Defense & Foreign Policy

IRAQ

From Congresswoman Speier’s first speech on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, April 10, 2008:

"The process to bring the troops home must begin immediately. The President wants to stay the course, and a man who wants to replace him suggests we could be in Iraq for a hundred years.  But, Madam Speaker, history will not judge us kindly if we sacrifice four generations of Americans because of the folly of one."

We must ensure our nation is protected, and that our men and women who serve our country are properly equipped with the best gear and force protection available.  While I strongly and vocally opposed President Bush’s decision to wage war in Iraq, I do believe we owe it to the men and women of our armed forces to protect them when the decision is made to put them in harm’s way.

On May 15, 2008 the House rejected President Bush’s request for an unchecked and unending supply of money for the war in Iraq in the Supplemental Appropriations Act. The supplemental came in three parts:

• The first was the money President Bush requested, and I voted no. 

• I voted yes on the second amendment, which prohibited the use of 
  torture and the establishment of permanent bases in Iraq and 
  mandated that an orderly withdrawal begin within 30 days. 

• The third amendment, which I also voted for, restored the GI Bill to 
  the level of benefits a WWII veteran received and extended 
  unemployment benefits for 13 weeks. 

We went to war under false pretenses and we have stayed there to the detriment of our military and America’s standing in the world. I look forward to working with President Obama to facilitate a speedy and safe redeployment of our fighting forces from Iraq.

AFGHANISTAN

The Al Qaeda terrorists who unleashed the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor were based in the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The previous administration took its eye off the ball when they redeployed American troops from Afghanistan to Iraq. I believe that tragic mistake eroded the U.S. military’s key mission to - find and capture Osama Bin Laden and other senior members of Al Qaeda - and compromised the security of America and the entire world. We are now faced with a dramatically worsened situation in Afghanistan, and the ramping up of a war that is not winnable and is likely to drag on for years, requiring an ever increasing commitment of U.S. personnel and resources.

PENTAGON SPENDING

For years we have watched as Department of Defense spending has skyrocketed. Currently, it accounts for more than 60 percent of discretionary spending. Much of this growth is due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but exorbitant spending on programs of questionable value has further bloated military spending.

One example is the V-22 Osprey, an aircraft no closer to being battle-ready after nearly three decades of development. This, despite that it has cost more than $20 billion and has taken the lives of 30 crewmembers. Missile defense is another money pit that has yielded little benefit and has angered numerous foreign governments.

With a mounting fiscal crisis, we need to rein in defense spending and vastly expand diplomatic efforts to repair our badly damaged image abroad.

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE

The United States is at a crossroads after years of bad decisions that have damaged our standing throughout the world and placed our national and economic security at grave risk. The need to modernize our foreign assistance programs to better address the global challenges of the 21st century, including terrorism, poverty, pandemic disease, climate change, energy security, failing states, food insecurity, slowed economic growth, and population and migration issues, has never been clearer than now.

Foreign assistance comes in many forms. I am a strong advocate for reducing global poverty as a means to making the world safer and more secure. The United Nations Millennium Development Goal aims, by 2015, to cut in half the number of people worldwide who live on less than $1 per day. This goal is not only achievable, but critical.

ISRAEL-PALESTINE

On January 9, 2009, the United States House of Representatives passed H.Res. 34, recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. I voted in favor of the resolution while also joining colleagues in Congress in signing a letter to the president and the Israeli Ambassador urging them to take immediate steps to relieve the deplorable humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

I am dedicated to Israel’s long-term security but was dismayed by the recent events in the Gaza Strip. I do not question Israel’s right to defend its territory but we must work toward a political solution that breaks the cycle of violence plaguing the region. Such violence only creates more disillusioned youths to swell the ranks of Hamas, just as rockets fired on Israeli towns only fuel calls for retribution. Hamas has shown an appalling absence of leadership and the policies they have pursued since winning elections in Gaza have done nothing to advance the cause of peace, freedom and prosperity for the Palestinian people.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not just a Palestinian or Israeli problem. Hospitals have become overwhelmed and are unable to provide adequate care, because they lack the basic medical supplies and equipment. Medical professionals are forced to turn away chronically ill patients, when their conditions often worsen. The world community, led by the United States, must do all it can to end the violence and facilitate the delivery of food and medicine to those suffering.

I am absolutely committed to improving America’s role as a catalyst for peace in the Middle East. We must bring all sides in the conflict to the negotiating table to find a workable path toward a lasting peace where Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace, each with their own sovereign state.