iraq. This seems to open, to some extent, perhaps, a can of worms--where other nations will take the same standard and we might not like it.

Source: Jesse Walker, in Reason Magazine, “right wing of the ACLU” Dec 1, 2003

Gary Johnson: Take our share of Syrian refugees; not too many but not zero

Q: Your former party, the Republicans, are dead set against allowing Syrian refugees to enter the country. Republican governors (and at least one Democrat) say the risk of ISIS terrorists slipping in through the process is simply too great. Chris Christie went even further than Ted Cruz by saying he wouldn't even admit Christian children. We have currently agreed to let in 10,000 by the end of 2017, but some Democrats want to raise that number to 65,000. What would your refugee policy toward Syrians be?

A: We need to take our share, and I'm not sure what that share should be. I'd like to come up with a formula based on our coalition partners. I wouldn't say zero, but I don't know if 65,000 puts us in the category of "our fair share."

Source: Reason Magazine, interview by Anthony L. Fisher Nov 19, 2015

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

Lincoln Chafee: Work with UN on issues such as climate change & trade

Chafee was the only Republican in the Senate to vote against the Iraq War--like Webb, Chafee is a party-switcher--and he has said he's running to keep Iraq on the public's mind. His website promises to "end drone strikes, torture of prisoners, and warrantless wiretaps." It also says he wants to work with the U.N. "to pursue strategic international agreements that reduce tensions, increase security, attack climate change, and promote civil liberties and fair trade."
Source: Reason magazine on 2016 presidential hopefuls Oct 13, 2015

Martin O`Malley: Be more engaged in the world but avoid mission creep

O'Malley: At his June speech to the Truman National Security Project he announced both that Washington should "be more engaged with the world around us, not less" and that "we must avoid mission creep--and be mindful that American boots on the ground can be counter-productive to our desired outcome." Essentially, O'Malley promises an America that remains extremely active around the world but drops fewer bombs in the process.
Source: Reason magazine on 2016 presidential hopefuls Oct 13, 2015

  • The above quotations are from Columns and news articles in Reason magazine.
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2016 Presidential contenders on Foreign Policy:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI)
Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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