State of Nebraska Archives: on Foreign Policy


Chuck Herbster: Israel needs us, so we will stand with them

[Press release]: "If it was London, Paris, Washington D.C., or Lincoln, President Joe Biden would not be dragging his feet. Israel is under attack in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ashkelon and more, yet President Biden remains hidden in the White House. We need a Commander-in-Chief, not a cardboard cutout. Israel needs us, so we will stand with them."
Source: 2021 Governor campaign website HerbsterForNebraska.com May 13, 2021

Ben Sasse: Unstinting advocate for American engagement in the world

I am an unstinting advocate for American engagement in the world, and I think the impulse to withdraw from America's important, longstanding commitments is a very bad thing. U.S. global leadership is indispensable, not only for the security of America's friends and partners, but for protecting America's own interests. When hell breaks loose on the other side of the world, it inevitably boomerangs home. When the United States doesn't lead, chaos inevitably follows. If America continues to drift toward global disengagement, it will be sucked into all sorts of troubles that it can't envision right now.
Source: Texas National Security Review on 2020 Nebraska Senate race Nov 30, 2018

Ben Sasse: Putin leads a thugocracy; runs disinformation everywhere

Putin presides over a thugocracy, and the only reason he can keep his people down is by trying to keep the other kleptocrats satisfied and in power in their horrible agreement they have against the Russian people. And so, Russia runs disinformation campaigns everywhere. The American electorate is going to need to learn, and the tech companies and the US intelligence community is going to need to do a better job of making clear to the American people how much disinformation is out there.
Source: Remarks at National Press Club on 2020 Nebraska Senate race Oct 30, 2018

Ben Sasse: Healthy skepticism of foreign entanglements

We should approach national security with a healthy skepticism of foreign entanglements, only engaging when it is in our vital national interest. Once the decision has been made to engage, we should act with overwhelming force to decimate our enemies.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.SasseForNebraska.com Mar 18, 2014

Shane Osborn: Economic sanctions against Russia to stem Ukrainian crisis

Osborn supports economic sanctions against Russia to stem the Ukrainian crisis. Osborn says the US needs to move to replace the energy Europe receives from Russia. "I think this is a good opportunity for us to start exporting our liquid natural gas," Osborn said. "The leverage the Russians have is that they can shut off the pipelines to many of these European countries."

The energy ties Europe has to Russia hamper its ability to impose economic sanctions, according to Osborn. He says the US and Europe need to cooperate on economic sanctions against Russia.

Osborn says this is no time to consider a military response, because economic sanctions should be enough to stem the aggression of Putin. "That's what we hope for. And I think it would hurt Putin right away and it would be something that we need to take action for right now. Kick him out of the G8. Start sending clear signals. If he's worried about his financing going awry then he's going to probably make some different choices."

Source: Nebraska Radio Network on 2014 Nebraska Senate race Mar 7, 2014

Deb Fischer: Leadership & strong messages make the world safer

FISCHER: We need to have a strong administration who's going to make it clear [to Iran] that a line needs to be drawn. We have an administration that has sent mixed signals.

KERREY: It's not as simple as saying we're just going to go in there. I believe we've got to draw a line, but I think we've got to be very conscious of what it means when we do.

FISCHER: I would just reiterate that we need to have leadership here in this country when it comes to foreign policy. We haven't seen that in the last four years. And we're witnessing now the turmoil which I believe is due in part to that. This world is not a safe place. It's become less safe. And if we don't have strong messages sent from Washington, it makes it even less safe.

Source: 2012 Nebraska Senate debate excerpts Sep 28, 2012

Pat Flynn: Strong support for traditional ally Israel

The four candidates participating in the debate expressed strong support for Israel and urged the United States to stand alongside its traditional ally in trying to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.

There was far more agreement than disagreement, and no sudden confrontations, during the debate before about 150 in the Johnny Carson Theatre at Norfolk High School.

Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2012 Nebraska Senate Debates Apr 13, 2012

Don Stenberg: Strong support for traditional ally Israel

The four candidates participating in the debate expressed strong support for Israel and urged the United States to stand alongside its traditional ally in trying to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.

There was far more agreement than disagreement, and no sudden confrontations, during the debate before about 150 in the Johnny Carson Theatre at Norfolk High School.

Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2012 Nebraska Senate Debates Apr 12, 2012

Jon Bruning: Strong support for traditional ally Israel

The four candidates participating in the debate expressed strong support for Israel and urged the United States to stand alongside its traditional ally in trying to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.

There was far more agreement than disagreement, and no sudden confrontations, during the debate before about 150 in the Johnny Carson Theatre at Norfolk High School.

Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2012 Nebraska Senate Debates Apr 11, 2012

Scott Kleeb: Stop genocide in Darfur

Stop genocide in Darfur: After six years of senseless violence that led to the deaths of roughly 400,000 Sudanese and the displacement of more than 2.5 million Darfurians, it is long past time to end the genocide in Darfur. Scott Kleeb believes that ending the atrocities in Darfur is not just the Sudan’s, or Africa’s, problem, but the world’s problem. The US should ensure that a multinational peacekeeping force can enter, and affect change, in Darfur.
Source: Campaign booklet, Nebraska’s Brand of Change, p.53 Aug 19, 2008

  • The above quotations are from State of Nebraska Politicians: Archives.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Foreign Policy:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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