Afghanistan War and the Middle East

Janice on the Recent News of Osama Bin Laden’s Death

Janice gives great thanks to the extraordinary American effort that led to Osama Bin Laden’s demise.  She thanks our brave men and women who serve and protect our great nation every day, and especially the soldiers who carried out this mission. This was a man who unleashed horror across the world, and Janice is proud of President Obama’s effort to see him brought to justice. Along with our NATO allies, we went to war in Afghanistan to see that the Taliban was removed from power and Al Qaeda’s efforts were disrupted. With Bin Laden gone, Janice seeks a swift conclusion to the US operation in Afghanistan.

The Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

Janice wants to see us get out of the wars we are currently involved in. She believes that it is important to bring our troops home in a tactical, responsible, and strategic manner so that we maintain the security of our nation and the security of our allies. Currently there are more than 140,000 US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, and 50,000 in Iraq. Janice wants these numbers to be responsibly reduced, to speed up our transition out of these areas, particularly from Iraq. Janice strongly believes that national security has to be the top priority for our government, and she believes that we need to do everything we can to prevent Al Qaeda from attacking the United States and our Allies. But national security also requires investment at home in education, infrastructure, research and development, clean energy, hi-tech, and space enterprise. We need to refocus our efforts abroad on rebuilding at home, creating more jobs, and securing our future for the next generation of Americans.

Iran

Janice believes that a nuclear-armed Iran poses a direct danger to the United States and the entire world. This is why Janice supports President Obama’s tough and practical engagement efforts with Iran, with the ultimate goal of preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

Janice also agrees with the Administration’s statements in support of the right of Iran’s citizens to freely assemble and express themselves. She also believes that more attention must be paid to Iran’s egregious human rights violations.

Change in the Middle East

Janice is excited about the recent political events sweeping the Middle East. From Tunisia to Egypt, people demanded change and are working towards building democratic institutions. She believes we must support peace in the Middle East and build positive relationships with the newly forming governments. In the case of Libya, Janice believes that President Obama should have first approached Congress before taking military action, however, she does think that the United States should continue to work closely with the United Nations and play a role in bringing about a peaceful solution to the Libyan crisis.

Janice on Israel

Once elected to Congress, I will do everything in my power to protect and enhance our enduring 60-year alliance with Israel—a bond built on the shared values of democracy, freedom and human rights.  The safety and security of the State of Israel as a Jewish state—and a critical ally of the United States—will be a top priority of mine in Congress.

When I traveled to Israel in 2008, it was clear why Israel is one of our closest allies in the world.  As the only real democracy in the Middle East, our shared economic and diplomatic ties have been critical to both nations.

While in Israel, I was so moved by the incredible history and the deep religious traditions for millions of Jews, Christians and Muslims, as well as so many others.   It is vital the United States continue to have a strong relationship with Israel, assisting one another in our quest for security and peace.  As Congresswoman, I will work to ensure that relationship.

The Peace Process

I strongly support Israel’s quest for peace.  It is in the interest of the United States to support a two-state solution, with an independent, demilitarized Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace with a Jewish State of Israel within secure borders.  I support a solution that protects the civil liberties, rights and security of the citizens of both states.

It is also vital for the Palestinian state to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish State, a fact the United Nations recognized in 1948 and which the United States has affirmed on many occasions.  In addition, Israel should have the absolute right to choose the location of its capital and Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of Israel.

Israel continues to take bold steps toward peace, including its withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula in 1979 and its unilateral withdrawals from Lebanon in 2000 and the Gaza Strip in 2005.  Israel’s commitment to peace with security should never be in doubt.  I will support the peace process, while seeking to ensure that Israel continues to be in a position to negotiate from a position of strength with others in the region.  The Palestinians must return to the negotiating table for direct bilateral negotiations with Israel.  There is no substitute for such direct bilateral negotiations.  While the United States has an important role to play in these negotiations, the United States should never seek to impose a solution on the parties and must do everything in its power to prevent deligitimization of Israel.  The United States should continue to veto any anti-Israel action at the United Nations Security Counsel (including the currently-threatened Palestinian resolution regarding Israeli settlements) and should redouble its efforts to encourage Arab states to support the peace process.

I visited the town of Sderot while in Israel and saw, first hand, how Israeli citizens live in fear of Qassam rocket attacks by Hamas.  Hamas is a terrorist organization which doesn’t even recognize Israel’s right to exist, and which has used Palestinian civilians as human shields.  I strongly believe that the people of Israel have a right to defend themselves.  The United States should have no contact with Hamas unless Hamas agrees to the Quartet’s conditions of recognizing Israel, renouncing terrorism, and agreeing to adhere to past agreements between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Foreign Aid to Israel

The stability of Israel is vital to the United States.  To that end, I fully support the 2007 MOU between the U.S. and Israel—which calls for the U.S. to provide $30 billion in security assistance to Israel for ten years. This aid is critical for Israel in maintaining its military advantage, protecting her people, and prevailing over those that threaten her security.

I commit to maintaining the current level of aid, as well as supporting proposed increases, for the Israeli people.

The Iranian Nuclear Threat

A nuclear-armed Iran poses a direct danger, not only to Israel, but also to the United States and the entire world.  This is why I support President Obama’s tough and practical engagement efforts with Iran, with the ultimate goal of preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

Unfortunately, Iran has demonstrated that it is committed to its nuclear ambitions and has spurned the peaceful efforts of the U.S. and the international community to bring it into compliance.  And because Iran is the leading state sponsor of international terrorism, stopping its nuclear capabilities must be our highest priority in the Middle East.  Hence, no options should be off the table, including tough economic sanctions such as efforts to limit Iran’s access to gasoline and diesel by sanctioning companies involved in the export of the products.  Simply put, we cannot and must not permit a nuclear-armed Iran.

Had I been in Congress, I would have voted in favor of the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act (H.R. 1327) and the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability Act.  As a Congresswoman, I will work to make sure that the provisions of these laws are vigorously enforced.  Companies that violate the law must be sanctioned.  Aggressively implementing the sanctions provisions would send a critical message to the Iranian government that if it does not abandon its nuclear ambitions, it risks further economic hardship and isolation.

I applaud the Administration’s statements in support of the right of Iran’s citizens to freely assemble and express themselves and believe that more attention must be paid to Iran’s egregious human rights violations.

On Egypt

The movement toward democracy in Egypt is historic and has been overwhelming to witness.  Furthermore, the effect the movement is having on neighboring Arab nations is promising.

As a member of Congress, it will be vital that we push to ensure that any new Egyptian government continue to honor all treaties and agreements currently in place, including the historic 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt and agreements to supply Israel with natural gas.  Egypt must prevent the smuggling of terrorists and weapons into Gaza, fight radical terrorism, and maintain freedom of movement through the Suez Canal.  Congress can seek to ensure Egypt’s cooperation on these vital issues by, if necessary, conditioning further U.S. financial aid to Egypt on its continued cooperation on these issues.

On Lebanon

I join with many in my concern over Hezbollah’s current control of the Lebanese government.  All future U.S. aid to Lebanon should be based on the nation complying with all current U.N resolutions, including the disarming of Hezbollah.  Furthermore, it should be expected that the government in Lebanon would fully cooperate with the ongoing UN investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri.