3rd Party responses:
We do have boots on the ground in Mosul (special forces) #debate— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) October 20, 2016
— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) October 20, 2016
Let's get real. BOTH @realDonaldTrump and @HillaryClinton supported the war in Iraq. Now they want to cover up their mistakes.— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) October 20, 2016
We need better judgment on foreign policy. I opposed the Iraq War and would not put our young people in harm's way unless attacked. #debate— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) October 20, 2016
ISIS is in part the result of a vacuum created by regime change in Iraq--a policy both @HillaryClinton and @realDonaldTrump supported.— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) October 20, 2016
What has $6T in Iraq and Afghanistan bought us? 1M+ dead, failed states, mass refugee migrations and worse terrorist threats. #debatenight— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) October 20, 2016
We need a weapons embargo in the Middle East. The US is now supplying the majority of arms being used on all sides. #debatenight— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) October 20, 2016
Hillary's emails reveal she knows ISIS is funded by Saudi Arabia & Qatar - which are US allies. This foreign policy is insane. #debatenight— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) October 20, 2016
We need a foreign policy based on international law, diplomacy and human rights. #debatenight— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) October 20, 2016
Donald Trump is dangerous. Hillary Clinton is dangerous. Watching them try to one-up each other with aggression is horrifying. #debatenight— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) October 20, 2016
The threat of radicalization at home comes from people distraught and enraged about the US treatment of Muslims overseas. 1/2 #debatenight— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) October 20, 2016
If we want peace at home, we need peace abroad. Ending the wars is the most important step to ending terrorism. 2/2 #debatenight— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) October 20, 2016
Ive had enough of these 2 jokers with malevolent thoughts that won't better our future. Let's open up my Q & A at https://t.co/hSFwPsna7a— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) October 20, 2016
.@realDonaldTrump's allegiance to Russia and support for its atrocities in Syria are empowering Iran. #debates— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) October 20, 2016
.@HillaryClinton presided over U.S. foreign policy when al-Qaeda in Iraq reconstituted itself and became ISIS. How can she lead? #debates— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) October 20, 2016
Here he goes again. @realDonaldTrump is defending dictators. Assad is a central cause of the refugee crisis and ISIS. #debates— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) October 20, 2016
The answer in Syria must include constraining Assad and stopping his attacks on civilians. We can't defeat ISIS without doing that. #debates— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) October 20, 2016
Aleppo is a humanitarian disaster. Here are my thoughts. https://t.co/gAotPkO6Xr #Debates2016— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) October 20, 2016
#debates She is fishtailing on the no fly zone and the confrontation with Russia and the problems it would cause.— Darrell Castle (@DarrellCastle) October 20, 2016
Commentary and fact checks:
First, it's worth mentioning that US forces are actively engaged in combat operations in at least six nations (Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, and Afghanistan) with no formal declaration of war. Also, as Johnson points out, and Hillary does acknowledge, we already have "boots on the ground" in Iraq.
Here's a good overview of the discussion on Mosul and the inaccuracies from both candidates
Hillary mentions the civil war in Syria, "Aided and abetted by Russia and the Iranians", but doesn't mention our own involvement in "aiding and abetting" the conflict, how much of a total mess it is, or our actual funding of daesh. Here's an interesting article on the topic from Reason, and here's another op-ed from the Guardian.
Hillary fails to acknowledge that it is our very foreign policy that she would continue that created daesh.
Trump's foreign policy is not much better, it's basically a mix of the same aggressive interventionism mixed with isolationist protectionism.
Trump also claims he opposed the war in Iraq, which is simply untrue.
The reality of this debate is both candidates support and would continue further intervention, continue the so called war on terror, and neither would represent any real major change in foreign policy.
Trump is right to point out the issue with funding the rebels and not really knowing who they are, but is inaccurate, and terribly so, with his fear tactics regarding refugees. (Here's an interesting article about the first Syrian refugee in Idaho, and her perspective) On the refugee situation, Clinton helped cause the problem, and Trump is using fear rhetoric and lies in response to the problem. The data simply does not support his fears.
On Hillary's no fly zone, this would be a swipe and confrontation with Russian and Syrian forces, not daesh. Russian and Syrian forces are using air power, not daesh. She didn't really address these concerns in the debate, other than to acknowledge they exist.
The reality of our foreign policy in the Middle East is that we have created the problem, we are fueling the problem, we don't even really understand the problem, and it is highly likely that either Clinton or Trump will only get us into a further mess, likely including a pissing match with Russia in their backyard.
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