State of Maryland Archives: on Foreign Policy

Chris Van Hollen: Signed letter opposing Israeli annexation of territories

The AOC-Jayapal letter on annexation made headlines and sent the Israel lobby into a tizzy, frantically trying to stop any other lawmakers from signing on. But just a few days later, on July 2, another unexpected action came. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, supported by Senators Sanders, Warren, Leahy, and others, filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to prohibit US military aid from being used in any annexation activities.

Ian Schlakman: Oppose American Exceptionalism

A: Strongly oppose

Richard Madaleno: No state contracts if connected to Iran

OnTheIssues Q: what are your views on Foreign Policy issues?
• Supports barring individuals or entities doing business with Iran or boycotting Israel from receiving state procurement contracts

Shawn Quinn: No opinion on American Exceptionalism

A: No opinion.

Tony Campbell: Secure our foreign interests but don't police the world

Campbell: The United States must secure its interest throughout the world without being overtaxed as the world's policeman. Our government must use its diplomatic, financial and military assets in the most effective way possible.

Arvin Vohra: America should be the greatest country on earth

A: Strongly support. America should be the greatest country on earth. That will come from ending the welfare state, including government schools, shutting down foreign military bases and bringing the troops home, and abolishing the income tax. Let American genius and innovation, not welfarism, guide America to legitimate greatness.

Sam Faddis: Revamp our policies and approach on the Middle East

Sam Faddis: Being the best military doesn't mean always being involved

Kathy Szeliga: Cutting deals with our enemy puts America at risk

Szeliga: A nuclear Iran would destabilize the Middle East and endanger America's ally, Israel. I believe the agreement fails to provide enough safeguards to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. Last year while the Iran deal was being crafted, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, even said, "The Americans say they stopped Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. They know it's not true." Cutting deals with our enemy puts America and our allies at risk. The deal releases billions of dollars to the Iranians. Even the current administration believes that some of the money will end up in hands of terrorist groups. Can you believe that? We would be assisting our enemies by funding their attacks. As Americans we need to make sure our families are safe and this deal doesn't protect us.

Margaret Flowers: ISIS is a symptom of the failure of "War on Terror"

Flowers: ISIS is a symptom of the destruction of nations in the Middle East through the United States' failed "War on Terror". This has led to chaos in countries like Iraq and Libya that creates an opening for extremists and foments anti-American sentiment. Our first priority should be to cut off ISIS' access to money and to weapons, which are coming from U. S. allies. And our second priority should be to provide basic support to stabilize countries in the Middle East. There is much that needs to be done to restore basic infrastructure and access to energy, food, clean water, education and more. As these states re-stabilize, they will regain the trust of their people and reduce extremism. United States' militarism and intervention is the cause of this problem, not the solution.

Arvin Vohra: Instead of foreign aid, sell sovereignty rights

Normally, when you buy land, you don't also buy sovereignty rights. You cannot treat your house like a private country, setting your own laws, regulations, and taxes. But any country can theoretically sell you those sovereignty rights. Sovereign rights over land have been sold many times in history.

Most countries have huge amounts of unused, state-owned land. Selling sovereign rights to that land to private companies would quickly raise billions of dollars in capital.

Of course, the creation of new, private countries would benefit everyone else. How much would a hundred new Hong Kongs help the global economy? As private nations competed with public nations to offer better services, lower taxes, and lower regulations, it would force all countries to improve.

Richard Douglas: Reform policies on Russian aggression, ISIS, Syria, and Iran

Douglas will leverage his military background and legal experience as former senior counsel to key US Senate committees to protect the nation's security interests and reform foreign policy in the wake of the Iran agreement, the so-called "red-line" against Syria using chemical weapons, Russian aggression in Ukraine and the threat of ISIS at home and abroad.

"These times demand a mastery of Senate rules & the subject matter," said Douglas. "They require tenacity to overcome inertia & Senate unwillingness to assert itself in policies defining the nation. If the Senate fails we fail. I aim to prevent that."

Martin O`Malley: Respect my right to shy away from foreign policy

On the news of the day--apparent differences between Obama and the Israeli military on whether chemical weapons had been deployed by the Syrian military--O'Malley deferred to the president's judgment. "It's certainly one of the great challenges," he allowed.

Asked whether the American people, weary from a decade of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, would be ready to engage in another military operation to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, O'Malley avoided specifics. "I believe that the president will make that call," he said, "and the president will have the primary responsibility of making that case to the American people and also to Congress."

How about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? "All of us hope for peace in the Middle East."

Martin O`Malley: Israeli separation barrier might be called "peace wall"

A reporter pointed out that on his way into Bethlehem, he would see the controversial separation barrier Israel has erected in the West Bank. O'Malley said he had seen something similar in Northern Ireland. "They call it the peace wall," he noted.

Rob Sobhani: Focus on bringing foreign investment to Maryland

Sobhani said he would focus on bringing foreign investment to Maryland. "The way I believe we grow our economy is, once again, we link our economy, Maryland's economy, to the international economy and we go after specific projects," Sobhani said, noting that he supports seeking funding for cancer research and new homes in Baltimore.

Rob Sobhani: Peace through strength

Dan Bongino: Base Israel borders on 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as capital

Bongino also was upset over Obama's press secretary's "non-answer" when asked by a reporter recently whether the U.S considers Jerusalem or Tel Aviv the capital of Israel.

"Israel needs to be our number one ally in the Middle East," Bongino said. "I was upset over the president's remarks and disturbed by the recent comments over Jerusalem."