ELECTION QUESTIONNAIRE TO ALASKA CANDIDATES FOR U.S. SENATE & HOUSE
VFP Chapter 100 in June sent the following questionnaire to candidates, who were asked to respond by July 11 and to limit each answer to 75 words. We informed candidates that Veterans for Peace does not, and will not, endorse or provide other support to a candidate for elected office, but that we have a keen interest in public policies that obligate our nation to conflict and, therefore, asked their cooperation. After we receive their responses, we will publish them at this site.
1. Many scientists and physicians believe that the use of ordnance tipped with Depleted Uranium (DU) has harmed our troops (and civilian populations), resulting in vastly increased occurrences of cancers and other radiation-related illnesses. If you are elected, what steps (if any) would you take to curb the further development and use of such weapons?
2. In May, more than 100 nations agreed to a treaty that establishes a deadline to eliminate cluster bomb munitions and to ban their use. The Bush Administration, insisting that the U.S. must have the discretion to manufacture, use, and export cluster bombs to other nations, declined to sign the treaty. Do you agree with this position? Why or why not?
3. The expenses associated with providing appropriate long-term care for veterans of the “Global War on Terror” have been estimated to equal the combined cost of waging the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Will you support necessary future appropriations for these purposes? Why or why not?
4. The U.S. Government recently contracted with the Lawrence Livermore Laboratories to develop a “new generation” of atomic bombs. Do you support further nuclear proliferation? Please explain your response.
5. What steps, if any, will you take to repeal or revise the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, as applied to gay and lesbian members of the Armed Forces? Please explain.
6. Under the terms of the No Child Left Behind Act, local school districts that seek federal aid to education must provide student contact information to military recruiters (unless the student or his/her parent/guardian has directed the district not to release the information). Do you support this policy? As a general matter, do you believe it is appropriate for military recruiters to target youth before they reach the age of 18? Why or why not?
7. The invasion and occupation of Iraq has, to date, cost more than $600 billion and has resulted in the loss of more than 4,100 American soldiers (not to mention the devastation of that country and its civilian population). Nevertheless, the Bush Administration has articulated no “exit strategy.” Instead, the President is seeking a pact with the Iraqi government that would establish a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq for an indefinite period of time. Do you agree with that policy? Why or why not?
8. With reference to Question 7 (above), do you believe that finalizing such an agreement is within the discretion of the President (in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief ), or should an international obligation of this sort be viewed as a treaty, thus requiring approval by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate? Please explain.
9. In its prosecution of the “Global War on Terror,” the Bush Administration has authorized our military and intelligence services to utilize “enhanced interrogation techniques” (i.e., waterboarding, sleep deprivation, stress positions, etc. – believed by many to be torture) against detainees. Do you support this position? Why or why not?
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