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John Edwards on Iraq and Foreign Policy
For more than a century, America has spared no effort to defend, encourage, and promote that idea around the world. Over and over, we have done it by exercising American leadership to forge powerful alliances-with longtime allies and reluctant friends, with nations already living in the light of democracy and with peoples struggling to join them. The might of those alliances has been a driving force in the survival & success of freedom-in two World Wars, in the Cold War, in the Gulf War, and in Kosovo. America led instead of going it alone. We extended a hand, not a fist. We respected the world - and the world respected us. Today, there is a powerful yearning around the world for an America that listens and leads again. An America that is respected, not just feared. We believe that respect is an indispensable mark of our nation’s character--and an indispensable source of our nation's strength. And it is the indispensable bond of America’s mighty alliances.
Kerry and Edwards: Our Plan For America , p. 8 Aug 10, 2004
Q: How do you view this effort to internationalize the war? EDWARDS: Unfortunately what we see happening on the ground in Iraq right now is part of a long-term pattern by this president. He stubbornly continues to fight an effort to bring others in, to relinquish some responsibility, some control in order to bring our friends and allies into this effort. This started a long time ago. It began with his unilateral disengagement from Kyoto, unilateral disengagement from the biological weapons convention, a whole series of nuclear nonproliferation agreements. I will lead in a way that shows that America is strong, but at the same time that we will solve the world's problems with the rest of the world in a multilateral, coalition-building way, because that is the most effective way to create respect for America. And at the end of the day, the American people are safer and more secure in a world where America is looked up to and respected.
Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003
Edwards says the United States should provide logistical and intelligence support to assist peacekeepers in Darfur. He says NATO should assist the peacekeeping process by establishing a no-fly zone and providing support for the African Union forces already in Darfur. He has also called for U.S. sanctions on twenty-nine companies owned or controlled by Sudan, and for NATO sanctions on the Sudanese government. He also says the United States should pressure China to help end the conflict.
Q: Would you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba & N.Korea? EDWARDS: Yes, and I think actually Sen. Clinton's right though. Before that meeting takes place, we need to do the diplomacy to make sure that that meeting's not going to be used for propaganda purposes, will not be used to just beat down the US in the world community. But I think this is just a piece of a bigger question, which is, what do we actually do to restore America's moral leadership in the world?
2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007
Q: Is the US absent in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? EDWARDS: We've been largely absent, though not entirely absent, from the peace-making process over the last 4 years. The Israeli people not only have the right to defend themselves, they should defend themselves. They have an obligation to defend themselves. We know that the prime minister has made a decision, an historic decision, to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza. It's important for America to participate in helping with that process. Now, if Gaza's being used as a platform for attacking the Israeli people, that has to be stopped. They don't have a partner for peace right now. They certainly don't have a partner in Arafat, and they need a legitimate partner for peace. It is very important for America to crack down on the Saudis who have not had a public prosecution for financing terrorism since 9/11. And it's important for America to confront the situation in Iran, because Iran is an enormous threat to Israel and to the Israeli people.
Edwards-Cheney debate: 2004 Vice Presidential Oct 5, 2004
Edwards has expressed support (BosGlobe) for the economic embargo on Cuba. In August 2007, Edwards, like Obama, said he would support an end to travel restrictions on Cuban families. Still, he said, he would not change remittance caps for now. During the 2004 presidential campaign, Edwards said he supported sanctions that "target Fidel Castro's regime but help the innocent Cuban people, allowing trade for food and medical supplies that help ease the horrible burdens they suffer."
As president, John Edwards will fundamentally transform America's approach to the world. As part of his $5 billion initiative, he will bring high-level attention to help people in three priority areas: primary education, preventive health, and greater economic and political opportunity. Edwards will endorse the goal of universal basic education by 2015 and commit $3 billion a year to this cause--enough to enroll 23 million children--and encourage our allies to provide the remaining $7 billion needed. Edwards will invest in effective public education where available and community-based schools in other areas.
As president, Edwards will: - Fight the Three "Killer Diseases." Developing countries suffer from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. An early leader on these programs, Edwards will build on current initiatives such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the President's Malaria Initiative, and U.S. bilateral tuberculosis programs also create a new public-private program with major pharmaceutical companies and other industry groups to reverse the spread of the three deadly diseases and provide universal access to preventive and treatment drugs by 2010. * Invest in Clean Water: The World Health Organization has found that every $1 invested in clean water yields an economic return of $8. Edwards will double the U.S. investment in clean water. He will also convene an international summit of government, businesses, and non-profits to agree on necessary investments to make water safe worldwide by 2015. [WHO, 2006] * Invest in Immunizations and Preventative Medicine: Edwards will invest in preventative health care in poor countries, beginning with increased vaccinations and the provision of sterile equipment and basic medications. UNICEF has found that fully immunizing a child against the top six childhood killer diseases--measles, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tuberculosis and tetanus--costs just $17 and can save the lives of some 2.5 million children each year.
On the 2004 Presidential National Political Awareness Test, Edwards wrote, "I support reforms that would allow the UN to be better prepared to support--and where appropriate, lead--peacekeeping efforts. While the U.S. should support and cooperate with UN peacekeeping, U.S. soldiers should always be under American command." At a 2005 speech in New Delhi, Edwards said institutions like the United Nations must adapt to remain relevant. "We must all work together to reform the United Nations, and that includes finding a place for India on the Security Council." At the time, he also said: "I would put the Iraqi Civilian Authority under the control of the United Nations today."
As president, I would not talk about hypotheticals in nuclear weapons. I think that's not a healthy thing to do. I think what it does for the president is it effectively limits your options. And I do not want to limit my options, and I don't want to talk about hypothetical use of nuclear weapons. I would add that I think what the president should actually do, and what I would do as president, is to lead an international effort over time to eliminate nuclear weapons from the planet. That's the way to make the planet more secure.
2007 Democratic primary debate on "This Week" Aug 19, 2007
Q: Can most of the troops be out by December? EDWARDS: It would be hard to do by December. I think we can responsibly and in a very orderly way bring our troops out over the next 9 or 10 months. But any Democratic president will end this war. That's what we know.
2007 Democratic primary debate on "This Week" Aug 19, 2007
I have made very clear from the outset that the way to end the war is for the Congress to use its constitutional authority to fund. They should send the bill to Bush with a timetable for withdrawal, which they did. He vetoed it, then it came back, and then there was a moment of truth. Throughout the lead-up to the vote I was against a funding bill that did not have a timetable for withdrawal, that it was critical for the Congress to stand firm; they were given a mandate by the American people.
2007 Dem. debate at Saint Anselm College Jun 3, 2007
It is a betrayal not to speak out against the escalation of the war in Iraq. It is a betrayal for this President to send more troops into harm's way when we know it will not succeed in bringing stability to the region.
Campaign website, johnedwards.com Feb 1, 2007
Q: If you were in the Senate, would you vote to cut off funding for the war? EDWARDS: What I would do is, is say we're not going to fund an escalation of this war. I would not cut off funding for the men and women who are part of our troops serving in Iraq. The surge of 20,000-plus troops may turn into 40,000 troops, because there's 20,000-plus combat troops who will have to be supported. The president and Cheney are counting on us that we'll complain about it, we'll talk about how bad the escalation is, but, at the end of the day, we'll go along. We cannot go along. Q: So stop the money for the surge? EDWARDS: That would pay for the escalation, that's correct.
Meet the Press: Meet the Candidates 2008 series Feb 4, 2007
"I would keep a quick reaction force in Kuwait, in case it became neccessary. But that is different...than keeping troops stationed inside of Iraq. Because keeping troops stationed inside of Iraq, combat troops, and continuing combat missions whether it's against al-Qaeda or anyone else, at least from my perspective is a continuation of the occupation. And I think a continuation of the occupation continues the problem -- not just in reality, but in perception -- that America's occupying the country."
Edwards believes we should completely withdraw all combat troops from Iraq within nine to ten months and prohibit permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. After withdrawal, we should retain sufficient forces in Quick Reaction Forces located outside Iraq, in friendly countries like Kuwait, to prevent an Al Qaeda safe haven, a genocide, or regional spillover of a civil war.
Once we are out of Iraq, the United States must retain sufficient forces in the region to prevent a genocide, a regional spillover of the civil war, or the establishment of an al Qaeda safe haven. We will most likely need to retain quick-reaction forces in Kuwait and a significant naval presence in the Persian Gulf. We will also need some security capabilities in Baghdad, inside the Green Zone, to protect the U.S. embassy and U.S. personnel.