The Indiana senator with a bipartisan streak on the Middle East – Jewish Insider
Posted By admin on December 22, 2021
For years, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) has worked to articulate a progressive foreign policy, building a name for himself among supporters of diplomacy and anti-war activists.
He has found an unlikely ally and frequent collaborator in Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican who spent the 2020 election cycle overseeing Republicans Senate campaign arm. The pair has led the effort in Washington to rein in the Saudi-led war in Yemen, issuing several statements together forcefully calling attention to the countrys devastating humanitarian crisis and Washingtons role in perpetuating it.
The two, who together lead the Senate Foreign Relations Committees Near East subcommittee, work closely together in Washington; in April, they attended a dinner at a Washington restaurant with Qatari diplomats to seek a Qatari donation to counter widespread hunger in Yemen.
In May, while Israel and Hamas were embroiled in a deadly flare-up, Young and Murphy again joined together to speak in one voice on the Middle East, issuing a joint statement calling for a cease-fire.
Israel has the right to defend itself from Hamas rocket attacks, in a manner proportionate with the threat its citizens are facing, read the statement. As a result of Hamas rocket attacks and Israels response, both sides must recognize that too many lives have been lost and must not escalate the conflict further.
Young was the only Republican to sign onto the letter, along with 27 other Democrats, giving the statement a coveted and rare bipartisan label. But several hours after the letters release, Young removed his name. At the time, he did not offer an explanation as to why he initially signed on. But he told JI last week that it was a matter of changing his mind as he received more facts.
As Young remembers it, a news report suggested that Israel supported a cease-fire. It said in there, Israeli government seeks cease-fire, Young recalled. He later learned the reality was more complicated.
He and Murphy felt like we should have our voices heard on this, let the state of Israel know that we have their backs on this as they try and achieve this cease-fire, Young said. But other Republicans accused President Joe Biden, who had also called for a cease-fire, of undermining Israels interests. At a press conference at which Young also spoke, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) argued that, in a phone call with then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden condescended and lectured to Prime Minister Netanyahu and urged him to stop defending Israel against the terrorists.
A spokesperson for Young told JI at the time that the senator shares his colleagues concerns about a premature cease-fire or one that occurs on Hamas terms and called for Israel to take out Hamass infrastructure in Gaza.
This would embolden Hamas, if you call for a cease-fire before, frankly, before the State of Israel has an opportunity to respond in kind and demonstrate that Israel will respond, and thats necessary for their own deterrence, Young explained last week. I was persuaded by that latter argument, unfortunately after having affixed my signature.
Im willing to admit when I dont have all the information. You never have all the information. But I learned more, and I changed my position accordingly, said Young.
But the public divergence from Murphy, who did not comment at the time on Youngs reversal and did not respond to a recent request for comment from JI, shows that Youngs work with progressive Democrats on foreign policy may have its limits. Murphy has been a leading supporter of the Biden administrations efforts to renegotiate a nuclear deal with Iran, while Young decidedly opposes reentering the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
We shouldnt go back to the JCPOA, Young, who is up for reelection in 2022, said. We havent gotten anything for withdrawing [from the deal in 2018] and if anything, the Iranians have used their additional wherewithal to expand their malign activities across the Middle East and beyond.
He called for increasing sanctions on Iran, and said that we should reassure Israel that whatever they decide to do, he explained, well be supportive of that.
To Young, this fissure with Murphy is not indicative of a problem in their relationship, or with other sometimes-partners from across the aisle. Its a defining feature of his approach to foreign policy. There are no permanent partners, said Young. I like members who are critical thinkers. If theyre too predictable, theyre probably not my favorite members to work with. Because to be predictable often means to lack nuance or, really, critical thinking.
In his first term in the Senate, Young has become an unexpected leader on issues of foreign policy, and one with a penchant for flying under the radar. In April, Business Insider called Young the most important senator youve never heard of.
I think the progressive label and the conservative label applies more to domestic policy, said Young. When it comes to foreign policy, I look for other labels. Are you a realist? Are you realistic in your analysis?
Im so impressed with how quickly Todd Young has become one of the most consequential voices on national security and foreign policy issues, said Liz Schrayer, president and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Her nonprofit, which advocates for U.S. global leadership through development and diplomacy, honored Young and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) at its virtual gala earlier this month.
There is no America First in Youngs worldview, although he is far from a never-Trumper. Nor is there the reflexive disdain for the Biden administrations actions espoused by many Republicans, although Young posits that the current American government is viewed as weak by many adversaries and allies. (This is not just about Biden, Young explained: Our system is perceived to be weak.)
On domestic issues, hes a small-government conservative who doesnt like raising taxes. On foreign policy, he takes an expansive view of Americas role in the world, and he isnt opposed to creating new government programs to bolster what he views as our democratic values.
He authored the Endless Frontier Act, legislation that would counter Chinas growing influence and edge in technology and artificial intelligence by creating a new office in the State Department to improve national competitiveness in science, research, and innovation to support the national security strategy, according to the bills text. The bill passed the Senate in June but has not yet been voted on by the House.
I think the progressive label and the conservative label applies more to domestic policy, said Young. When it comes to foreign policy, I look for other labels. Are you a realist? Are you realistic in your analysis?
Young thinks of himself as a realist, willing to acknowledge when situations change and when his position should change, too.
Thats what happened in Yemen: He and Murphy spent years campaigning for the U.S. to stop supporting Saudi Arabia in its campaign against the Houthi rebels in the country, but now, Young acknowledges that Americas stronger interest is in stopping the Iran-aligned Houthis, rather than ending the Saudi-led campaign entirely.
That doesnt mean hes ready to say America was always in the right, though.
Im quite certain that we, working with our friends in the region Saudi Arabia and UAE, pushed the Houthis into the arms of the Iranians by destabilizing the region, Young said. It was mostly the Saudis who destabilized the region, but we gave them diplomatic cover. We gave them military support. And were a part of the coalition.
Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Todd Young (R-IN) speaks to reporters following the Senate Republican policy luncheon which both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence attended on March 10, 2020, in Washington, D.C.
More than six years after the Saudis began their campaign in the country, the Houthi rebels remain entrenched and are firmly aligned with and supported by Iran. The Houthis have become so destabilizing, so aggressive in their activities in Saudi Arabia specifically their targeting of the Saudis and others, including Americans who are in the country, with their drones, missiles, rockets that we need to support the Saudis efforts to defend themselves, said Young. So as conditions change, my position as to our approach certainly needs to change.
Still, the Indiana senator also sounded a word of caution for partners, mostly on the left, who continue to sing the same tune on Saudi Arabias actions in Yemen.
The visceral apprehension that some of my colleagues have to recognize the changed circumstances in Yemen strikes me as really unwise, Young said. No one was more critical, more vocal against the Saudis, and to a lesser extent the Emirates and even the U.S. government when I needed to be than me. But were now at a point where the more serious threat to our interests and to our values is the Houthi movement.
Young has not released any statements on Yemen with Murphy since July, when they praised Qatars announcement of a $100 million donation to help alleviate the countrys humanitarian crisis. But earlier this month, the pair were not among a bipartisan group of senators who tried to stop a $650 million arms sale to Saudi Arabia. They voted against rejecting the sale.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has become toxic in some corners of Washington since the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Which is insane, said Young, nearly shouting: No one paid any attention to the death of thousands and thousands and tens of thousands of people on account of starvation in Yemen when I was screaming.) When former President Donald Trump met with the crown prince, known as MBS, in 2019, he garnered criticism for saying the Saudi leader was doing a spectacular job.
Meeting with MBS should not be off-limits to Biden, Young said. But he would advise the president to meet with the crown prince, who is believed to have ordered the assassination of Khashoggi, only if there are clear deliverables that were likely to be achieved.
Its a bad habit to put the president of the United States, or for himself to go into situations where youre not accomplishing much, said Young, especially at a time when many leaders and even just rank-and-file people around the world are perceiving our government to be weak.
The realist school of thought, to which Young subscribes, has often been associated with a strong defense posture and a commitment to national security,and the idealist school of thought has been considered more diplomatic, based on the positive intentions of allies and adversaries. But Youngs vision of a strong America is not necessarily an America that rushes into military action.
His biggest priority this year has been repealing two bills authorizing military force in Iraq from 1991 and 2002. The latter has allowed four presidential administrations to strike with near-impunity in the Middle East.
Young has spearheaded the effort with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA). Together, they have led efforts to repeal the 2002 AUMF that has been used by presidents to justify military action far beyond Iraq. Young, who in 2001 had recently left the Marines and was working as a staffer at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, thinks the AUMF has been applied far too broadly, with most members of Congress too scared to express opposition to it.
In a June article in the Harvard Journal on Legislation, Kaine and Young argued that Congresss failure to rein in presidential war powers reflects political weakness.
This elevation of political fear over the Constitution is Capitol Hill conventional wisdom: If Congress can evade a tough vote on military action, it will. And this failing is completely bipartisan, the senators wrote, criticizing actions taken by both Democratic and Republican administrations.
Like Murphy, Kaine has sought a leading role in the burgeoning progressive foreign policy movement. He diverges from Young on a lot of national security issues, perhaps chief among them Iran, but they maintain a strong working relationship.
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) participates in a reenacted swearing-in with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in the Old Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol January 3, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)
Todd brings his military background, his conservative fidelity to constitutional principles, and his deep appreciation for U.S. diplomacy, influenced no doubt by his early work for [former Republican Sen.] Richard Lugar, to every issue, Kaine told JI. I pay him the highest compliment I can pay to a colleague when you convince him on the merits of an issue, he will not let polls or pols dissuade him.
But an understanding of the seriousness of waging war and the constitutional requirement that Congress be involved in military strikes does not mean Young seeks diplomacy above all else.
Young fashions himself a statesman in the mold of his former boss and mentor, Lugar, for whom he worked as a legislative assistant two decades ago. The goal is to keep learning and studying, something Young appears to take to heart.
There are plenty of role models to be found out there, said Young. Usually theyre the ones who arent generating a lot of heat, but instead focus on creating light where they could and shining a new perspective on issues or some new facts that hadnt been considered before.
He ticked off a list of some of those role models that serve alongside him in the Senate: Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Burr (R-NC), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ).
Youll always find that as relates to foreign policy, there are more details to be discovered, more nuances to be considered, and new policy instruments to be brought to bear in order to advance the U.S.s interests, said Young.
Bernard Hasten, a prominent Republican pro-Israel activist from Indiana, pointed out that Youngs foreign policy expertise is probably not why Indianans elected him.
The majority of Hoosiers do not care much about foreign policy. They care more about whats going on domestically and relying on the state of Indiana, said Hasten, who has known Young since he first ran for the House of Representatives, where he served from 2011 to 2017 before moving to the Senate.
But Schrayer, of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, has seen Young make the case for American global leadership to his constituents.
I hosted him in Indianapolis with hundreds of his constituents. It was a very diverse group, she recalled. I remember specifically with him at this event how profoundly he connected with his constituents about why leading globally matters locally.
One way he might bring home the importance of foreign policy leadership to his constituents back home? Soccer. He has spoken with the UAE ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, about bringing a soccer game between the Israeli and Emirati national teams to the Hoosier State.
Soccer was my passion growing up. I learned a lot about life, and maybe even politics, through soccer, Young explained. Sports have not only been used throughout history as a tool of statecraft, but I think currently, its an underutilized tool. Theres nothing that brings middle America together more than sports.
Young has sought to expand the Abraham Accords, not just in new opportunities between the nations that forged peace deals last year but also in adding new countries to the Accords.
In a meeting with Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked last month, he brought up an idea and Ill be vague, because it remains half-baked with the goal of incentivizing other countries to continue to establish deeper relationships with Israel, which of course would help the United States in many respects, Young said. She liked the idea. It was a nice back-and-forth.
In the meantime, theres soccer.
Young played high school soccer in Indiana, winning a state championship for Carmel High School before going on to play Division I ball at the U.S. Naval Academy. He still hits the soccer field occasionally for exercise, and as a member of the House, he played in the annual congressional soccer game.
Call it soccer diplomacy: To the extent we can engage in competitive activities on the field and then come off and shake one anothers hand, thats a healthy exercise, said Young.
Is it going to change the world single-handedly? No, of course not, Young acknowledged. But, he added, I hope we can make that happen.
Read the original here:
The Indiana senator with a bipartisan streak on the Middle East - Jewish Insider
- A Proclamation on Jewish American Heritage Month, 2022 - January 27th, 2023
- What Is Jewish American Heritage Month? Celebrating Contributions and ... - January 27th, 2023
- Jewish American Heritage Month - National Park Service - January 27th, 2023
- Meet the Orthodox mom of seven who local Republicans want to replace George Santos - Forward - January 27th, 2023
- Florida Gov. DeSantis appoints anti-trans, anti-abortion author to Sarasota's New College board of trustees - Creative Loafing Tampa - January 27th, 2023
- Republican Jewish group calls on incoming GOP lawmaker George Santos to ... - December 25th, 2022
- Demographics of the Supreme Court of the United States - December 21st, 2022
- Native American Heritage Month: Continued Support for the Indigenous ... - November 24th, 2022
- Filipino American History Month - Wikipedia - November 24th, 2022
- Rosh Hashanah - Wikipedia - November 24th, 2022
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Wikipedia - November 6th, 2022
- The Best New Nonfiction Books Out in October 2022 - Book Riot - October 10th, 2022
- American Names - Behind the Name - October 10th, 2022
- Things to Do in DC This Weekend: Festivals, Exhibits, Tours - Washingtonian - October 10th, 2022
- Colorado has more than just Telluride Film Fest. Heres when you can see films in Denver, Vail, Breckenridge and beyond. - The Denver Post - September 19th, 2022
- A Tiny New Mexico Jewish Community Is Trying to Buy Back its Historic Synagogue Building - Jewish Exponent - September 9th, 2022
- What's going on in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin in fall 2022 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - September 9th, 2022
- This South Carolina College Town Is Top 10 In The Nation - kiss951.com - September 8th, 2022
- Wexner Heritage Program The Wexner Foundation - August 22nd, 2022
- Jewish Americans in 2020 | Pew Research Center - August 22nd, 2022
- Jewish practices and customs in the U.S. | Pew Research Center - August 22nd, 2022
- What You Should Know About NJ's School Supply Tax Holiday This Week - catcountry1073.com - August 22nd, 2022
- How small New England cities are standing up to white supremacists - Maine Public - August 20th, 2022
- Honoring the Turkish-Jewish Maftirim heritage - August 16th, 2022
- Voices of European Jewry: Krakow, Poland | The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle - thejewishchronicle.net - August 16th, 2022
- POLITICO Playbook: This week, it really is the economy, stupid- POLITICO - POLITICO - July 25th, 2022
- Ukraine's Centuries-Long History As Viewed Through its Currency | At the Smithsonian - Smithsonian Magazine - July 23rd, 2022
- How the American right became aligned with Hungary and its authoritarian leader - WYPR - July 14th, 2022
- The Republican Problem with the Holocaust - LA Progressive - July 14th, 2022
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - July 10th, 2022
- 111 New Books to Read for Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month - July 10th, 2022
- Where to See Art in Philly This Summer - Philadelphia magazine - July 6th, 2022
- DNI Haines Welcomes 15 New Americans at Town of Vienna Naturalization Ceremony - Office of the Director of National Intelligence - July 6th, 2022
- Date Will Live in Infamy': Tri-State Leaders, Public React to SCOTUS Abortion Ruling - NBC New York - June 26th, 2022
- Callista L. Gingrich | Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month - June 25th, 2022
- The Halakhic Argument for Reproductive Justice - Harvard Political Review - June 19th, 2022
- JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH - The Weitzman - June 4th, 2022
- A Proclamation on Jewish American Heritage Month, 2021 - June 4th, 2022
- Jewish American Heritage Month May 2023 - National Today - June 4th, 2022
- Jewish groups hope focus on Ukraine and antisemitism will draw ... - June 4th, 2022
- City and state governments across US bolster police in wake of Uvalde massacre - WSWS - June 4th, 2022
- Fighting rabbinic ban, Jewish activists push Temple Mt. prayer closer to mainstream - The Times of Israel - June 4th, 2022
- Emory Libraries Blog | Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month - June 2nd, 2022
- My fellow Jewish Americans, Happy Rodney Dangerfield Month | Opinion ... - June 2nd, 2022
- 8 Asian American and Pacific Islander Creatives on the Relevance of Heritage | Architectural Digest - Architectural Digest - June 2nd, 2022
- Citizens bring transportation concerns to Henrico supervisors - The Henrico Citizen - Henrico Citizen - June 2nd, 2022
- Bill to ban Palestinian flag at state-funded institutions clears initial reading - The Times of Israel - June 2nd, 2022
- The Toni Times | May 2022 - Toni Atkins - May 2nd, 2022
- Tiburon town council passes antisemitism resolution J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - April 30th, 2022
- ADL: NJ had the 2nd most antisemitic incidents in US in 2021 - News 12 Long Island - April 29th, 2022
- Why These Israeli Farmers Became Heroes After Killing Their Crops - Jewish Exponent - April 23rd, 2022
- How Can We Protect Cultural Heritage in Ukraine? Five Key Steps for the Int'l Community - Just Security - April 23rd, 2022
- An April reflection: We must fight to preserve religious liberty - Shelbynews - April 16th, 2022
- Chair and teacup from Texas synagogue hostage crisis to be displayed in exhibit - Religion News Service - April 9th, 2022
- A thriller from Mexico and a debut detective novel: The Jewish books you need to know this month - Forward - April 9th, 2022
- Phillys Wilma Theater is returning a donation from a group close to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich - The Philadelphia Inquirer - March 24th, 2022
- Watching From the Other Side: A Ukrainian American Perspective on the Invasion of Ukraine - Shondaland.com - March 24th, 2022
- The View From Swamptown: Exploring the Morgenthau Women's connection to Saunderstown - The Independent - March 24th, 2022
- Waiting for Bowman to finally acknowledge Israel - The Riverdale Press - March 8th, 2022
- William P. Barrs Good Donald Trump and Bad Donald Trump - The New York Times - March 8th, 2022
- Is the Writing on the Wall for Denver's Oldest Neighborhood? | Westword - Westword - March 2nd, 2022
- Improv Class Sparked Their Long-Term Romance - The New York Times - February 28th, 2022
- Opinion | Disabled Ancestry Should Be Embraced With Pride - The New York Times - February 28th, 2022
- Live updates: US official: Belarus may join Ukraine invasion - Boston.com - February 28th, 2022
- NFTs, art repatriation and the VMFA: How a local museum ended up in the middle of an international controversy - Richmond.com - February 28th, 2022
- Tampa City Council will hear options for reversing approval of Hanna Avenue 'City Center' project - Creative Loafing Tampa - February 28th, 2022
- Why American Jews Love Stella D'Oro Cookies | The Nosher - February 23rd, 2022
- Known for playing East Coast Jews, this Mrs. Maisel star is a proud Southern belle - The Times of Israel - February 23rd, 2022
- Resilient Peoples & Place: Arias Hoyle on Afro Indigeneity, rap, and the 'new wave' of Indigenous expression - Juneau Empire - February 23rd, 2022
- Things to do in Cincinnati this week: Feb. 21-27 - The Cincinnati Enquirer - February 23rd, 2022
- Bhutan Earns First Oscar Nomination for Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, Up for Best International Feature Film This Year - Tricycle - February 11th, 2022
- Jewish Book Festival: Author Horn talks about why she titled her latest book People Love Dead Jews - Vancouver Sun - February 3rd, 2022
- Opinion | The Attack at a Synagogue in Texas - The New York Times - January 24th, 2022
- One Opera Opening Would Make Any Composer Happy. He Has Two. - The New York Times - January 22nd, 2022
- Lani Guinier drew on her Black and Jewish roots in a life of outspoken activism - Forward - January 14th, 2022
- The enduring legacy of Rosenwald Schools in Charlotte and throughout the American South - WFAE - January 14th, 2022
- The 16 Best Things to Do in Miami This Week - Miami New Times - January 14th, 2022
- Weddings of the Year: Four Bethesda-area couples tie the knot in 2021 - BethesdaMagazine.com - January 4th, 2022
- Joseph Schumpeter and the Economics of Imperialism - Jacobin magazine - January 4th, 2022
- Native American Heritage Month Submissions 2021 | Denver ... - December 26th, 2021
Comments