Campaign Status:
John Edwards, a former Democratic senator from North Carolina declared his candidacy on December, 27, 2006.
Also See:
- Edwards, Obama, Edge out Hillary in 2008 Iowa Poll (U.S. Liberals, Deborah White)
War on Terrorism:
Edwards' publicly recorded statements on the "war on terrorism" most often arise in the context of homeland security and the threat in the United States. In early 2007, Edwards' stated at a conference in Israel that a nuclear Iran would be intolerable to Israel and the entire Middle East. His statement that "all options must remain on the table" seemed to many to condone a possible military strike on Iran. He clarified in an interview shortly afterward that attacking Iran would in his view "have very bad consequences.'
During his run for vice-president in 2004, Edwards made the claim that terrorist cells exist in significant number in the United States:
The other thing we're -- we know is that we know that terrorist cells exist all over this country -- Islamic Jihad -- they're everywhere -- Hamas. We need to do a much more effective job of putting humans inside those terrorist cells so that we can stop them before they do us harm."
War in Iraq
Edwards views on Iraq reveal his belief war in Iraq is not related to terrorism. According to a campaign press release:
Edwards believes that the only solution to the situation in Iraq is a political solution, which requires all the parties in Iraq to take responsibility for the future of their country. By leaving Iraq, the Iraqi people, regional powers, and the entire international community will be forced to engage in the search for a political solution that will end the sectarian violence and create a stable Iraq. Escalating the war sends exactly the wrong signal to the Iraqi people, regional powers and the world.
In keeping with this view, Edwards has put forth a plan to prohibit funding for troops, in order to force a limit on their deployment; make sure that Congressional approval is required for further Administration steps in Iraq, and withdraw troops within 12-18 months.
Homeland Security
Edwards' homeland security positions are best found in his voting record as Democratic North Carolina senator from 1999-2004. In that capacity, he is known for his work on bioterrorism and cyberterrorism, as well as a number of other security measures. In 2001, he introduced the Biological and Chemical Weapons Preparedness Act (with Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-NE). Much of it was later incorporated into the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act, which established measures to assess bioterrorism preparedness, regulate biological agents in U.S. institutions, and respond to biological attacks, especially those affecting the food supply.
Edwards also introduced the Airport and Seaport Terrorism Prevention Act in 2001. It was praised at the time by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as a "blueprint for effective and fair enhancement of airport security."
For more on Edwards views, See:
- John Edwards' U.S. Foreign Policy (U.S. Foreign Policy, Keith Porter)