Issue Position: Foreign Policy

Issue Position

Afghanistan.

Rosa understands that properly addressing the challenges we face in Afghanistan is vital to our national security. She knows how critical it is to effectively root out terrorists and Taliban militants in this region, both for our own security and to build a better future for the Afghan people. Nevertheless, she remains deeply concerned about the increase in the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan without a more comprehensive exit strategy.

The U.S. military has been conducting operations in Afghanistan for nearly nine years and, while the Bush Administration failed to properly resource our operations in the fight against those that perpetrated the 9/11 attacks, instead choosing to wage a misguided war in Iraq, there is no long-term military solution to this security challenge. Rosa believes that it is in our national security interest to recognize that the terrorist threat is transnational in nature and to pursue a strategy that lessens our military footprint in Afghanistan while further pursuing diplomatic, political and economic policies that help meet the myriad of challenges in the region.

Iraq.

Rosa did not support the authorization to use force in Iraq and has consistently called for a phased, responsible redeployment out of the country. She believes that our troops, along with their families, have sacrificed so much and have performed magnificently in implementing the mission they were given in Iraq. They deserve to be honored accordingly.

Rosa supports the U.S.-Iraq agreement to redeploy U.S. forces out of Iraq and the Obama Administration's efforts to responsibly implement that agreement and end the war. She believes it is critical that the U.S. combat mission in Iraq end as planned by August 31, 2010 and that we remove all of our troops by the end of 2011.

Iran.

Rosa understands the threat a nuclear-armed Iran would pose to our interests in the region. As Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability continues virtually unabated, Rosa supports an approach that uses all of the tools-political, diplomatic and economic- in the tool kit to address this difficult challenge.

Rosa is a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, which sanctions foreign companies that sell refined petroleum to Iran or help Iran with its own domestic refining capacity. While she supports the reform movement in Iran, she also supports engagement with the Iranian government in an effort to reach a solution that prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Yet, barring any such agreement, she supports UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran, other multilateral sanctions to pressure Iran to curtail its nuclear activities, and, if necessary, unilateral sanctions including those provided for in the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, as part of an effort to convince the Iranian regime to meet the demands of the international community and change its current course.

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