Explore Candidates and Issues
Dennis Kucinich on Iraq and Foreign Policy
This candidate has withdrawn from the election
Q: Does anyone have a time frame for when the US troops can be pulled out? KUCINICH: The resolution that I talked about, going to the UN with a totally different approach -- from the time the UN approves that, 90 days later we can bring our troops home, rotate the UN troops in and bring our troops home. The only difference between a rut and a grave is in the dimensions. We are not stuck there.
Democratic 2004 Primary Presidential Debate in Durham NH Dec 9, 2003
Introduced H.R. 1234 which would "end the occupation of Iraq immediately, simultaneously with the introduction of a United Nations-led international peacekeeping force"
On Tuesday, when Congress resumes its work, I will present this plan to leadership and members as the only viable alternative to the Bush Administration's policy of continued occupation and escalation. Congress must know that it cannot and must not stand by and watch our troops and innocent Iraqi civilians die.
Kucinich was opposed to Bush's call in January 2007 to temporarily boost U.S. troop levels in Iraq and voted against the plan in the House. He voted for a House resolution in February 2007 that said lawmakers disapproved of the Bush proposal. Kucinich said Army Gen. David Petraeus' plan in September 2007 to withdraw those additional troops but leave 130,000 forces in Iraq was "meaningless."
Kucinich would turn all U.S. contracting business in Iraq over to the Iraqi government and call on the international community for more reconstruction aid. Like many of his fellow candidates, Kucinich advocates a regional conference to help stabilize Iraq. He argues that the United States should then fund a national reconciliation conference under the auspices of the United Nations.
Now I want to know, did anyone here vote to establish permanent bases in Iraq when they voted to invade that country? Did anyone here vote to send U.S. troops permanently to Iraq? Weren't we going to war on the belief Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? Weren't we going to war on the belief that Iraq was an imminent threat of a mushroom cloud the administration warned about? All that proved to be false. If the President had told you he wanted to spend over $300 billion and 2,300 American lives, plus tens of thousands of maimed servicemembers to build new military bases, permanent deployment of U.S. troops in the Mesopotamian Valley, would anyone here have supported that? I don't think so.
Step One of Kucinich's 12-point plan to exit Iraq is: The US announces it will end the occupation, close military bases and withdraw. The insurgency has been fueled by the occupation and the prospect of a long-term presence as indicated by the building of permanent bases. A US declaration of an intention to withdraw troops and close bases will help dampen the insurgency which has been inspired to resist colonization and fight invaders and those who have supported US policy. Furthermore this will provide an opening where parties within Iraq and in the region can set the stage for negotiations towards peaceful settlement.
Q: Terrorism wasn't on the agenda, was it, in the Congress during the previous administration? KUCINICH: I wouldn't say it wasn't on the agenda. The Clinton administration handled its approach in a way that tried to create international cooperation. Where the problem is today is that the Bush administration's doctrine is wrong. The doctrine of preemption led us into Iraq. The doctrine of unilateralism essentially led us into Iraq. The doctrine of first strike puts us at risk of expanding war.
Democratic 2004 primary Debate in Greenville SC Jan 29, 2004
Kucinich cosponsored the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007, which prohibits the U.S. government from contracting with companies that do business in Sudan. That bill passed in the House but awaits action in the Senate. Kucinich also voted for the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006.
Rep. Kucinich (D-OH) supports direct engagement with North Korea and for the President to "meet personally with [North Korean leader] Kim Jong-Il." He advocates working closely with South Korea to pursue a "permanent peace settlement" with the goal of reunifying the peninsula.
Rep. Kucinich (D-OH) is in favor of opening diplomatic relations with Iran and says, "There's no reason for war."
I declare my support for the State of Israel and for the security of the Israeli people. I also declare my support for a Palestinian state and for the security of the Palestinian people. We are missing an opportunity to lead people of the Middle East toward a secure and stable future together. Our [current] policy is undefined, amorphous, without borders, and without limits. [We should] acknowledge the pain and suffering of the people of Israel [and also] the pain and suffering of the Palestinians.
Campaign website, www.Kucinich.us, "On The Issues" Aug 1, 2003
Rep. Kucinich (D-OH) says U.S. policy toward Cuba "has failed." He calls for an end to the embargo and a repeal of the Helms-Burton Act. He also opposes the travel ban.
Economic Aid should be used as an incentive to peaceful and fruitful relations, rather than costly and potentially life-threatening conflict. Foreign Aid should be used to protect our interests in terms of diplomacy, human rights, isolation of disease, environmental destruction, and prevention of increased refugees to US.
1996 Congressional National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1996
Vote YES on a bill to provide $15.2 billion for foreign operations in FY 2000. Among other provisions, the bill would provide $1.82 billion over three years for implementation of the Wye River peace accord in the Middle East. In addition, the measure would provide $123 million in multilateral debt relief and would contribute $25 million to the United National Population Fund.
Bill sponsored by Callahan, R-AL; Bill HR 3196 ; vote number 1999-572 on Nov 5, 1999
Q: Why do you have so much confidence in the UN? KUCINICH: For many years, the UN was having trouble getting funding. And the inability to get funding had a material impact, an adverse impact, on the ability of the UN to do its job around the world. And the only way that we could be safe as a nation is to reach out and to engage with the world community in the cause of international security. So the UN going in would mean the UN would handle the oil, with no privatization of the oil assets.
CNN "Rock The Vote" Democratic Debate Nov 5, 2003
Q: Show-of-hands question: Do you believe there is such a thing as a global war on terror? Rep. Kucinich, why is your hand not up? KUCINICH: Because the fact of the matter is that the global war on terror has been a pretext for aggressive war. As president, I intend to take America in a different direction, rejecting war as an instrument of policy, reconnecting with the nations of the world, so that we can address the real issues that affect security all over the globe and affect our security at home: getting rid of all nuclear weapons, participating in the chemical & biological weapons conventions, the landmine treaty, joining the International Criminal Court, signing the Kyoto climate change treaty. The world is waiting for an American president who reaches out in a hand of friendship; who understands this is a complex world, but doesn't see the world in terms of enemies. The minute that we have dichotomous thinking of us versus them, we lose the opportunity to be able to connect with people.
South Carolina 2007 Democratic primary debate, on MSNBC Apr 26, 2007