Issue Position: Middle East

Issue Position

OBAMA-WALZ MIDDLE EAST POLICY IS UTTER FAILURE

- Hagedorn: Iraq implosion signals need to end Afghan War, immediately -

Republican congressional candidate Jim Hagedorn (MN-1), Blue Earth, harshly criticized what he called the "failed Middle East foreign policy of President Barack Obama and liberal Democrat followers like DFL Congressman Tim Walz."

"Obama and cohorts like Walz promised a foreign policy that would "lead the world'", said Hagedorn. "Instead of leading the world, Obama's failed foreign policy is leading adversaries like Russia and China to fill the policy vacuum and gain influence," he said.

Hagedorn pledged that while serving in Congress he will vote for the immediate end of U.S. Middle East combat operations and oppose the costly and discredited practice of nation-building. Hagedorn said he would work with like-minded legislators to implement a foreign policy based upon the Reagan Doctrine of Peace through Strength and assisting those willing to fight for their own freedom. "People who build their own institutions and battle for a better way of life are in the strongest position to create and foster meaningful democratic traditions," said Hagedorn.

"Both political parties have mismanaged Middle East foreign policy these past 14 years and the result has been an uprising of radical Islam, the loss of U.S. prestige and the slaughter of Christians," said Hagedorn. "The recent implosion of Iraq and rise of radical ISIS Islamists proves the policy of nation-building has failed."

"Brave U.S. military personnel fought and died to create an opportunity for the Iraqi people to fight for their own freedom and defend democratic rule; unfortunately, it appears many Iraqis would rather live in a radical Islamic state than defend a democratic form of government," he said.

Hagedorn criticized Obama and congressional supporters like Tim Walz for undermining stable governments and U.S. allies in the region, a policy he believes led to the uprising of radical Islam. "Every time the Obama administration has effectively abandoned or discarded pro-U.S. or neutral leaders like those in Egypt, Libya and Yemen -- all in the name of "democracy' -- we end up with far worse actors in power and/or a rise of Islamic power, less stability, more terrorism and the slaughter of Christians," Hagedorn said.

Hagedorn said that as congressman he would support all forms of government in the Middle East so long as leaders strive to do the following:

-Maintain stability and work toward human rights and freedom for all people

-Help the West fight extremist Islamic terrorists

-Sustain the free-flow of oil

-Protect the right of Christians and others to worship

Hagedorn said the recent destabilization of Iraq escalates the need to end all combat and foreign assistance operations in Afghanistan, immediately, not two or more years down the road as President Obama has suggested.

"Let's be honest," said Hagedorn, "the minute U.S. combat forces leave Afghanistan the country is going to implode every bit as much as Iraq, if not more." "Knowing the inevitable, every U.S. military death or combat injury in Afghanistan, from this point forward, is completely unwarranted and must be avoided," he said.

Hagedorn noted his role as the only candidate in the race for Congress who has called for the immediate end of the Afghan War. "When I called for the end of combat operations and foreign aid to Afghanistan in December, both Tim Walz and Aaron Miller failed to take a position when questioned by the Mankato Free Press," said Hagedorn.

"As usual, Tim Walz takes his cues from President Obama," Hagedorn said. "Sadly, Congressman Walz's support for veterans consistently ends at the point liberal Democrat politics begins," he charged.

"During this campaign and while serving in office, I will spend every waking hour promoting policies to protect the United States and defend the lives and interests of our military heroes," Hagedorn said.

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