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Amy Klobuchar on Foreign Policy

DFL Sr Senator (MN); Democratic presidential contender

 


We must work with allies, isolationism does not work

Trump always sides with tyrants over innocents. We cannot be alone, and that trade agreement was not perfect, but the point of it is, if we start isolating ourselves from the rest of the world, we are going to hurt ourselves economically and we are going to hurt our nation's security.
Source: 8th Democrat 2020 primary debate, St. Anselm College in NH , Feb 7, 2020

Trump impeachment about foreign power influencing elections

Q: What argument can you make to persuade more Americans that impeachment is the right thing?

Klobuchar: As James Madison said at the constitutional convention, he said the reason that we have these impeachment articles in the constitution, is because he feared that a president would betray the trust of the American people for a foreign power. That is what happened here. This is a global Watergate. In the case of [Richard Nixon's] Watergate, a paranoid president facing election looked for dirt on a political opponent. He did it by getting people to break in. This president did it by calling a foreign leader to look for dirt on a political opponent. And I would make this case: as we face his trial in the Senate, if the president claims that he is so innocent, then why doesn't he have all the president's men testify? Richard Nixon had his top people testify. We should be hearing from [Chief of Staff Mick] Mulvaney, from [National Security Advisor John] Bolton.

Source: December Democratic primary debate on impeaching Trump , Dec 19, 2019

Transition Heartland from isolationism to Internationalism

Several years ago David Ignatius of the Washington Post once wrote a column titled "The Internationalism of the Heartland." And in it, he wrote about how some of the defining voices of global commitment over the past half-century have come from America's middle. And by that, he just didn't mean people in the middle of the political spectrum. He meant people in the middle of the country.

And I actually have given speeches at home about my own state's transition from isolationism. When Ignatius interviewed me for that column, I told him that as a senator from the Midwest that I believed that we needed to embrace rather than tolerate internationalism. He summarized my comments by saying that after a difficult decade the United States needs a refreshed internationalism that recognizes its stake in the world, even as it avoids costly military commitments where possible. He called this approach internationalism of the heartland. And I think it is more important now more than ever.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary , Dec 11, 2019

Five Rs: restore, repair, rejoin, respond, and reassert

Today I want to talk about five steps we can take to address the challenges facing our country. They are simply called the five Rs: restoring American leadership, repairing our alliances, rejoining international agreements, responding appropriately to the threats and challenges that come before us, and reasserting American values--restoring, repairing, rejoining, responding, and reasserting.

So we'll start with restoring American leadership. We have to send a clear message that America is once again a global power of good. Trust from our allies that we will stand with them is key, and trust from our adversaries that we will oppose them and defeat them.

In my first one hundred days as president, I will launch an effort to rebuild and restore our diplomatic corps. That begins with immediately depoliticizing foreign policymaking and ensuring that the State Department and international agencies receive sufficient funding. We will recruit a new generation of Foreign Service officers.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary , Dec 11, 2019

Beware China's Uighur internment camps & Hong Kong crackdown

We only have to look at China's detention of over one million Uighurs in internment camps or its attempts to crack down on democratic protesters in Hong Kong to see how far that country will go. And it has been playing by its own trade rules for years, stealing our cutting-edge technologies and intellectual property, and dumping steel. It weaponizes its economy against its neighbors by withholding key exports to try to extract political concessions, and it is pouring money into a military modernization program specifically designed to keep America at a distance and intimidate its neighbors. It's trying to embed itself in our most sensitive infrastructure through internet firms which we know have strong ties to the Chinese government.

If you're China and looking at us right now, you see a president that doesn't keep his decisions seven minutes from now. He has used a meat cleaver--or, should I say, a tweet cleaver--and is creating chaos with his erratic approach.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary , Dec 11, 2019

New foreign policy: align with allies and call out misdeeds

Q: Would you go against the Saudis?

KLOBUCHAR: We need a new foreign policy in this country, and that means renewing our relationships with our allies. It means rejoining international agreements. When the president did not stand up the way he should have to that killing and that dismemberment of a journalist with an American newspaper, that sent a signal to all dictators across the country that was OK, and that's wrong.

V.P. Joe BIDEN: Khashoggi was murdered on the order of the crown prince. I would make it clear we were not going to sell more weapons to them, we were going to make them the pariah that they are.

Q: And what about Russia and China?

KLOBUCHAR: We must start negotiating with Russia, which has been a horrible player on the international scene. We must start the negotiations for the New START Treaty. When it comes to China, we need someone that sees the long term, like I do, like the Chinese do, because we have a president that makes decisions based on his next tweet.

Source: November Democratic primary debate in Atlanta , Nov 20, 2019

Need consistency in our foreign policy

V.P. Joe BIDEN: I would not have withdrawn the troops [from the Kurdish areas of northern Syria, under threat from a Turkish invasion].

Mayor Pete BUTTIGIEG: Soldiers in the field are reporting that they feel ashamed of what their country has done.

Rep. Tulsi GABBARD: What you're saying is that you would continue to support having U.S. troops in Syria for an indefinite period of time to continue this regime change war?

BUTTIGIEG: What we were doing in Syria was keeping our word.

I think we need to talk about this a not only in terms of the horror of what happened here with Turkey. Think about our other allies, Israel. How do they feel right now? Donald Trump is not true to his word. Think about our allies in Europe when he pulls out of the Iranian agreement, and leaves them holding the bag, and gives the power to China and Russia. Think about the nuclear agreement with Russia that he precipitously pulled out of. This is part of a pattern. It's not an isolate

Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate , Oct 15, 2019

Talking to North Korea good, working with allies better

We want to see a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a reduction in these missiles. But it is not as easy as just going and bringing a hot dish over the fence to the dictator next door. You have to have clear focus and a clear mission and clear goals. It is always good to talk to people when you're dealing with something so important as nuclear weapons. But then we have no clear path and nothing comes out of it. I would think working with our allies would make it better.
Source: CNN State of the Union 2019 interview , Jun 30, 2019

Diplomacy with North Korea not easy; we need clear focus

Of course, we want to see a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a reduction in these missiles. But it is not as easy as just going and bringing a hot dish over the fence to the dictator next door. This is a ruthless dictator. You have to have clear focus and a clear mission and clear goals. The president will meet with him. That is fine. But then we have no clear path and nothing comes out of it.
Source: CNN "SOTU" 2019 interview series , Jun 30, 2019

Iran nuclear deal was imperfect but made us more safe

Q: Can you argue that that nuclear pact as it was ratified was a good deal?

A: It was imperfect, but it was a good deal for that moment. I would have worked to get longer sunset periods, and that's something we could negotiate, to get back in the deal. But Trump told us when he got out of it that he was going to give us a better deal. Now we are a month away from the Iranians, who claim now that they're going blow the caps on enriching uranium. And the Iranians have told us this.

Source: June Democratic Primary debate (first night in Miami) , Jun 26, 2019

Military an option in Venezuela, but focus on diplomacy

Right now, it's our problem, in that we need to push for humanitarian aid. We need to make sure that, I'm glad we have recognized who should be president here, Guaido. And I'm also glad that we're trying to push Maduro out. But the answer here is to make sure that we are working with our allies, pushing for democracy and some kind of a negotiated agreement. Military should always be on the table, but I don't see that we use it now.
Source: Meet the Press 2019 interview of presidential hopefuls , Mar 17, 2019

Stand with our allies; invest in diplomacy

I believe that we must stand tall as a beacon of democracy, but I also believe that we must stand with our allies. We have to invest in diplomacy. The other thing I'd mention is modernizing our military. Cyber is the next arena for warfare.

So working with our allies, investing in diplomacy, modernizing our military, and then taking on those big challenges that are in front of us. I would list them as the Mideast, the challenge we have with climate change. And, of course, dealing with the nuclear threat that we have with North Korea as well as with Russia's continuing pushing at our country.

Source: CNN Town Hall: 2020 presidential hopefuls , Feb 18, 2019

Fight ISIS Internet recruiting, but don't indict Islam

Q: Your reaction to news of a mass shooting in the "Pulse" nightclub in Florida?

KLOBUCHAR: Having been the local prosecutor during 9/11 when they caught Moussaoui, in our state [Minnesota], I know that you want to make sure that you have the evidence clear before you make statements about a solution. But we know some of the things that have to happen here. The continual work to root out this evil at its roots at the enclave of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, to stop the flow of the international money, to go after the recruiting that we've seen in the US over the Internet.

Q: In Minnesota, there have been numerous cases about people being recruited to part of the ISIS campaign?

KLOBUCHAR: Yes; dozens of indictments & recent jury verdicts. And what we've found is that individual people are recruited over the Internet. No mom wants their kid recruited to go fight for ISIS. You don't want to indict an entire religion, you don't want to indict an entire community over a lone wolf.

Source: Fox News Sunday 2016: interviews for 2016 Veepstakes , Jun 12, 2016

Tackle terrorist groups, and stand up for Israel

Internationalism involves security policies that will protect our county's citizens in an unstable, increasingly volatile world. This means providing our military with adequate funding. It means tackling the pure evil of terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, but doing so whenever possible with other partners. It means standing up for Israel--a beacon of democracy in the Middle East--while working toward a two-state solution, one that will ensure the long-term security of Israelis and Palestinians who yearn for peace. And it means knowing that our country cannot abandon innocent people on a mountaintop--in 2014, Minnesota airmen airlifted food and water to Yazidis and Christians forced from their homes and trapped by ISIS militants on Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq--or put our heads in the sand in the face of Vladimir Putin's aggression.
Source: The Senator Next Door, by Amy Klobuchar, p.269 , Aug 24, 2015

Internationalism should include humanitarian policies

Internationalism is about more than economics. American internationalism should also include humanitarian policies--and an abiding concern for human rights--grounded in our democratic values and moral purpose. On the first all-women senators' trip to Africa, I saw firsthand the way our government's USAID has taken smart, pragmatic economic- and health-focused approaches to foreign aid. Foreign aid is a much less expensive way of engaging with the rest of the world than foreign military involvement.
Source: The Senator Next Door, by Amy Klobuchar, p.268 , Aug 24, 2015

When North Korea crosses line, there have to be consequences

Q: Do we use military action to stop North Korea’s nuclear program?

KLOBUCHAR: As a prosecutor, I know that when people cross a line, there’s got to be consequences. And in foreign affairs, it’s the same thing. I believe these sanctions are incredibly important; we can’t have North Korea begin to be some kind of weapons factory.

Q: If the North Koreans ignore the sanctions, what do we do?

KLOBUCHAR: We have to keep ratcheting things up. We have to keep working with our partners. But one of the things that went wrong here is that these multilateral discussions broke down, North Korea walked away from the table, and I believe we have to keep talking. It’s good that China’s part of this, but if it’s moving in the right direction and if we believe it’s in our national security interests, we should be talking to them directly. I mean, even during the Cold War we kept talking to Russia. And so the discussions are important, and we need to keep the diplomatic pressure on.

Source: 2006 MN Senate debate, on Meet the Press , Oct 15, 2006

Implement Darfur Peace Agreement with UN peacekeeping force.

Klobuchar co-sponsored implementing Darfur Peace Agreement with UN peacekeeping force

Source: S.RES.455 08-SR455 on Feb 14, 2008

Rated +4 by AAI, indicating pro-Arab pro-Palestine voting record.

Klobuchar scores +4 by AAI on Arab-Israeli issues

The Arab American Institute has compiled a Scorecard to catalogue the voting record of the 112th Congress on issues of importance to the Arab American community. Though not comprehensive, we have attempted to provide a snapshot of legislation concerning many of the primary issues concerning Arab Americans. For the Senate, we have included 10 items: two bills on the Arab Spring, three on Palestine, one on Lebanon, one regarding civil liberties, and two for immigration reform.

  1. S. Res. 44: (+) calls on former President Hosni Mubarak to immediately begin a peaceful transition to a democratic political system
  2. S. Res. 109: (+) honoring and supporting women in North Africa and the Middle East
  3. S. Res. 138: (-) calling on the United Nations to rescind the Goldstone report, formally known as the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which accused the Israeli government of targeting Palestinian civilians.
  4. S. Res. 185: (-) reaffirming the commitment of the US to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and calling for a US veto of any UN resolution on Palestinian statehood without a settlement.
  5. S. Con. Res. 23: (-) supporting Israel in maintaining defensible borders, and against Israel returning to the armistice lines that existed on June 4, 1967
  6. S. 558: (+) the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act, to limit the use of cluster munitions in areas normally inhabited by civilians.
  7. S. 1125: (+) greater judicial review of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and greater protections to individuals being monitored or gag-ordered by the FBI.
  8. S.1038, the PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act, in opposition of PATRIOT Act extension.
  9. S. 723: (-) The Birthright Citizenship Act, limiting citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants born in the US.
  10. S. 952: (+) the DREAM Act, allowing undocumented minors to become US citizens, provided they meet certain conditions, including good moral character
Source: AAI website 12-AAI-S on May 2, 2012

Integrate gender into diplomatic and foreign aid processes.

Klobuchar co-sponsored Women, Peace, and Security Act

Expresses the sense of Congress that:

White House Summary of NAP, December 2011:The goal of this National Action Plan is as simple as it is profound: to empower half the world`s population as equal partners in preventing conflict and building peace in countries threatened and affected by war, violence, and insecurity. Deadly conflicts can be more effectively avoided, and peace can be best forged and sustained, when women become equal partners. The National Action Plan is guided by the following five principles:

  1. the engagement and protection of women as agents of peace and stability
  2. building on goals for gender integration, gender equality, and women`s empowerment
  3. guided by the principle of inclusion, seeking out the views and participation of a wide variety of stakeholders--women and girls, men and boys, and members of marginalized groups
  4. coordinate among all relevant departments and agencies of the US government, integrated into relevant United States foreign policy initiatives, and enhanced by engagement with international partners
  5. be accountable for the implementation of the policies and initiatives endorsed in this Plan.
Source: H6255/S3477 12-S3477 on Aug 1, 2012

Vigorous support for State of Israel against Hamas in Gaza.

Klobuchar co-sponsored Resolution for Israeli Self-Defense

RESOLUTION expressing vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders:

    Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Congress:
  1. expresses unwavering commitment to the security of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and recognizes and strongly supports its inherent right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism;
  2. reiterates that Hamas must end Gaza-linked terrorist rocket and missile attacks against Israel, recognize Israel`s right to exist, renounce violence, and agree to accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians;
  3. urges the UN Security Council to condemn the recent spike in Gaza-linked terrorist missile attacks against Israel, which risk causing civilian casualties in both Israel and Gaza; and
  4. encourages the President to continue to work diplomatically with the international community to prevent Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist organizations from retaining or rebuilding the capability to launch rockets and missiles against Israel.
Source: SR599/HR813 12-SRes599 on Nov 16, 2012

Sponsored funding and supplying the Syrian rebels.

Klobuchar co-sponsored Free Syria Act

Congressional Summary:

Proponent`s argument for bill:(by United Free Syria organization): House of Representatives: Free Syria Act (HR.1327):

The House bill would set up a framework under which the Obama administration could deploy anti-aircraft systems to help the rebels fight off the Syrian regime`s attacks from above, and assist a post-Assad transition by using sanctions relief and loans from international financial institutions to support a new transitional government. `We believe there are credible options at your disposal, including limited military options, that would require neither putting US troops on the ground nor acting unilaterally,` Sens. Levin and McCain wrote. `First, we urge you to lead an effort, together with our friends and allies, to degrade the Assad regime`s airpower and to support Turkey if they are willing to establish a safe zone inside of Syria`s northern border.`
Source: S.617 / H.R.1327 13-S617 on Mar 21, 2013

Disallow Palestine from joining ICC to threaten Israel.

Klobuchar signed disallowing Palestine from joining ICC to threaten Israel

Excerpts from Letter from 73 Senators to Secretary of State Kerry We are deeply concerned by the decision of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to seek membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC), because the Palestinian Authority is not a state and its express intent is to use this process to threaten Israel.

Pres. Abbas` effort contravene the spirit of earlier agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and erodes the prospect for peace. Therefore, the US must make clear that joining the ICC is not a legitimate or viable path for Palestinians.

Israel is a major strategic partner of the US and is facing increasing pressure from those who seek to delegitimize its very existence. The only realistic and sustainable path to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Supporting argument: (Heritage Foundation, `U.S. Should Not Join the ICC,` Aug. 18, 2009): The ICC prosecutor is exploring a request by the Palestinian National Authority to prosecute Israeli commanders for alleged war crimes committed during the recent actions in Gaza. Palestinian lawyers maintain that the Palestinian National Authority can request ICC jurisdiction as the de facto sovereign even though it is not an internationally recognized state. By countenancing Palestine`s claims, the ICC prosecutor has enabled pressure to be applied to Israel over alleged war crimes, while ignoring Hamas`s incitement of the military action and its commission of war crimes against Israeli civilians. Furthermore, by seemingly recognizing Palestine as a sovereign entity, the prosecutor`s action has created a pathway for Palestinian statehood without first reaching a comprehensive peace deal with Israel. This determination is an inherently political issue beyond the ICC`s authority.

Source: Palestinian Bid to ICC 14LTR-ICC on Jan 29, 2015

Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank.

Klobuchar signed two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank

Congressional Summary: S.Res.6/H.Res.11 objects to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334, which characterizes Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal and demands cessation of settlement activities.

Opposing argument: (Cato Institute, Dec. 19, 2003): In principle, separation seems the best answer to stop the killing. For this reason, a security fence makes sense--if it actually separates Jew from Arab. Unfortunately, to protect a number of disparate Israeli settlements erected in the midst of Palestinian communities, Israel currently is mixing Jew and Arab and separating Arab from Arab. Thus are sown the seeds for conflict. After 36 years of occupation, the land remains almost exclusively Arab. The limited Jewish presence is the result of conscious colonization. The settlements require a pervasive Israeli military occupation, imposing a de facto system of apartheid. Separation offers the only hope, but separation requires dismantling Israeli settlements.

Source: S.Res.6 & H.Res.11 17-SRes6 on Jan 3, 2017

CC:Keep alliance with Israel.

Klobuchar supports the CC survey question on supporting Israel

The Christian Coalition Voter Guide inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'The US Should Continue to Support and Stand with the Nation of Israel Against her Enemies ' Christian Coalition's self-description: "Christian Voter Guide is a clearing-house for traditional, pro-family voter guides. We do not create voter guides, nor do we interview or endorse candidates."

Source: Christian Coalition Surve 18CC-17 on Jul 1, 2018

Acknowledge the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s.

Klobuchar co-sponsored acknowledging the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s

Sen. DURBIN: The definition of `genocide` is `the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group.` Scholars agree that what the Armenian people suffered in 1915 to 1917 fits the definition of genocide. To date, 19 countries and 37 US states recognize the Armenian Genocide. Genocide is wrong. It is evil. It is evil whether its victims are Armenians, Sudanese, Rwandan Tutsis, Cambodians or European Jews. Not to acknowledge genocide for what it is denigrates the memory of its victims. Recognition of genocide is part of the healing process. Official recognition will reaffirm our tradition of protecting the vulnerable and inspire us to not stand by and watch as genocide occurs in our time.
Source: Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.RES.106/H.RES.106) 2007-SR106 on Mar 14, 2007

Condemn violence by Chinese government in Tibet.

Klobuchar co-sponsored condemning the violence by Chinese government in Tibet

A resolution condemning the violence in Tibet and calling for restraint by the Government of the People`s Republic of China and the people of Tibet. Calls for:

  1. a dialogue between the government of China and His Holiness the Dalai Lama on religious and cultural autonomy for Tibet within China; and
  2. release of peaceful protesters.
    Calls on the PRC to:
  1. respect the right of the people of Tibet to speak of the Dalai Lama and possess his photograph;
  2. respect basic human rights;
  3. allow international journalists free access to China; and
  4. provide a full accounting of the March 2008 protests in Tibet.
Urges that the agreement permitting the PRC to open further diplomatic missions in the United States should be contingent upon establishment of a U.S. government office in Lhasa, Tibet.
Source: S.RES.504 2008-SR504 on Apr 7, 2008

Allow travel between the United States and Cuba.

Klobuchar signed Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act

Prohibits the President from regulating or prohibiting travel to or from Cuba by U.S. citizens or legal residents or any of the transactions ordinarily incident to such travel, except in time of war or armed hostilities between the United States and Cuba, or of imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of U.S. travelers.

Source: S.428&HR.874 2009-S428 on Feb 12, 2009

Pressure friendly Arab states to end Israeli boycott.

Klobuchar signed Schumer-Graham letter to Secy. Rice from 79 Congress members

    Dear Secretary Rice,
    In the past, the lack of sufficient support from [non-participating] Arab states have made it difficult to reach agreements [on the Arab-Israeli conflict]. You should press friendly Arab countries that have not yet done so, to:
  1. Participate in the upcoming international meeting and be a full partner of the US in advancing regional peace
  2. Take visible, meaningful steps in the financial, diplomatic and political arena to help Palestinian President Abbas govern effectively and meet obligations to fight terror
  3. Stop support for terrorist groups and cease all anti-Israel and anti-Jewish incitement
  4. Recognize Israel`s right to exist and not use such recognition as a bargaining chip for future Israeli concessions
  5. End the Arab League economic boycott of Israel in all of its forms
  6. Pressure Hamas to recognize Israel, reject terror, and accept prior agreements, and isolate Hamas until it takes such steps.
Source: Schumer-Graham letter to Secy. Rice from 79 Congress members 2010-LT-AR on Oct 2, 2007

Sponsored bill to monitor forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang.

Klobuchar co-sponsored Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

Legislative summary: The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act: