Foreign Policy

With regard to foreign policy, I stand with Bernie Sanders’ position and will support his policy which is,

“WE LIVE IN A DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS WORLD, AND THERE ARE NO EASY OR MAGICAL SOLUTIONS. AS PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, I WILL DEFEND THIS NATION, ITS PEOPLE, AND AMERICA’S VITAL STRATEGIC INTERESTS, BUT I WILL DO IT RESPONSIBLY. AMERICA MUST DEFEND FREEDOM AT HOME AND ABROAD, BUT WE MUST SEEK DIPLOMATIC SOLUTIONS BEFORE RESORTING TO MILITARY ACTION. WHILE FORCE MUST ALWAYS BE AN OPTION, WAR MUST BE A LAST RESORT, NOT THE FIRST OPTION.”

While we must be relentless in combating terrorists who would do us harm, we cannot and should not be policeman of the world, nor bear the burden of fighting terrorism alone. The United States should be part of an international coalition, led and sustained by nations in the region that have the means to protect themselves. That is the only way to defeat ISIS and to begin the process of creating the conditions for a lasting peace in the region.”

I also strongly agree with and support the four pillars that Senator Sanders has laid out as the foundation of foreign policy for the United States:

  1. Move away from a policy of unilateral military action, and toward a policy of emphasizing diplomacy, and ensuring the decision to go to war is a last resort.
  2. Ensure that any military action we do engage in has clear goals, is limited in scope, and whenever possible provides support to our allies in the region.
  3. Close Guantanamo Bay, reign in the National Security Agency, abolish the use of torture, and remember what truly makes America exceptional: our values.
  4. Expand our global influence by promoting fair trade, addressing global climate change, providing humanitarian relief and economic assistance, defending the rule of law, and promoting human rights.

With regard to fair trade, I believe the trade agreements we have now need to be repealed and rewritten to actually be fair. As they stand now, they only benefit some countries and others are paying the price for those agreements. That is not fair and new agreements must be made.