Jim Webb presidential campaign, 2016/Foreign affairs
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 Jim Webb |
U.S. Senator (2007-2013) |
2028 • 2024 • 2020 • 2016 |
This page was current as of the 2016 election.
Military preparedness and budget
- Although Jim Webb previously opposed women in combat positions, he stated on August 23, 2015, his opinion had changed. Referring to the first two female graduates of Army Ranger School, Webb said, "I am totally comfortable now with the military being able to make these decisions in a way that goes to performance and I am very proud to see – these two women are West Point graduates, and they went through the rigorous training, and the military should be able to decide how they are used."[1]
- Jim Webb graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1968. He was "First in his class of 243 at the Marine Corps Officer’s Basic School, he served as a rifle platoon and company commander in Vietnam and was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. ...In 1984 he was appointed Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, and in 1987 became Secretary of the Navy."[2]
- In December 2014, Webb said, "the U.S. military needs to be reshaped to more closely align with strategic objectives, meaning a smaller Army, streamlined Marine Corps and increases in the strategic forces and the Navy," according to The Roanoke Times. Webb explained, "We need to be able to project our forces in hot spots, but we don’t need to be in a hockey fight now in some of the places where we have been."[3]
- Webb served on the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services and the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Webb also served as chairman of the United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel.[4]
- The first bill Webb introduced in the Senate was S.22 - the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007, which "Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions to entitle to educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill individuals in certain length-of-service categories who, commencing on or after September 11, 2001, serve on active duty in the Armed Forces." It became law under Title V: the Veterans Educational Assistance of H.R.2642 - the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 on June 30, 2008.[5][6]
National security
- During a September 2014 question and answer session, Webb explained that he "opposed the invasion of Iraq, and also the military intervention in Libya," according to The Daily Beast. He also "warned against getting entangled on the ground in the 'ongoing nightmare' that is Syria."[7]
- Webb voted for S.990 - the PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011.[8]
- In January 2003, Webb said, "I think North Korea is far more dangerous than Iraq because of several reasons. One is, their leader truly is nuts. Saddam Hussein is shrewd. [North Korean President] Kim Jong Il is crazy . . . he’s totally unpredictable. Second of all, North Korea is . . . within a stones throw of 37,000 American troops who are in fixed defensive positions. So our forces are truly at risk if something goes haywire. Thirdly, [Kim] has nukes. The situation in North Korea is, in my view, more dangerous than the situation in Iraq. That does not mean we need to be going to war with North Korea right now. It just calls into question why we are doing this in Iraq."[9]
- In 2003, Webb opposed opposed going to war with Iraq. He said, "We do not have to go to war with Iraq except under, in my view, under some extreme conditions. If we do go to war with Iraq, we should have a clear exit strategy. And without a clear exit strategy, we run the risk of basically falling into a strategic mousetrap."[9]
International relations
- At the debate, October 13, 2015, Jim Webb said he one of his priorities would be to focus on the U.S. relationship with China. Webb said, "the greatest strategic threat that we have right now is resolving our relationship with China. And we need to do this because of their aggression in the region. We need to do it because of the way they treat their own people. ... to the unelected, authoritarian government of China: You do not own the South China Sea. You do not have the right to conduct cyber warfare against tens of millions of American citizens. And in a Webb administration, we will do something about that.”[10]
- In an interview on September 28, 2015, Webb said other countries in the Middle East should play a more active role in providing assistance to Syrian refugees. Webb said, “I think the Saudis should take more. I think people in the region should step up to try to stabilize Syria. And we should be very careful about bringing a large number of refugees here.”[11]
- At a campaign event in Hawaii on September 13, 2015, Webb described himself as an early opponent of Chinese growth. “I've been the strongest voice in the U.S. Senate in our need to counterbalance the Chinese expansionism in this part of the world. I've been talking about these issues we're now seeing in the South China Sea for more than 15 years,” said Webb.[12]
- On December 17, 2014, Webb posted the following tweet: "POTUS made right decision on #Cuba. Proud of having worked years toward normalization of relations w/ Vietnam & leading the way in Burma."[13]
- In an August 2012 op-ed, Webb wrote, "In truth, American vacillations have for years emboldened China. U.S. policy with respect to sovereignty issues in Asian-Pacific waters has been that we take no sides, that such matters must be settled peacefully among the parties involved. Smaller, weaker countries have repeatedly called for greater international involvement. ...While America’s attention is distracted by the presidential campaign, all of East Asia is watching what the U.S. will do about Chinese actions in the South China Sea. They know a test when they see one. They are waiting to see whether America will live up to its uncomfortable but necessary role as the true guarantor of stability in East Asia, or whether the region will again be dominated by belligerence and intimidation."[14]
Syrian refugees
- In an interview on September 28, 2015, Webb said other countries in the Middle East should play a more active role in providing assistance to Syrian refugees. Webb said, “I think the Saudis should take more. I think people in the region should step up to try to stabilize Syria. And we should be very careful about bringing a large number of refugees here.”[15]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Jim + Webb + Foreign + Affairs
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ CNN, "Jim Webb 'proud' to see female Rangers," August 23, 2015
- ↑ James Webb, "About," accessed January 12, 2015
- ↑ Roanoke.com, "Jim Webb outlines array of policy positions at media gathering," December 3, 2014
- ↑ Official Senate website, "Committee Assignments," accessed October 12, 2011
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.22," accessed April 7, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2642," accessed April 7, 2015
- ↑ The Daily Beast, "Wait a Minute Clinton Coronators, Here Comes Jim Webb," September 24, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.990," accessed April 9, 2015
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 James Webb, “Webb Calls North Korea Greater Threat To U.S. Security Than Iraq," January 6, 2003
- ↑ The Washington Post, "The CNN Democratic debate transcript, annotated," October 13, 2015
- ↑ Fox News, "Webb: Be Careful Of How Many Syrian Refugees We Bring Here," September 28, 2015
- ↑ KITV 4, "Democratic candidate for President visits Oahu," September 13, 2015
- ↑ Twitter.com, "Jim Webb," accessed April 6, 2015
- ↑ James Webb, "The South China Sea’s Gathering Storm," August 20, 2012
- ↑ Fox News, "Webb: Be Careful Of How Many Syrian Refugees We Bring Here," September 28, 2015
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