"We've made significant progress because of leadership on the part of many in Israel, as well as in the Arab world... I guess the frustration that many of us feel is that we haven't yet been able to, sort of, put final closure to it. But I hope that we'll continue to do that. I know certainly that would be an objective of Governor Bush when he's elected." --CNN's "Larry King Live," July 25, 2000
"As a general proposition around the world, we have located our embassy where the host country has its capital. And Israel is one of the few places where we haven't done that, and I think it's probably time, although... it is a very delicate moment in terms of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and I think you have to take that into account." --NBC's "Meet the Press," July 30, 2000
Persian Gulf
"[The Persian Gulf] is easier to define from a strategic standpoint as being a vital U.S. interest. ... We need to maintain a presence there to remind our friends in the area that we are serious about our commitments." --CNN's "The World Today," August 30, 2000
"I've called for lifting economic sanctions generally, unilateral economics sanctions, because I believe they don't work. I think you've got to distinguish between multilateral sanctions, the kinds of things that are enforced in Iraq, which I do support ...What Governor Bush has said with respect to sanctions on Iran, that he thinks at this point it's premature to lift those sanctions... I might go in and argue a different point of view with him, but I'll do it privately. And when he's made his decision, then I'll salute smartly and support the policy." --NBC's "Meet the Press," July 30, 2000
"We're kept out of [Iran] primarily by our own government, which has made a decision that U.S. firms should not be allowed to invest significantly in Iran, and I think that's a mistake." --Speech at the World Petroleum Congress, June 11-15, 2000
Oil Policies
"We have seen a lot of talk on reducing our dependence on foreign oil and the fact of the matter is ... we are producing less oil at home now than we have at any time since 1954. We are more vulnerable to having those supplies interrupted and cut off now than ever before." --Associated Press [AP], September 28, 2000
"We haven't had a coherent energy policy in this country now for many years. And the question in terms of the future is how we put in place a reasonable policy that will provide for some stability in prices . ... When prices go up too high, it has an adverse effect on the economy and that reduces demand for oil. When prices go too low, nobody's going to invest and that, in turn, leads ultimately to shortages and creates the kinds of problems we've seen in recent years." --NBC's "Meet the Press," July 30, 2000
JOSEPH LIERBERMAN
Middle East Peace
"Just as the quest for peace has been a priority for the Clinton-Gore administration because it is so clearly in the strategic and moral interests of the United States of America, the quest for peace in the Middle East will be a priority for a Gore-Lieberman administration." --CNN's "Larry King Live," August 8, 2000
"It would be a serious mistake for the United States to change from its traditional role as facilitator of the peace process to using public pressure against Israel." --Letter to President Clinton, 1999
"He (Gore) and I both believe that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths, and that the United States Embassy should be relocated to Jerusalem, hopefully soon, as part of a final peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians." --Speech to AIPAC in Chicago, September 23, 2000
Persian Gulf
"What is at stake in Iraq today? For one, something that might be considered quaint in some quarters, meaningless in other quarters, international agreements are at stake, agreements to end the gulf war, promises made by Saddam Hussein about allowing inspections which would enable us--the world--to guarantee that he was keeping his promises to disarm, a request justifiably made by the victorious forces in Operation Desert Storm and required of those who were vanquished in that conflict. So it is the integrity of these agreements, in the first instance, that is at stake." --Senate statement, "Military Action in Iraq," February 12, 1998
"The fact that [Iran] has been our most implacable foe in the recent past, that it has been the single most intransigent supporter of terrorism against this nation and our allies, that remains, unfortunately, in reality still unchanged. And the thought that weapons of mass destruction carried by ballistic missiles would be in the possession of this nation, still controlled effectively by this small group of enemies of the United States should fill us with the most profound fear and anxiety." --Senate statement, "Iran Nonproliferation Act," February 22, 2000
Oil Policies
"Al Gore and I have had a lifelong passion to protect our environment and create an alternative energy policy that will diminish our dependence on foreign oil; that will create alternative cleaner sources of energy; and that will encourage, through tax credits, both businesses and homeowners to use energy more efficiently." --CNN's "Morning News," September 29, 2000
"[Releasing oil from the nation's reserve] would challenge OPEC to bring the price of crude and home heating oil down so that they don't cause pain in the average American's budget . . . and endanger the extraordinary economic growth." --Speech at Cirent Semiconductor in Orlando, September 28, 2000
Compiled by Elena Pavlova.
Policy #491
