Security Assistance - Middle East
A large volume of weapons flows into the Middle East and North Africa, with both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia making SIPRI's list of top five importers of major weapons and the United States committed to Israel having a qualitative military edge over other countries in the region. In light of the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS), the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria under the Assad regime and Russia's intervention, upheaval in Yemen and U.S. support to the Saudi-led coalition, suppression of freedoms in Eqypt, instability in Libya, and other regional crises, many global arms suppliers are grappling with the appropriateness of military assistance, in the form of weapons and training, as well as direct military action in the region. These issues beget the questions of to what degree and how the United States should assist in resolving conflicts in the area.
Expected support for assistance, in the form of military assistance including weapons, training, and direct military action in the region.
Islamic State (ISIS) Clinton has called for a “no boots on the ground” approach to defeating ISIS. In its place, Clinton has advocated for military assistance to forces fighting ISIS, as well as U.S. airstrikes. During all three Presidential Candidate Debates in late September and October, she described a plan of air strikes against ISIS and support for Arab and Kurdish partners in a planned offensive against ISIS. At the Commander-in-Chief forum in September, Clinton specified that she would continue to support the Iraqi military through special forces, enablers, surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance help. In the Democratic Candidates Debates in February 2016, December and October 2015 and at an AIPAC conference in March 2016, Clinton also emphasized the need to defeat ISIS with the help of an American-led air campaign and support to Arab and Kurdish troops on the ground, without ground troops. Libya Clinton has also been supportive of military assistance and air strikes in lieu of sending ground troops in Libya. In early September at the Commander-in-Chief Forum, Clinton reinforced her position supporting U.S. airstrikes in Libya, touting efforts to put together a coalition including NATO and the Arab League. Iran At the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Conference Clinton commented on the possibility of the U.S. reacting with force, if necessary, against Iran if they violate commitments not to seek, develop or acquire nuclear weapons. In this case she was not clear on whether that force would include boots on the ground, a coalition, or military assistance. Israel Regarding Israel, Clinton said in a statement on the U.S. memorandum of understanding that she is fully committed to American security assistance to Israel. At the March 2016 AIPAC Conference, Clinton also said that she will commit to ensure Israel maintains a military edge. Such a military edge would include assistance in defense technology, such as bolstering Israeli missile defenses and tunnel detection technology for preventing arms smuggling. |
Expected support for assistance, in the form of military assistance including weapons, training, and direct military action in the region.
Islamic State (ISIS) Trump is often quoted as being critical towards security assistance. In a meeting with the Washington Post Editorial Board in March Trump suggested that we are spending money on other countries that we are on ourselves, taking a disapproving perspective given the current state of U.S. debt. However, the candidate has also expressed plans for involvement in ongoing conflicts. At the Commander-in-Chief Forum in September as well as the second Presidential Debate, Trump commented that he wants to “knock the hell out of ISIS”. It is unclear what military means this would include, and if this would include security assistance to forces in Iraq and Syria. Trump is also expected to want to cooperate with Russia regarding ISIS, a sentiment which he most recently expressed at the same Forum. Trump has also criticized previous exit strategies and ongoing operations. In the Commander-in-Chief Forum he said the handling of Iraq is what lead to ISIS. In the Forum and at the Presidential Candidate Debate in late September 2016, he spoke about a plan to “take the oil," as he claims it acts as a lifeline to ISIS. This would appear to imply direct military measures to intervene in ongoing operations, but it is unclear what military measures this would include. Libya At the same Forum, Trump criticizes not the bombing of Libya, but the post-management effects in Libya. The candidate does not say how he would have done it differently. His criticism may imply that he would instead perhaps have intervened militarily. What further supports this assumption is Trump’s comments that were highlighted by Clinton at the first Presidential Candidate Debate, where she reminded that he had said he would blow the ships out of the water for taunting U.S. ships. Iran At an AIPAC conference in March 2016, Trump said he would “stand up to Iran,” and dismantle its terrorist network. It is unclear how this would take place and what means would be employed to do so. Israel Regarding policy towards Israel, Trump said at the AIPAC conference that he will cooperate closely with Prime Minister Nethanyahu to bring stability to the region. In February 2016 at the CNN Republican candidates debate, he said he is pro-Israel, but in the same interview he also said that he is motivated to negotiate peace in Israel, stating that this can be done best without taking sides. Additional notes Trump’s criticism during the Presidential Candidate Debate of Clinton’s open plans to defeat ISIS, along with his own ‘secret plan’ have implications regarding transparency. It is thus likely that his policy regarding strategy in the Middle East would not be as transparent as Obama’s administration, or that of Clinton. |
Hillary Clinton QuotesOctober 19, 2016 - Third Presidential Candidate Debate
"Well, I am encouraged that there is an effort led by the Iraqi army, supported by Kurdish forces, and also given the help and advice from the number of special forces and other Americans on the ground. But I will not support putting American soldiers into Iraq as an occupying force. I don't think that is in our interest, and I don't think that would be smart to do. In fact, Chris, I think that would be a big red flag waving for ISIS to reconstitute itself.The goal here is to take back Mosul. It's going to be a hard fight. I've got no illusions about that. And then continue to press into Syria to begin to take back and move on Raqqa, which is the ISIS headquarters." October 9, 2016 - Second Presidential Candidate Debate
"It’s also important I intend to defeat ISIS, to do so in a coalition with majority Muslim nations." September 26, Presidential Candidate Debate
“…We also have to intensify our air strikes against ISIS and eventually support our Arab and Kurdish partners to be able to actually take out ISIS in Raqqa, end their claim of being a Caliphate." September 14, Statement on U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding
“America’s commitment to Israel’s security must always remain rock-solid and unwavering ... As President, I will work with our partners to implement this agreement, ensure that Israel always maintains its qualitative military edge, and take our alliance to the next level." September 7, Commander-in-Chief Forum
“We have to defeat ISIS. That is my highest counterterrorism goal. And we’ve got to do it with air power. We’ve got to do it with much more support for the Arabs and the Kurds who will fight on the ground against ISIS. We have to squeeze them by continuing to support the Iraqui military… We’re going to work to make sure that they have the support - they have special forces, as you know, they have enablers, they have surveillance, intelligence, reconnaissance help. They are not going to get ground troops. We are not putting ground troops into Iraq ever again. And we’re not putting ground troops into Syria. We’re going to defeat ISIS without committing American ground troops.” March 21, 2016, AIPAC Conference
“Our work together to develop the Iron Dome saved many Israeli lives when Hamas rockets began to fly. February 4, 2016 MSNBC Democratic Candidates Debate (This is a rush transcript, for full video see youtube link below.)
“…We have to support the Arab and Kurdish fighters on the ground who are actually doing the fighting…. We will not send American combat troops back to either Syria or Iraq – that is off the table. But we do have special forces, we do have trainers, we do have the military personnel who are helping with the airstrikes that the United States is leading so that we can try to take out ISIS infrastructure, take out their leadership." December 19, 2015 ABC Democratic Candidates Debate
“I have a plan that I’ve put forward to go after ISIS. Not to contain them, but to defeat them. And it has three parts. First, to go after them and deprive them of the territory they occupy now in both Syria and Iraq. Secondly, to go after and dismantle their global network of terrorism. And thirdly, to do more to keep us safe. Under each of those three parts of my plan, I have very specific recommendations about what to do. November 19, 2015 Speech on National Security and the Islamic State at the Council on Foreign Relations
“Baghdad needs to accept, even embrace, arming Sunni and Kurdish forces in the war against ISIS. But if Baghdad won’t do that, the coalition should do so directly… “And we need—one thing that I believe we haven’t done yet is make it clear to Baghdad that we are going to be arming Sunni tribes and Kurds if they don’t, because at some point they have to be in the fight." October 13, 2015 CNN Democratic Candidates Debate
(42:20 – 43.03): “Specifically in Syria it is important…. To make it clear that (Russia has) to be part of the solution to end that bloody conflict and to provide safe zones so that people don’t have to be flooding out at the rate they are. I think it’s important too that the United States make it very clear to Putin that it’s not acceptable for him to be in Syria creating more chaos, bombing people on behalf of Assad. We can’t do that if we don’t take more of a leadership position, which is what I’m advocating." August 10, 2014 The Atlantic Interview
“The failure to help build up a credible fighting force of the people who were the originators of the protests against Assad—there were Islamists, there were secularists, there was everything in the middle—the failure to do that left a big vacuum, which the jihadists have now filled.” |
Donald Trump QuotesOctober 19, 2016 - Third Presidential Candidate Debate
"And frankly, when you look at her real record, take a look at Syria. Take a look at the migration. Take a look at Libya. Take a look at Iraq. She gave us ISIS, because her and Obama created this huge vacuum, and a small group came out of that huge vacuum because when -- we should never have been in Iraq, but once we were there, we should have never got out the way they wanted to get out. She gave us ISIS as sure as you are sitting there. And what happened is now ISIS is in 32 countries. And now I listen how she's going to get rid of ISIS. She's going to get rid of nobody." October 9, 2016 - Second Presidential Candidate Debate
"I will knock the hell out of ISIS. We’re going to defeat ISIS. ISIS happened a number of years ago in a vacuum that was left because of bad judgment. And I will tell you, I will take care of ISIS." September 26, 2016 Presidential Candidate Debate
“[Clinton has been] telling the enemy everything you want to do. No wonder you've been fighting -- no wonder you've been fighting ISIS your entire adult life. September 7, Commander-in-Chief Forum
“I think I would have a very, very good relationship with Putin. And I think I would have a very, very good relationship with Russia..." March 21, 2016, AIPAC Conference
“When I'm president, I will adopt a strategy that focuses on three things when it comes to Iran. First, we will stand up to Iran's aggressive push to destabilize and dominate the region. March 21, 2016 Meeting with the Washington Post Editorial Board
“We’re a debtor nation. How you going to get rid – let me ask you – how are you going get rid of $21 trillion in debt?...We’re spending that to protect other countries. We’re not spending it on ourselves. Because we have, we have armor-plated vehicles that are obsolete. The best ones are given to the enemy. We give them to our allies over in the Middle East. A bullet shot in the air and they immediately run and the enemy takes over. I have a friend whose son is in his third, his third tour over in Iraq. He’s over in, I mean he’s a very special kid, he’s a great kid. But he’s over in the Middle East, and, uh, Afghanistan, different parts of the Middle East, actually. And he said to me, I said to him what do you think. And he said, it’s so sad." February 25, 2015 CNN Republican Debate
“President Obama has treated Israel horribly... I have very close ties to Israel. I've received the Tree of Life Award and many of the greatest awards given by Israel. As president, however, there's nothing that I would rather do to bring peace to Israel and its neighbors generally. And I think it serves no purpose to say that you have a good guy and a bad guy. Now, I may not be successful in doing it. It's probably the toughest negotiation anywhere in the world of any kind. But it doesn't help if I start saying, "I am very pro-Israel." It doesn't do any good to start demeaning the neighbors, because I would love to do something with regard to negotiating peace, finally, for Israel and for their neighbors. I can’t do that s well as a negotiator, I can’t do that as well if I’m taking sides. That being said, I am totally pro-Israel.” |