Hillary Clinton defined her hawkish foreign policy in a speech Thursday in San Diego in which she tore into Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Clinton threatened that the United States could disarm Iran by military action and warned that “They’ll be celebrating in the Kremlin” if Trump wins. Clinton said that it is imperative not to allow Russian leader Vladimir Putin, an ally of Iran, to celebrate. Clinton also said that a U.S. “vacuum” overseas would allow other countries to dictate policy around the globe. Clinton also took credit for the Iran deal that allows that Islamic country to continue its nuclear program—which keeps Clinton’s hypothetical war with Iran on the table.
Trump has presented himself as a candidate who will “not seek war or aggression,” according to the Republican’s “America First” speech at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel. Trump has also pledged to “get along” with Russia and allow the Russians to collaborate in global efforts to stop ISIS.
Here are some of Clinton’s foreign policy remarks Thursday, which take a consistently aggressive line toward Russia and Iran, in stark contrast to Trump’s “America First” messaging.
The ‘Vacuum’
Clinton described a “vacuum” that could result if Americans withdraw overseas like America did during Clinton’s State Department term, when the U.S. pulled out of Iraq and gave rise to ISIS. Trump has criticized the decision to announce the firm date when U.S. forces would leave.
“We are not a country that cowers behind walls,” Clinton said. “We lead with purpose and we prevail. And if America doesn’t lead, we leave a vacuum. And that will either cause chaos or other countries will rush in to fill the void. Then they’ll be the ones making the decisions about your lives and jobs and safety and trust me, the choices they make will not be to our benefit.”
Left-wing social justice policies have something to do with national security
“We need to reduce income inequality because our country cannot lead effectively when so many are struggling to provide the basics for their families. And we need to break down the barriers that hold Americans back, including barriers of bigotry and discrimination.”
Trump’s election would spark movement toward reconciliation with Russia, which would be bad
“If Donald gets his way, they’ll be celebrating in the Kremlin. We cannot let that happen.”
“That’s why it is no small passing thing when he talks about leaving NATO or says he’ll stay neutral on Israel’s security. It’s no small thing when he calls Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers. We’re lucky to have two friendly neighbors on our land borders. Why would he want to make one of them an enemy?”
Clinton goes all-in on the Iran deal while also threatening war with Iran
The Obama administration’s Iran deal was negotiated by Clinton State Department hire Wendy Sherman, who Clinton added to the Democratic platform committee. Other point-people on the deal included Ben Rhodes, an alum of the aggressively neoconservative Woodrow Wilson Institute.
“Take the nuclear agreement with Iran,” Clinton said. “When President Obama took office, Iran was racing toward a nuclear bomb. Some called for military action but that could have ignited a broader war that could have mired our troops in another Middle Eastern conflict…crippling sanctions…We brought Iran to the table. We began talks. Eventually, we reached an agreement that should block every path for Iran to get a nuclear weapon…Our approach must be, ‘Distrust and verify.’…”
“The world must understand that the United States will act decisively if necessary, including with military action, to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. In particular, Israel’s security is non-negotiable. They’re our closest ally in the region and we have a moral obligation to defend them.”
“We are safer now than we were before this agreement.”
“Donald Trump doesn’t know the first thing about Iran or its nuclear program.”
More on Putin
“You know, there’s no risk of people losing their lives if you blow a big golf course deal. But it doesn’t work like that in world affairs. Just like being interviewed on the same episode of Sixty Minutes as Putin was is not the same thing as actually dealing with Putin. So the stakes in global statecraft are infinitely higher and more complex than in the world of luxury hotels.”
Clinton mocked Trump’s claim that John McCain is not a hero because he was captured
As Breitbart News reported, McCain said that no veterans should support Clinton for president.
“I don’t see how any veterans…could support her quest to become commander in chief,” McCain said on a conference call with reporters before Trump secured the Republican nomination.
McCain also said that Clinton should apologize for her comments that VA abuse is not widespread.
“I don’t know what Hillary Clinton’s view of what widespread is,” McCain said, noting statistics about the untimely deaths of hundreds of veterans left on secret VA waiting lists. “If that’s not, quote, widespread, I’d like to know what Hillary Clinton’s definition of widespread is.”
“Hillary Clinton has injected partisanship into the VA scandal. She owes an apology to the families…particularly the 50 who died who were awaiting care” at the Phoenix VA medical center, McCain said.
“Give me a break,” McCain added.
House Veterans Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Jeff Miller added that “She’s unaware of many of the issues…VA’s problems still aren’t fixed…VA has not successfully fired a single Phoenix employee for the wait time manipulation.”