STAR*PAC Stop The Arms Race Political Action Committee
Candidate Questionnaire
This Page was Last Updated On:
03/02/2010
In addition to providing a link to their own web page STAR*PAC requests that each candidate complete the following questionnaire explaining their views and proposed actions on Peace and Nonproliferation issues. As the candidates complete and return their responses STAR*PAC will provide a link so you may view them.
STAR*PAC
Stop the Arms Race Political Action Committee
2010 Congressional Candidate Questionnaire
As a candidate for Congress, your views on war and peace issues are very important to Iowa voters. Please return this questionnaire by Friday, March 20, 2010, to STAR*PAC, via email to
STARPACNational@aol.com, or by U.S. mail to Box 561, Des Moines, Iowa 50302. (Phone: Chet Guinn, 515-282-8054.)Please feel free to add more comments in response to any of the questions, or to provide other information about your views on U.S. foreign and military policy.
Thank you very much.
Terrorism:
1. “I believe U.S. wars and occupation, as in Iraq and Afghanistan, create more terrorists and increase hatred of us around the world.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
Iraq:
2. “I support an early withdrawal of all U.S. occupation forces in Iraq, no permanent bases, and all oil agreements crafted to assure Iraqi ownership and control for their benefit.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
Afghanistan – Escalation:
“The U.S. should immediately begin to cooperate with regional nations and the UN as the
way to reduce the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, including replacing all private contractors with local and regional contractors.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
The Aftermath of Our Wars:
4. “The U.S. has a responsibility to provide financial and humanitarian aid for displaced persons, refugees, and wrongful deaths.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
Iran:
5. “I believe preemptive military actions against Iran would be a grave mistake.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
Military Spending:
The Administration proposes an FY 2011 direct military spending level of $708 billion ($549 billion base budget, plus $159 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq) [NY Times 2-4-10.] That is more than all other nations combined. Which of the following best expresses your view?
I believe the military budget should be
[ ] increased by about $ __________ billion
[ ] maintained at about its current level
[ ] decreased by about $__________ billion
7. “I favor reducing military spending, internationalizing the response to problems like terrorism, and dedicating more resources to meeting essential human needs and
providing critical human services at home and abroad.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
National Security Policy and Strategy:
“I oppose the reasoning that surrenders basic rights (such as the right to privacy) in the interest of greater security. Basic constitutional rights and procedures must be more thoroughly understood and vigorously supported.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
Preemptive war strategy:
“Nations must make finding alternatives to war a priority and stop the easy use of war as an option to resolve conflicts. I object to preemptive war and the casual, uncritical reliance on war.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
Nuclear Weapons:
“I oppose first use of nuclear weapons by the U.S., and new types of ‘usable’ nuclear
weapons such as ‘bunker busters’ and low-yield ‘tactical’ nuclear weapons.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
Nuclear Non-Proliferation:
“The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty would reinforce arms control agreements
across the world and help prevent further proliferation of nuclear weapons, and, therefore,
should be quickly ratified by the U.S. Senate.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
The U.S. role in the world:
“I believe the U.S. should encourage South Korea, Japan, China and other regional
nations to take the lead in moving forward on policies with North Korea.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
“The U.S. should back the UN’s efforts to enforce international law in the Middle East and stop Israeli-Palestinian hostilities.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
14. The U.S. should not develop an anti-missile defense system.
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
The United Nations and International Cooperation:
15. “The United Nations is the primary forum for dealing with ethnic cleansing, civil war, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and terrorism.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
16. “The U.S. should fulfill its funding obligations to support the U.N. The U.S. also should lead in efforts to immediately begin reform and restructuring the U.N. in accord with its original purposes and goals, including getting rid of war and bringing our lawless world under the rule of law.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
Conventional Weapons Sales:
17. “Our government should should stop promoting and underwriting weapons sales in the international community.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
Charges of war crimes in an international court of law:
18. “Vigorous investigations should be made of any and all government officials in any branch of government or the military, and in any administration, where laws, basic constitutional principles and processes are violated.”
___ Strongly Agree ___Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly Disagree ___ Undecided
___________________________ _________________________ ________
NAME (please print) SIGNATURE DATE
STAR * PAC
Our political mission – plowshares from the war machine.
P.O. Box 561 – Des Moines, Iowa 50302
(515) 282-8054 FAX (515) 276-7293