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Carly Fiorina vice presidential campaign, 2016/Foreign affairs
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 Carly Fiorina |
Former presidential candidate (2016) Former candidate for U.S. Senate (2010) |
 Republican candidate: |
2028 • 2024 • 2020 • 2016 |
This page was current as of the 2016 election.
Iran nuclear deal
- During the second Republican primary debate on September 16, 2015, Carly Fiorina called upon America to show true leadership in principles and national security. “I would like to link these two issues, both of which are incredibly important, Iran and Planned Parenthood," said Fiorina. "One has something to do with the defense of the security of this nation. The other has something to do with the defense of the character of this nation. You have not heard a plan about Iran from any politician up here, here is my plan. On day one in the Oval Office, I will make two phone calls, the first to my good friend to Bibi Netanyahu to reassure him we will stand with the state of Israel. The second, to the supreme leader, to tell him that unless and until he opens every military and every nuclear facility to real anytime, anywhere inspections by our people, not his, we, the United States of America, will make it as difficult as possible and move money around the global financial system. We can do that, we don't need anyone's cooperation to do it. And every ally and every adversary we have in this world will know that the United States in America is back in the leadership business, which is how we must stand with our allies.”[2]
- After an Iran nuclear deal was reached on July 14, 2015, Fiorina criticized the method and final product of the negotiations. Fiorina said, "It would be different if Iran was a good actor and had negotiated in good faith all this time but they haven't and we've caved many times. I've never negotiated an Iran nuclear deal, but I've negotiated a lot of high-stakes deals, and there are a couple of rules and every rule has been broken. If you want a good deal, you've got to walk away sometimes. We never did." She also expressed her skepticism that Iran would comply with inspections.[3]
- In an April 2, 2015, op-ed, Fiorina wrote the following about the Iran nuclear deal: "The deal that the United States has negotiated with Iran poses a grave threat to American security at home and abroad. U.S. officials know that Iran has had a long-term plan to gain a nuclear weapon and destabilize the region through its support of terrorist organizations. And it is known that President Rouhani has never agreed to full and unfettered United Nations inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities. The Iranian government has repeatedly, flagrantly violated sanctions put in place by the United Nations. We know that they have flat-out lied about every nuclear facility they have built over the last three decades. This is not the behavior of a potential ally or of a partner. These are the actions of a country trying to bluff its way into persuading the United Nations, the United States, and its allies to allow it the freedom to develop a nuclear weapon for military purposes. Because of these facts, we cannot trust anything they sign. Until Iran is prepared to (and opens its nuclear facilities to) full and unfettered UN-sanctioned inspections and demonstrates that they are willing to halt uranium enrichment, we cannot place any trust in any deal that is made. ...This is not an agreement which will make Americans proud. It is not a deal that demonstrates our strength and resolve at home and abroad. Our allies will not point to this as a signal of our continued support."[4]
Military preparedness and budget
- According to The Daily Beast in September 2015, Carly Fiorina’s proposed military program would cost an additional $500 billion over 10 years.[5]
- During a 2010 debate, Fiorina said, "I believe that there is many, much opportunity to save money in the Defense Department. I served on the Defense Business Board. However, I believe our military needs support. I would not cut funding for national security."[6]
National security
- During the sixth Republican presidential primary debate, on January 14, 2016, Carly Fiorina discussed having the government working with tech companies to fight terrorism: “As CEO of Hewlett Packard, I was asked very specifically for some very real help. The help I was asked to provide, this is now public information. So I am not revealing what -- something that was -- was classified. We had a very large shipment of equipment, software and hardware, headed to a retail outlet. And I was called by the head of the NSA, who had an urgent need for that capability, to begin laying out a program to track terrorists. We turned that truck around on a highway and it was escorted to the headquarters in San Jose. In World War II, our government went to the private sector and said, help us do things that we cannot do. The private sector has capabilities that the government does not have. There are some legal authorities that are required. The Sony attack could have been detected and repelled, had legal authorities been passed in Congress allowing private networks and public networks to work together. Those legal authorities have not yet been passed. Yes, I was asked to help. I know the technology industry. They will help again. But they must be asked by a president who understands what they have.”[7]
- At the fifth GOP primary debate on December 15, 2015, Fiorina said she would enlist the private sector to help fight agains terrorism: “You know, listening to this conversation, let me just say, we have a lot of argument about laws but none of it solves the problem. Let's examine what happened, why did we miss the Tsarnaev brothers, why did we miss the San Bernardino couple? It wasn't because we had stopped collected metadata it was because, I think, as someone who comes from the technology world, we were using the wrong algorithms. This is a place where the private sector could be helpful because the government is woefully behind the technology curve. But secondly, the bureaucratic processes that have been in place since 9/11 are woefully inadequate as well. What do we now know? That DHS vets people by going into databases of known or suspected terrorists. And yet, we also know that ISIS is recruiting who are not in those databases. So of course, we're going to miss them. And then we now learn that DHS says, ‘No, we can't check their social media.’ For heaven's sakes, every parent in America is checking social media and every employer is as well, but our government can't do it. The bureaucratic procedures are so far behind. Our government has become incompetent, unresponsive, corrupt. And that incompetence, ineptitude, lack of accountability is now dangerous. It is why we need a different kind of leadership in the White House that understands how to get bureaucracies competent again.”[8]
- In an interview with Breitbart on December 14, 2015, Fiorina said she would do three things to improve cybersecurity in the U.S. She said she would "retaliate against China and Russia" for hacking into sensitive systems; “stand up a centralized cyber command, and that command would be responsible for all aspects of our government response;” and enable the private and public sector to engage more by passing a law to make information-sharing legal.[9]
- Speaking at the Iowa Presidential Tech Town Hall on December 7, 2015, Fiorina warned that the U.S. is “woefully unprepared for cyberterrorism.” She said, “ISIS is getting better and better at using encrypted communications to recruit and radicalize within our own country. ISIS knows how to make their recruits disappear online and they now have around-the-clock help desks to pass on technological information and training to other terrorist organizations.” In response, Fiorina would create a central cybersecurity command that works with private companies to improve the government’s data strategy.[10]
- On December 7, 2015, Fiorina said she would encourage a “warrior class” of generals to advise her if she were elected president. “These are generals that understand what is going down on the ground. … They’ve all been sidelined because they gave Obama messages he didn’t want to hear,” she said.[11]
- In September 2015, Fiorina expressed support for waterboarding in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, saying it helped “keep our nation safe.” She added, “I believe that all of the evidence is very clear — that waterboarding was used in a very small handful of cases [and] was supervised by medical personnel in every one of those cases. And I also believe that waterboarding was used when there was no other way to get information that was necessary.”[12]
- According to her 2010 Senate campaign website, "Carly strongly opposes trying foreign terrorists in civilian court, and she also opposes closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. These enemy combatants have not earned the right to protections under the U.S. Constitution and should not be given special treatment for political reasons."[13]
- According to her 2010 Senate campaign website, Fiorina supported "implementing stronger sanctions against Iran to help stop it from aiding terrorists and ensure it is not making nuclear weapons."[13]
International relations
- Following reports of North Korea’s hydrogen bomb test Carly Fiorina tweeted on January 6, 2016, "North Korea is yet another Hillary Clinton foreign policy failure. America cannot lead from behind." On Facebook she posted, "Of course North Korea would conduct a nuclear test after watching Iran willfully violate an agreement they just made without consequence of any kind from this administration. North Korea is yet another Hillary Clinton foreign policy failure. America cannot lead from behind.”[14]
- At the fifth GOP primary debate on December 15, 2015, Fiorina discussed how she would deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin: “I didn't say I would cut off all communication with Putin. What I said was as president of the United States, now is not the time to talk with him. Reagan walked away at Reykjavik. There is a time and a place for everything. There is a time and a place for talk. And there is a time and a place for action. I know Vladimir Putin. He respects strength. He lied to our president's face; didn't both to tell him about warplanes and troops going into Syria. We need to speak to him from a position of strength. So as commander in chief, I will not speak to him until we've set up that no-fly zone; until we've gathered our Sunni-Arab allies and begun to deny ISIS territory; until I've called the supreme leader of Iran and told him new deal - new deal. We the United States of America are going to cut off the money flow, which we can do; which we don't need anyone's permission or collaboration to do. And I will not speak to him personally until we've rebuilt the 6th Fleet a little bit right under his nose; rebuilt the missile defense program in Poland right under his nose; and conducted a few military exercises in the Baltic states. And let us remember one other thing. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are responsible for the growth of ISIS because they precipitously withdrew from Iraq in 2011 against the advice of every single general and for political expediency. It's not these people up here. It's Hillary Clinton.”[15]
- Fiorina explained how she would handle Russian President Vladimir Putin during a campaign event at the Citadel on December 1, 2015. She said, “Vladimir Putin is a formidable foe. I've met him and he is a man who lusts for power. … We will establish a no-fly zone. Our jets will fly whenever and wherever they want. And, I would be rebuilding the 6th-fleet right under his nose, begin rebuilding the missile defense program right under his nose, conducting regular military exercises in the Baltic states. And then we can talk, Mr. Putin."[16]
- On the September 2015 GOP debate state, Fiorina stated that she would not negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but would let her actions speak instead. She claimed she would begin rebuilding the Sixth Fleet and the missile defense program in Poland, “conduct regular, aggressive military exercises in the Baltic states” and “probably send a few thousand more troops into Germany” and Putin would “get the message.”[2]
- On September 6, 2015, Fiorina opposed the United States accepting an increased number of Syrian refugees. “The United States, I believe, has done its fair share in terms of humanitarian aid. Certainly, the United States has not led, as I indicated earlier. I think the United States, honestly, sadly, cannot relax our entrance criteria. We are having to be very careful about who we let enter this country from these war-torn regions to ensure that terrorists are not coming here,” Fiorina said.[17]
- Fiorina said on August 12, 2015, that she would assert a greater military presence in China to combat the “new Chinese aggression.” She said, “I would be conducting, actually now, at a moment when China’s economy is wavering a bit, I would be conducting more flyovers on the South China Sea. We cannot permit China to control a trade route through which passes $5 trillion worth of goods and services every year.”[18]
- According to her 2010 Senate campaign website, Fiorina supported Israel's "right to self-defense."[13]
Epidemic control
- On August 13, 2015, Carly Fiorina said that although childhood vaccinations should “always be the parent’s choice,” public schools should also be permitted to block unvaccinated children from attending. She added, however, “I think when we’re talking about some of these more esoteric immunizations, then I think absolutely a parent should have a choice and a school district shouldn’t be able to say, ‘Sorry, your kid can’t come to school’ for a disease that’s not communicable, that’s not contagious, and where there really isn’t any proof that they’re necessary at this point."[19][20]
ISIS and terrorism
- During the seventh Republican presidential primary debate on January 28, 2016, Carly Fiorina discussed her thoughts on ISIS, Iran and Benghazi: “Well let me tell you this: news flash, President Obama, news flash, Mrs. Clinton -- climate change is not our most pressing national security threat. Actually -- actually, it is ISIS, followed closely by Iran. And those two things are linked, so that when our president cozies up to Iran, all of our allies in the Middle East, who are ready to help us defeat ISIS, wonder whose side we're on. And the truth is, under this president, we are on Iran's side, not our allies', who would help us defeat ISIS. You know, one of the things we have to start with is understanding that we must stand up to adversaries. So Hillary Clinton famously asked, what difference does it make how four Americans died in Benghazi? This is the difference it makes, Mrs. Clinton. When terrorists purposefully attack an American embassy and kill four Americans, including an ambassador, and the next morning you get up and you lie about a videotape that doesn't represent our values, instead of saying the United States of America was purposefully attacked by terrorists, and we will seek retribution, then you are saying to every adversary and every adversary and every terrorist organization on the planet, it's open season. That, Mrs. Clinton, is what difference it makes.”[21]
- In a interview with Glamour, published January 12, 2016, Fiorina said ISIS was posed the biggest threat to the nation. She said, “[President Obama has] talked about climate change as our greatest near-term national security threat. No—ISIS is.... When the President talks about ‘containing’ them, it's clear he doesn't understand the nature of the threat. We cannot contain them. We must defeat them. And we start by denying them territory, which is why I've said over and over, I will lead a coalition, particularly of our Sunni Arab allies, to deny ISIS territory. … I'm talking about more effective air strikes, guided by more special operations forces. Our allies, who are fighting ISIS as we speak, have asked us for specific support that Obama isn't providing. King Abdullah II of Jordan, a man I've known a long time, [was in this country] when the Jordanian pilot was burned alive in a cage.... He [has asked] for bombs and matériel for his air force. We haven't provided it. I will.... The Kuwaitis, Jordanians, Saudis, Egyptians, Bahrainis, Emiratis, Kurds, Turks—all of them understand this is their fight also. But they can't win it without our leadership.”[22]
- In the same interview, Fiorina said that the nation should not welcome Syrian refugees without checking their backgrounds. She said. “Until we can vet them properly and assure the American people there are not terrorists among them, we cannot let them into this country…. If we can't vet them—and we cannot adequately today, because they come from a war-torn region and don't have documentation—we can't let them in.”.[23]
- At the fifth GOP primary debate on December 15, 2015, Fiorina discussed her plan to defeat ISIS: “Well, first I'll just point out that talking tough is not the same as being strong. And to wage war, we need a commander in chief who has made tough calls in tough times and stood up to be held accountable over and over, not first-term senators who've never made an executive decision in their life. One of the things I would immediately do, in addition to defeating them here at home, is bring back the warrior class - Petraeus, McChrystal, Mattis, Keane, Flynn. Every single one of these generals I know. Every one was retired early because they told President Obama things that he didn't want to hear. We must have Sunni-Arabs involved in this coalition. We must commit leadership, strength, support and resolve. I'll just add that Margaret Thatcher once said, ‘If you want something talked about, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.’”[24]
- During a speech at the 2015 Sunshine Summit in Orlando, Florida on November 14, 2015, Fiorina criticized President Barack Obama, saying that she was "angry that just yesterday morning, hours before the Paris attacks began and against all the evidence, President Obama declared ISIS 'contained' and took a victory lap. They are not a JV team, Mr. President. They are not contained. They are at our shores and their measure of victory is the body count."[25]
Syrian refugees
- In a radio interview on November 21, 2015, Fiorina said the U.S. should “do whatever is necessary to ensure that we do not have terrorists coming into this nation.” She outlined her plan to combat ISIS by regaining ISIS-controlled territory, deploying more special forces to “direct” a “more effective bombing campaign,” and remaining vigilant against Iran and Russia. On the unrelated immigration issue of Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, Fiorina said that the program was “unconstitutional” and she would “roll it back.”[26]
- At a campaign event on November 17, 2015, in Concord, N.H., Carly Fiorina discussed allowing Syrian refugees into the U.S. during the event. She said, “As pitiful as these pictures are of mothers and their children—as pitiful as they are—the truth is this: The vast majority of these refugees are young, able-bodied men looking for work. And we do not have a moral obligation to provide everybody looking for work with an opportunity to work. So let’s start with that.”[27]
Recent news
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See also
Footnotes
- ↑ NPR, "Carly Fiorina Ends Bid For Republican Presidential Nomination," February 10, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 CNN, "CNN REAGAN LIBRARY DEBATE: Later Debate Full Transcript," September 16, 2015
- ↑ CBS News, "Carly Fiorina: U.S. broke every rule in Iran negotiations," July 14, 2015
- ↑ Fox News, "A false choice and a flawed deal," accessed April 10, 2015
- ↑ The Daily Beast, "Carly Fiorina’s Military Would Cost an Extra $500 Billion (And That’s Before the New Nukes)," September 17, 2015
- ↑ KPPC, "Transcript: KPCC debate between California Senate candidates Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina," September 30, 2010
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Transcript: Fox Business undercard Republican debate," January 14, 2016
- ↑ CNN, "Rush Transcript second debate: CNN Facebook Republican Presidential Debate," December 15, 2015
- ↑ Breitbart, "Carly Fiorina on Cybersecurity: ‘Now, It’s Urgent,'" December 14, 2015
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Cybersecurity, STEM education lead issues at tech forum," December 7, 2015
- ↑ Breitbart, "Carly Fiorina: Bring Back ‘Warrior Class’ Generals Petraeus, Flynn, Keane and Mattis," December 7, 2015
- ↑ Yahoo, "Carly Fiorina defends Bush-era torture and spying, calls for more transparency," September 28, 2015
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Carly for CA, "Protecting America," accessed January 21, 2015
- ↑ USA Today, "GOP 2016 contenders bash North Korea bomb test," January 6, 2016
- ↑ CNN, "Rush Transcript second debate: CNN Facebook Republican Presidential Debate," December 15, 2015
- ↑ Live 5 News, "Carly Fiorina speaks to military at Citadel during stop in SC," December 1, 2015
- ↑ Bloomberg, "Carly Fiorina Says U.S. Has 'Done Its Fair Share' on Syrian Refugees," September 6, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Carly Fiorina: It’s time to fight ‘new Chinese aggression,'" August 12, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times, "Carly Fiorina Says Parents Should Choose on Child Vaccinations," August 14, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Carly Fiorina: Parents should not be forced to vaccinate their children," August 13, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Transcript: Fox News undercard GOP debate," January 28, 2016
- ↑ Glamour, "Carly Fiorina Exclusive: If Donald Trump Is the Nominee, Hillary Clinton Will Wipe the Floor With Him," January 12, 2016
- ↑ Glamour, "Carly Fiorina Exclusive: If Donald Trump Is the Nominee, Hillary Clinton Will Wipe the Floor With Him," January 12, 2016
- ↑ CNN, "Rush Transcript second debate: CNN Facebook Republican Presidential Debate," December 15, 2015
- ↑ The Hill, "Fiorina: Obama took a ‘victory lap’ on ISIS before Paris attacks," accessed November 16, 2015
- ↑ Breitbart, "Carly Fiorina: U.S. Must ‘Do Whatever Is Necessary’ to Bar Terrorists from Entering the Nation," November 21, 2015
- ↑ Concord Momitor, "Like other GOP candidates, Carly Fiorina says no more Syrian refugees," November 17, 2015
