Robert Menendez on War & Peace Democratic Jr Senator; previously Representative (NJ-13)

Is Trump acting for Russia and Turkey or willfully blind?

Oppose bombs to Saudi Arabia; no national security emergency

Murphy, an outspoken critic of Saudi Arabia's human rights record and its military campaign in Yemen, expressed concern over the possible action in a series of tweets. "Trump may use an obscure loophole in the Arms Control Act and notice a major new sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia (the ones they drop in Yemen) in a way that will prevent Congress from objecting." Murphy wrote. "Arms control law allows Congress to reject a sale to a foreign country. But Trump would claim the sale constitutes an 'emergency' which means Congress can't take a vote of disapproval. It would go through automatically," Murphy tweeted.

Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen against Houthi rebels, marked by a heavy civilian death toll from air strikes, and the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has fueled growing hostility in Congress

Selling arms to Saudi Arabia makes crisis in Yemen

Robert Hugin (R): No stand found.

Robert Menendez (D): Hesitant. Concerned that Saudi war in Yemen furthers human rights crisis.

Grave mistake to walk away from Iran nuke deal without plan

Robert Hugin (R): Yes. "Iran has used the resources they received from the United States [as part of the deal] to export terrorism."

Robert Menendez (D): No. "Grave mistake to walk away without a plan" to ensure Iran doesn't restart nuclear weapon program.

Appointed Senator in part due to anti-Iraq War vote

Appointed Senator in part due to anti-Iraq War vote He was among 23 senators to oppose authorizing the use of force in Iraq in 2002--a vote that became a key reason why years later, when as the new governor he got to choose his Senate replacement in 2006,

Biggest mistake in Iraq was going there in the first place

KEAN: The tragic attacks on Sept. 11 refocused our foreign policy objectives. The current wars in Afghanistan & Iraq are extensions of that new focus. We all want to bring our soldiers home as expeditiously as possible, but we must complete our military and diplomatic objectives. I agree with Sen. McCain's assessment, that while "we have made serious mistakes" in Iraq, a mandated timetable could possibly incite "full-scale civil war."

MENENDEZ: To say we've merely "made mistakes" in Iraq is to ignore the gravity of the current situation. The biggest mistake Pres. Bush made was sending our sons & daughters off to war in the first place. Amazingly, Tom Kean Jr. still says he would have voted for the war--even with all that we know today. America's worldwide troop deployment must reflect our priorities in the fight against terrorism. The Bush administration never finished the job in Afghanistan--the launch pad for the 9/11 attacks.

Iraq is a war of choice; based on misleading & false threats

MENENDEZ: I'm proud to have voted against Bush's war in Iraq right from the start--even when it was unpopular to do so. The Bush administration failed to make the case that Iraq was an imminent threat to our national security. Moreover, there was no conclusive evidence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. This was a war of choice, not a war of necessity. The Bush administration misled the American people with faulty premises and false promises. Tom Kean Jr. is wrong on Iraq. It's time to end the open-ended commitment of US forces in Iraq.

KEAN: Bob Menendez is weak on national defense. He is a "dove," who sides with the extreme-left wing of his party, unless it's politically opportune to do otherwise. Hindsight is always 20/20 and the real debate is about how we move forward in Iraq. I want our troops to come home safely and as soon as possible, but "cut and run" is not a solution, it's a declaration of defeat.

Opposes the war in Iraq

Only votes for war that he'd send his own kids to fight

The administration manipulated justifications for Iraq war

Deploy UN multinational peacekeeping force in Darfur.

Calling for the urgent deployment of a robust and effective multinational peacekeeping mission with sufficient size, resources, leadership, and mandate to protect civilians in Darfur.

• Whereas hundreds of thousands of people have died and approximately 2,500,000 people have been displaced in Darfur, Sudan since 2003;
• Whereas Congress declared on July 22, 2004 that the atrocities in Darfur were genocide;
• Whereas the Sudanese President refused to allow the UN to deploy a peacekeeping force to Darfur;
• Whereas deliberately targeting civilians and people providing humanitarian assistance during an armed conflict is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, and those who commit such violations must be held accountable;
• Whereas on June 11, 2007, Sudanese President al-Bashir pledged to accept unconditionally the full United Nations-African Union hybrid deployment;
• Whereas to establish conditions of peace and security, the peacekeeping mission must be accompanied by a peace-building process among the parties to the conflict;
• Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate urges the President of the US to work with members of the UN Security Council and the African Union to ensure the expeditious deployment of the United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping force with a mandate affirming that civilian protection is a primary mission objective;
• Provide the UN-African Union hybrid force with sufficient logistical support and airlift capacity; and necessary vehicles, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters for tactical reconnaissance and armed deterrence;
• Be prepared to implement meaningful measures, including the imposition of multilateral sanctions, an arms embargo, and a no-fly zone for Sudanese military flights over Darfur, if the Government of Sudan obstructs deployment of the agreed upon peacekeeping mission.

Legislative Outcome: Agreed to by Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment.

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the nuclear program of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Whereas, since at least the late 1980s, Iran has engaged in a sustained pattern of illicit and deceptive activities to acquire nuclear capability;
• Whereas the UN Security Council has adopted multiple resolutions since 2006 demanding the full suspension of all uranium enrichment-related activities by Iran, particularly possible military dimensions;
• Whereas, in Nov. 2011, the IAEA issued an extensive report that documents `serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran`s nuclear programme`;
• Whereas top leaders of Iran have repeatedly threatened the existence of the State of Israel;
• Whereas the Department of State has designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984;
• Whereas Iran has provided weapons, training, & funding to terrorist groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Shiite militias in Iraq;
• Whereas Iran had forged a `secret deal` with al Qaeda to facilitate the movement of al Qaeda fighters and funding through Iranian territory;

1. Reaffirms that the US Government has a vital interest in working together to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability;
2. warns that time is limited to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability;
3. urges continued and increasing economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran until a full and sustained suspension of all uranium enrichment-related activities;
4. expresses that the window for diplomacy is closing;
5. expresses support for the universal rights and democratic aspirations of the people of Iran;
6. strongly supports US policy to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability;
7. rejects any US policy that would rely on containment as an option in response to the Iranian nuclear threat.

Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program.

Expresses the sense of Congress that:
1. diplomatic efforts to address Iran`s illicit nuclear efforts, unconventional and ballistic missile development programs, and support for international terrorism are more likely to be effective if the President is empowered with explicit authority to impose additional sanctions on the government of Iran;
2. US concerns regarding Iran are strictly the result of that government`s actions; and
3. the people of the United States have feelings of friendship for the people of Iran and regret that developments in recent decades have created impediments to that friendship.

States that it should be US policy to:
1. support international diplomatic efforts to end Iran`s uranium enrichment program and its nuclear weapons program;
2. encourage foreign governments to direct state-owned and private entities to cease all investment in, and support of, Iran`s energy sector and all exports of refined petroleum products to Iran;
3. impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran and any other Iranian financial institution engaged in proliferation activities or support of terrorist groups; and
4. work with allies to protect the international financial system from deceptive and illicit practices by Iranian financial institutions involved in proliferation activities or support of terrorist groups.

• Amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to direct the President to impose sanctions if a person has made an investment of $20 million or more (or any combination of investments of at least $5 million which in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12-month period) that directly and significantly contributed to Iran`s ability to develop its petroleum resources. (Under current law the sanction thresholds are $40 million, $10 million, and $40 million, respectively.)
• Establishes additional sanctions prohibiting specified foreign exchange, banking, and property transactions.
• Includes refined petroleum resources.