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Bob Smith on Foreign Policy

Republican Sr Senator (NH; retired 2002)


Maintain military presence in Asia to confront China

I believe a more prudent and pragmatic policy should be taken toward China. We should maintain strong alliances and a vigorous presence in Asia and confront China directly on all aspects of weapons proliferation and military policy which might threaten our interests.
Source: Smith’s Senate Home Page Jul 2, 1999

Create Senate committee to investigate China spying

[Regarding the Cox Report,] Sen. Bob Smith of New Hampshire is urging creation of a Senate select committee to investigate Chinese espionage. “We will get to the bottom of this,” he said. “Nobody in this Senate worth his or her salt should have any objection to that.”
Source: Associated Press, “Republicans on China”, by K. Srinivasan May 26, 1999

Against UN control of US troops and sovereignty

Senator Smith opposes international agreements that threaten the sovereignty of the United States. He strongly opposed Chemical Weapons Convention, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. He opposes placing U.S. Troops under U.N. command.
Source: www.smithforpresident.org/issues.htm May 19, 1999

Get US out of UN

I will sign no global agreement that sacrifices United States Sovereignty. I will conduct no military action unless it is in the national security interests of the United States. No troops will serve under UN command. And speaking of the UN, let’s face it, it is time, on January 21, 2001, I will get us out of the United Nations.
Source: NH Primary Kickoff Dinner Speech May 2, 1999

Against NATO expansion; if it continues, US should exit

Aiming directly at post-Cold War thinking about NATO as a force against violent instability in Europe, Smith notes that he strongly opposed the alliance’s recent expansion to include Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. NATO’s mission, he says, should be the defense of its members, period. ‘’if this is what NATO has become - a means of dragging the US into every minor conflict around Europe’s edges - then maybe we should get out of NATO.’’
Source: www.SmithForPresident.org/news.htm “Kosovo” Apr 2, 1999

No relations with Cuba & Vietnam; keep Radio Marti & others

Sen. Smith thinks the US should not have diplomatic relations with the government of Cuba nor the government of Vietnam. Sen. Smith concurs with continuing funding for Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Radio Marti, TV Marti, and Radio Free Asia.
Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1996

Russia: link aid to reform

Sen. Smith agrees that economic aid to Russia and the former republics should be decreased and/or eliminated. Smith says, “Aid should be specifically linked to military, economic, and political reform.”
Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1996

Foreign aid: only for disasters or US security interests

Sen. Smith concurs that foreign aid should only be given when extraordinary circumstances and disaster threaten the lives of civilian populations. Sen. Smith furhter concurs that foreign aid should be given to countries only when it is in the security interests of the United States.
Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1996

Retaliatory tariffs OK against Cuba, China

Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1996

Voted NO on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe.

H.R. 3167; Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2001, To endorse the vision of further enlargement of the NATO Alliance. Vote to pass a bill that would support further expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, authorize military assistance to several eastern European countries and lift assistance restrictions on Slovakia.
Reference: Bill HR.3167 ; vote number 2002-116 on May 17, 2002

Voted NO on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons.

Vote to table [kill] an amendment that would require sanctions against China or other countries if they were found to be selling illicit weapons of mass destruction.
Reference: Bill HR.4444 ; vote number 2000-242 on Sep 13, 2000

Voted NO on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion.

Adoption of the conference report on the 2000 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill provided $12.7 billion for foreign aid programs in 2000.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)51; N)49
Reference: H.R. 2606 Conference Report; Bill H.R. 2606 ; vote number 1999-312 on Oct 6, 1999

Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions.

To kill a proposal limiting President Clinton's ability to impose economic sanctions on foreign nations.
Status: Motion to Table Agreed to Y)53; N)46; NV)1
Reference: Motion to table the Lugar Amdt #3156.; Bill S. 2159 ; vote number 1998-201 on Jul 15, 1998

Voted YES on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech.

This amendment would have limited NATO Expansion to only include Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Status: Amdt Rejected Y)41; N)59
Reference: NATO Expansion limit-Warner Amdt. #2322; Bill NATO Expansion Treaty #105-36 ; vote number 1998-112 on Apr 30, 1998

Voted NO on $17.9 billion to IMF.

Would provide $17.9 billion for the International Monetary Fund.
Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)84; N)16
Reference: McConnell Amdt #2100; Bill S. 1768 ; vote number 1998-44 on Mar 26, 1998

Voted YES on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba.

Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)74; N)22; NV)4
Reference: Conference Report on H.R. 927; Bill H.R. 927 ; vote number 1996-22 on Mar 5, 1996

Voted NO on ending Vietnam embargo.

Ending U.S. trade embargos on the country of Vietnam.
Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)62; N)38
Reference: For. Reltns. Auth. Act FY 94 & 95; Bill S. 1281 ; vote number 1994-5 on Jan 27, 1994

Other candidates on Foreign Policy: Bob Smith on other issues:
NH Gubernatorial:
John Lynch
NH Senatorial:
Jeanne Shaheen
Kelly Ayotte

Retiring as of Jan. 2011:
CT:Dodd(D)
DE:Kaufman(D)
FL:Martinez(R)
FL:LeMieux(R)
IL:Burris(D)
IN:Bayh(D)
KS:Brownback(R)
KY:Bunning(R)
MO:Bond(R)
ND:Dorgan(D)
NH:Gregg(R)
OH:Voinovich(R)
PA:Specter(R)
UT:Bennett(R)
WV:Goodwin(D)

Unseated as of Jan. 2011:
AR:Lincoln(D)
UT:Bennett(R)
WI:Feingold(D)

Newly elected, Nov. 2010:
AR:Boozman(R)
CT:Blumenthal(D)
CO:Bennet(D)
DE:Coons(D)
FL:Rubio(R)
IL:Kirk(R)
IN:Coats(R)
KS:Moran(R)
KY:Paul(R)
MO:Blunt(R)
ND:Hoeven(R)
NH:Ayotte(R)
NY2:Gillibrand(D)
OH:Portman(R)
PA:Toomey(R)
UT:Lee(R)
WI:Johnson(R)
WV:Manchin(D)

Re-elected, Nov. 2010:
AK:Murkowski(I)
AL:Shelby(R)
AZ:McCain(R)
CA:Boxer(D)
GA:Isakson(R)
HI:Inouye(D)
IA:Grassley(R)
ID:Crapo(R)
LA:Vitter(R)
MD:Mikulski(D)
NC:Burr(R)
NV:Reid(D)
NY6:Schumer(D)
OK:Coburn(R)
OR:Wyden(D)
SC:DeMint(R)
SD:Thune(R)
VT:Leahy(D)
WA:Murray(D) 		Abortion
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Page last updated: Nov 26, 2010