Work together with other countries to solve Iraq problem
KENNEDY: I'm very concerned when I hear Ms. Klobuchar say the answer is diplomacy, and that we ought to negotiate. With who? How are you going to negotiate with al Qaeda? How are you going to negotiate with Iranian-sponsored terrorists?
KLOBUCHAR: As of Thanksgiving, we're going to have been in this war longer than WWII. If together with other countries we were able to solve that situation, we can work with others to solve this one.
Source: Minnesota 2006 3-way Senate Debate, sponsored by LWV
Oct 30, 2006
Iraq has devolved into a civil war; get US troops out
Q: Do we need more troops in Iraq?
KENNEDY: We need to listen to the commanders in the field. If they say we need more troops, than I want to make sure they have more troops.
KLOBUCHAR: Iraq has devolved into a civil war. I believe it's time to
transition to Iraqi authority and let this government run its own country. The way you do this is not by adding more troops, or by saying that we'll have the same number of troops in 2010. It's by beginning to bring our troops home, or to redeploy them.
Source: Minnesota 2006 3-way Senate Debate, sponsored by LWV
Oct 30, 2006
Solution in Iraq is diplomatic, not just military
You cannot solve a problem that you don't admit exists. This war has basically devolved into a civil war. We have to realize that this solution isn't going to be more boots on the ground, it's going to be a diplomatic and political solution.
This war, as of Thanksgiving, will have lasted longer than World War II. So I believe that we need to bring people together and help this country to come up with a diplomatic and political solution in addition to giving them the tools that they need.
Source: 2006 MN Senate debate, on Meet the Press
Oct 15, 2006
Transition to Iraqi governance; no permanent military bases
KENNEDY: Ms. Klobuchar says Iraq is a distraction. She has set out a specific timetable for bringing our troops home that would tell the terrorists when they can take over an oil-rich country as a sanctuary for terrorists.
KLOBUCHAR: I have never been
one to say "Bring them all home tomorrow." Despite my opposition to the war from the beginning, we have to be responsible about how we bring our troops home.
KENNEDY: She's also come out against a bill funding body armor for our troops that a majority
of Democrats join me in supporting.
KLOBUCHAR: Of course I support body armor for our troops, I support winning this war on terror by being smart. We need to transition to Iraqi governance, we need to send the clear message that they have to take
control of their own government, and that means no permanent military bases. The congressman & I differ on this. This means not saying 2010 we're going to have the same number of troops. We need to be more accountable for the help that we're giving Iraq.
Q: You said, "2006 should be a year of transition in which we bring a significant number of our troops home." This is October 2006. Is that still your position?
KLOBUCHAR: The best way that we can protect our troops is to get this policy right, and
I believe that that means changing course in Iraq. Clearly, at this late date in mid-October, we can't bring a significant number home. We have to be reasonable. I have never been one to say "Bring them all home tomorrow." I have never subscribed to one
of those mandatory dates, because I understand that, despite my opposition to the war from the beginning, that we have to be responsible about how we bring our troops home.
Q: So you're saying now that's probably not doable. What about a "vast majority
in 2007," which is what you said also?
KLOBUCHAR: These predictions were built on the promises and the predictions of progress from this administration, and we simply haven't seen that. So you have to be reasonable in what you're going to do here.
Iraq war has cost $300B and fomented more terrorism
KLOBUCHAR: How come you won't even admit that you were wrong about voting for this war when we are in the situation we're in, when we've spent over $300 billion, when many members of your own party have admitted that this war was not the right direction,
that in fact it has fomented terrorism? We now have 16 agencies of President Bush's administration saying that this has added more terrorism in this world?
KENNEDY: Let's talk about what the 16 agencies said. They said that we are clearly activating terrorists in Iraq, having taken the challenge to them. But they also said we have to prevail.
If we don't prevail, it will greatly mushroom this threat, let it grow in size, and come to face our future generations. They said that if we, if we lose, that's what will happen; if we win, we will greatly degrade what's happening on the other side.
Fight for accountability for the run-up to the Iraq war
Immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the American people pulled together as one nation -- and much of the world community stood with us. I will fight for accountability for the run-up to the Iraq war.
Trust in the integrity of our government and our leaders is essential to the health of democracy. I will continue to demand that the administration account for their actions that have brought us to this point.
Source: Campaign website, www.amyklobuchar.com, "Issues"
Aug 15, 2006
Supported invading Afghanistan, but not Iraq
While I support the invasion of Afghanistan, I disagreed with the decision to invade Iraq. After 3 years, it has become obvious to those who favored the war & to those who opposed it that the Bush-Cheney administration was not truthful about the reasons
they gave for invading Iraq, nor were they truthful about having a plan to secure the peace & protect our troops once we invaded.
Whether it was their categorical (but false) assertions about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, or their repeated (but
unsupported) claims of Iraq's ties to Al Qaeda, or their frequent (but untrue) assurances that America would go to war only with broad international support, or their constant (but divisive) attempts to "spin" the war by going after those who disagreed
with them, the Bush-Cheney administration did not give honest information to the American people. This conduct has not only damaged America's credibility throughout the world, but also undermined the American people's confidence in our own government.
Source: Campaign website, www.amyklobuchar.com, "Issues"
Aug 15, 2006
Iraq war needed moral compass of int'l cooperation
I have opposed this war from the beginning. The president did not work with other countries, like we saw in past wars. We didn't have that moral compass this time. This war was done differently -- we went in alone and without a plan.
We've spent over $300B. I oppose this war. We need to reduce our troops, and we need to leave Iraq in a responsible manner. We need a significant change in course in 2006. 17
Fight for a clear plan to bring our troops home safely
I will fight for a clear plan to bring our troops home safely. We need to change course. 2006 should be the year that the Iraqi government decreases its dependency on the United States. It should be a year of transition in which we bring a significant
number of our troops home. As with any effective plan, there should be a realistic time-frame based on specific milestones and benchmarks, with honest and current information from the administration about the status of our efforts, the training of the
Iraqi forces, and the restoration of basic services to Iraq. In fact, the leaders of Iraq's otherwise sharply divided Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis agreed that there should be a time frame for the drawdown of American troops.
If the president is unwilling to provide a plan, Congress should direct the Joint Chiefs of Staff to do so. I oppose establishing permanent military bases in Iraq.
Source: Campaign website, www.amyklobuchar.com, "Issues"
Jan 18, 2006
Fight for accountability for the run-up to the Iraq war
I will fight for accountability for the run-up to the Iraq war. Trust in the integrity of our government and our leaders is essential to the health of democracy. I will continue to demand that the administration account for their actions that have
brought us to this point. And there must also be accountability from those who unjustly profited from this war through illegal contracts, kickbacks and fraud that have hurt the interest of the citizens of both Iraq and the United States.
Source: Campaign website, www.amyklobuchar.com, "Issues"
Jan 18, 2006
Voted YES on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months.
Vote to transition the missions of US Forces in Iraq to a more limited set of missions as specified by the President on September 13, 2007: S.AMDT.3875 amends S.AMDT.3874 and underlying bill H.R.2764:
The President shall commence the safe, phased redeployment of members of the US Armed Forces from Iraq who are not essential to the [new limited mission].
Such redeployment shall begin not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
No funds under any provision of law may be expended to continue the deployment in Iraq of members of the US Armed Forces after 9 months.
Proponents support voting YES because:
Sen. LEVIN: "The amendment requires redeployment be completed within 9 months. At that point, funding for the war would be ended, with four narrow exceptions:"
Security for US Government personnel and infrastructure
Training Iraqi security forces
Equipment to US service men and women to ensure their safety
Targeted operations against members of al-Qaida.
Opponents recommend voting NO because:
Sen. McCAIN: "This year, after nearly 4 years of mismanaged war, our military has made significant gains under the so-called surge. Overall violence in Iraq has fallen to its lowest level since [2003]. Improvised explosive device blasts now occur at a rate lower than at any point since September 2004.
"Al-Qaida's leadership knows which side is winning in Iraq. It may not be known in some parts of America and in this body, but al-Qaida knows. We are succeeding under the new strategy.
"Given these realities, some proponents of precipitous withdrawal from Iraq have shifted their focus. While conceding, finally, that there have been dramatic security gains, they have begun seizing on the lackluster performance of the Iraqi Government to insist that we should abandon the successful strategy and withdraw U.S. forces. This would be a terrible mistake."
Reference: Safe Redeployment Of US Troops From Iraq Amendment;
Bill S.AMDT.3875 to H.R.2764
; vote number 2007-437
on Dec 18, 2007
Voted NO on designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorists.
Vote on a "Sense of the Senate" amendment, S.Amdt. 3017, to H.R. 1585 (National Defense Authorization Act), that finds:
that it is a vital US national interest to prevent the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran from turning Shi'a militia extremists in Iraq into a Hezbollah-like force;
that it should be US policy to combat, contain, and roll back the violent activities and destabilizing influence inside Iraq of the Government of Iran;
to support the prudent and calibrated use of all instruments of power in Iraq, including diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military instruments, in support of the policy;
that the US should designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a foreign terrorist organization.
Proponents support voting YES because:
Sen. LIEBERMAN: Some of our colleagues thought the Sense of the Senate may have opened the door to some kind of military action against Iran [so we removed some text].
That is not our intention. In fact, our intention is to increase the economic pressure on Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps so that we will never have to consider the use of the military to stop them from what they are doing to kill our soldiers.
Opponents recommend voting NO because:
Sen. BIDEN. I will oppose the Kyl-Lieberman amendment for one simple reason: this administration cannot be trusted. I am very concerned about the evidence that suggests that Iran is engaged in destabilizing activities inside Iraq. Arguably, if we had a different President who abided by the meaning and intent of laws we pass, I might support this amendment. I fear, however, that this President might use the designation of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity as a pretext to use force against Iran as he sees fit. [The same was done with the Senate resolution on Iraq in 2002]. Given this President's actions and misuse of authority, I cannot support the amendment.
Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008.
Begins the phased redeployment of US forces from Iraq within 120 days of enactment of this joint resolution with the goal of redeploying by March 31, 2008, all US combat forces from Iraq, except for a limited number essential for protecting US and coalition personnel and infrastructure, training and equipping Iraqi forces, and conducting targeted counter-terrorism operations. Such redeployment shall be implemented as part of a diplomatic, political, and economic strategy that includes sustained engagement with Iraq's neighbors and the international community in order to bring stability to Iraq.
Proponents recommend voting YES because:
Our troops are caught in the midst of a civil war. The administration has begun to escalate this war with 21,000 more troops. This idea is not a new one. During this war, four previous surges have all failed. It is time for a different direction. It is time for a drawdown of our troops.
Opponents recommend voting NO because:
This resolution calls for imposing an artificial timeline to withdraw our troops from Iraq, regardless of the conditions on the ground or the consequences of defeat; a defeat that will surely be added to what is unfortunately a growing list of American humiliations. This legislation would hobble American commanders in the field and substantially endanger America's strategic objective of a unified federal democratic Iraq that can govern, defend, and sustain itself and be an ally in the war against Islamic fascism. The unintended consequence of this resolution is to bring to reality Osama bin Laden's vision for Iraq; that after 4 years of fighting in Iraq the US Congress loses its will to fight. If we leave Iraq before the job is done, as surely as night follows day, the terrorists will follow us home. Osama bin Laden has openly said: America does not have the stomach to stay in the fight. He is a fanatic. He is an Islamic fascist. He is determined to destroy us and our way of life.
Reference: US Policy in Iraq Resolution;
Bill S.J.Res.9
; vote number 2007-075
on Mar 15, 2007
