OnTheIssuesLogo

Sheldon Whitehouse on War & Peace

Democratic Jr Senator, previously attorney general

 


More troops in Afghanistan OK but revisit later

Whitehouse, who visited Afghanistan on July 4, said he does not object to the slight increase in troop levels in light of factors that include voter participation of Afghans, improved conditions for women, the recommendations of military leaders and U.S. national security interests in denying safe havens to terrorists.

He said he would continue to look at the situation. "If it looks like the military is right and it's successful, good," the senator said. "If not, we'll have to revisit it."

Source: Providence Journal on 2018 Rhode Island Senate race , Sep 11, 2017

Announce irrevocable schedule to withdraw from Iraq

Q: What would be your strategy in Iraq?

A: First, announce irrevocably our intention to withdraw our troops. Second, instruct the military to set up an appropriate schedule for redeploying the troops, putting troop safety as the paramount concern. And third, during the window before redeployment, engage in aggressive diplomacy to get these Iraqi factions to some kind of final agreement to take us out of the terrible situation we're in right now, being held hostage to their feuds.

Source: 2006 RI Senate debate, by RIBA and WPRI-12 , Sep 13, 2006

Iraq war was premature and a mistake

America is a beacon for the world, but when we go it alone, we make it very difficult to succeed. It's one of the reasons I felt the President's decision to go to war in Iraq was premature, and a big mistake. Had I been in the Senate, I would have opposed the President's decision.

I support a rapid and responsible withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. We can and should have most, if not all of our troops, redeployed out of Iraq by the end of this year.

Source: 2006 Senate website, WhitehouseForSenate.com, "Key issues" , May 2, 2006

Responsibly extricate ourselves from Iraq

The bravery of our troops-so many from Rhode Island-has been extraordinary. But we cannot let their continued presence on the ground become the source of more security problems than they solve. We need to responsibly extricate ourselves from Iraq. And we need to resolve that never again will American troops go to battle without the body armor and protection they deserve. It's not a parent's job to outfit America's soldiers. That's what the President and Congress are supposed to do.
Source: 2006 Senate website, WhitehouseForSenate.com, "Key issues" , May 2, 2006

Iraq war policies have been misguided and flawed

Tomorrow, when President Bush addresses the nation, he should acknowledge that his policies for the war in Iraq have been misguided and flawed. But most importantly, the President must send the signal to Iraqi forces that we are in withdrawal mode, that our timeframe is rapid, and that Iraq must take responsibility for its own security.
Source: Campaign press release, "Bush's Address to the Nation" , Nov 29, 2005

Rapid and responsible withdrawal of our troops from Iraq

I have long argued for a rapid and responsible withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. That's why I supported Sen. Kerry's proposal to reduce troop levels by 20,000 before the end of the year and the Levin amendment in the Senate. And while military commanders should have the flexibility to establish specific timetables for withdrawal that protect troop safety and allow for response to the evolving situation on the ground, I believe that we should be redeployed out of Iraq by the end of 2006 - and possibly sooner if circumstances permit.

President Bush should send a signal to the Iraqis and to the world that this transition to withdrawal mode is real and bring a significant number of our troops home as soon after the December 15 Iraqi elections as possible.

Source: Campaign press release, "Bush's Address to the Nation" , Nov 29, 2005

Deploy UN multinational peacekeeping force in Darfur.

Whitehouse co-sponsored deploying 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.

Legislative Outcome: Agreed to by Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Source: Resolution on Darfur (S.RES 276) 07-SR276 on Jul 19, 2007

Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment.

Whitehouse co-sponsored Resolution on Iran's nuclear program

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, that Congress--
  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.
Source: HRes568/SR41 12-SJR41 on May 24, 2012

Sponsored shutting down Iranian foreign reserves.

Whitehouse co-sponsored Iran Sanctions Loophole Elimination Act

Congressional Summary:Prohibits US-based correspondent accounts or a payable-through accounts by a foreign financial institution that knowingly:

Arguments for and against bill: (New York Times, May 8, 2013): Seeking to escalate pressure on Iran, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation that would deny the Iranian government access to its foreign exchange reserves, estimated to be worth as much as $100 billion. The legislation would be the first major new sanction confronting Iran since its inconclusive round of negotiations last month on its disputed nuclear program.

Sponsors of the legislation contend that Iran is not bargaining in good faith while it continues to enrich uranium. Part of the reason, they say, is that Iran has been able to work around the worst effects of the sanctions by tapping its foreign currency reserves overseas, which are largely beyond the reach of current restrictions. `Closing the foreign currency loophole in our sanctions policy is critical in our efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability,` the sponsors said.

Critics said the new legislation risked further alienating Iranians who suspect that the sanctions` true purpose is not to pressure Iran in the nuclear negotiations, but to cause an economic implosion that would lead to regime change. `When we`ve cemented a sanctions escalation path, we`re creating a trajectory toward actual confrontation,` said the founder of the National Iranian American Council, a Washington group that opposes sanctions. Some Iranian leaders, he said, see the sanctions `as a train that can only go in one direction and has no brakes.`

Source: S.892 13-S892 on May 8, 2013

Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection.

Whitehouse signed demanding that Iran accept intrusive nuclear inspection

Excerpts from Letter from 85 Senators to President Obama We all hope that nuclear negotiations succeed in preventing Iran from ever developing a nuclear weapons capability. For diplomacy to succeed, however, we must couple our willingness to negotiate with a united and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime. We urge you to insist on the realization of these core principles with Iran:

Iran must clearly understand the consequences of failing to reach an acceptable final agreement. We must signal unequivocally to Iran that rejecting negotiations and continuing its nuclear weapon program will lead to much more dramatic sanctions, including further limitations on Iran`s oil exports.

Opposing argument: (Cato Institute, `Enforcing Iran Nuke Deal,` Jan. 25, 2017): More than anything else, the Iran nuclear deal must be kept because the alternative is a return to ever-heightening tensions and clamoring by hawks in both countries. From 2003 to 2014, years of unrelenting U.S. sanctions and confrontation, Iran went from 164 centrifuges to 19,000. The hostile approach generates a more expansive, less transparent Iranian nuclear program and increases the chances for another disastrous U.S. war in the Middle East. Let`s hope the Trump administration chooses not to go that route.

Source: Iran Nukes Letter 14LTR-NUKE on Mar 18, 2014

Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran.

Whitehouse co-sponsored requiring Congress' approval before military action in Iran