Mike DeWine on War & Peace

	Mike DeWine on War & Peace Former Republican Sr Senator (OH, 1995-2007)

Cannot set an artificial timetable for withdrawal from Iraq

We cannot leave Iraq with the job undone, and we cannot set an artificial timetable. It will embolden the insurgents; it will tell them when we will be gone. They just sit back and wait. That would be a mistake. If you don't believe me, look at what the three military leaders the other day said. They said they were very critical of Bush and Rumsfeld, and the conduct of the war. But when they are asked "Shall we set a date, a date specific, to be out of Iraq?" they all said "No." And the reasons they gave were, one, it would bring about chaos in Iraq; two, it would spread; three, the country that would benefit the most would be Iran. And then it was also said that we would have in Iraq a situation like we had in the 1990s in Afghanistan, only it would be worse. It would become the focal point for the terrorists, a place where they could go, get sanctuary. The colonel who testified said, "Beirut's on a major, major airline route. They won't have any trouble getting there, it's very easy." Source: 2006 Ohio Senate Debate on NBC Meet the Press , Oct 1, 2006

Iraq has become a cause celebre for the jihadists

Q: Has in fact the Iraq war made us less safe, created more terrorists than we've killed? A: The National Intelligence Estimate said it very well. I think it is correct. It said a number of things. One, it said, as you pointed out, there was-it's become a cause celebre. That's the right word. The jihadists, the people who want to kill us, always have a cause. Bin Laden's cause before 9/11 was that we had troops in the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia. They have other reasons. They say Israel. They say that we have troops other places. So it is always something. But the key finding, seems to me in that NIE, is they said, "If the jihadists are successful in Iraq, they will be emboldened and there will be more of them. If they're unsuccessful, there will be fewer of them." That to me is future-looking, and that is very instructive and it goes along with what the three military leaders who testified had the same plot, same plot in mind. Source: 2006 Ohio Senate Debate on NBC Meet the Press , Oct 1, 2006

Would not have voted to go into Iraq with what we now know

Q: Would you have still voted to go into Iraq, knowing what we do now? A: No. I think with the weapons of mass destruction evidence, we would have never even had a vote. It would never have been presented by Bush. But saying that does not mean that our troops have not done a magnificent job, nor does it mean that the world is not better off for having Saddam Hussein-this man who had developed chemical weapons & biological weapons in the past-the world is better off for him being gone. The Iraqi Survey Group that went in afterwards said they didn't have the weapons of mass destruction, but they said two other things that are very interesting. One, he continued to have the capability and the scientists to develop them in the future. And second, he had the will and inclination to do it. The intelligence committee said, "This man has weapons of mass destruction." Knowing that, there was no choice at that point but to make that decision. But the intelligence was bad. Source: 2006 Ohio Senate Debate on NBC Meet the Press , Oct 1, 2006

Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism.

DeWine co-sponsored the Resolution on bigotry against Sikh Americans:

Title: Condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans in the wake of terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

Summary: Declares that, in the quest to identify, locate, and bring to justice the perpetrators and sponsors of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the civil rights and liberties of all Americans, including Sikh-Americans, should be protected.

Condemns bigotry and acts of violence or discrimination against any Americans, including Sikh-Americans.
Calls upon local and Federal law enforcement authorities to: (1) work to prevent hate crimes against all Americans; and (2) prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all those who commit hate crimes.

Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR255 on Oct 4, 2001

Move the US Embassy to Jerusalem.

DeWine co-sponsored the Jerusalem Embassy Act

Jerusalem remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic religious group are protected;
Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel;
the U.S. Embassy in Israel be established in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999.
Makes specified amounts of such funds available until expended in FY 1996 and 1997 only for construction and other costs associated with relocating the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem.

Corresponding House bill is H.R.1595. Became Public Law No: 104-45. Source: Bill sponsored by 77 Senators and 78 Reps 95-S1322 on Oct 13, 1995