Jul 27, 2015
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN REPUBLICAN
-ALASKA ADDRESSES IRAN DEAL ON SENATE FLOOR
Dan Sullivan was sworn in as Alaska’s eighth United States Senator
on January 6, 2015. Sullivan serves on four Senate committees
vital to Alaska: the Commerce, Science and Transportation
Committee; the Armed Services Committee; the Environment and Public
Works Committee; and the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Sullivan served as
Alaska’s Attorney General and Commissioner of the Alaska Department
of Natural Resources. As Alaska's Attorney General, Sullivan’s
number one priority was protecting Alaskans, their physical safety,
financial well-being, and individual rights – particularly Alaska’s
most vulnerable. During his tenure he spearheaded a
comprehensive statewide strategy – the “Choose Respect” campaign –
to combat Alaska’s high rates of domestic violence and sexual
assault. Under Sullivan’s leadership, the Department of Law
also undertook an aggressive strategy of initiating and intervening
in litigation aimed at halting federal government overreach into
the lives of Alaskans and their economy.
As Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources,
Sullivan managed one of the largest portfolios of oil, gas,
minerals, renewable energy, timber, land, and water in the world.
Working closely with Alaska’s Governor and state legislature,
Sullivan developed numerous strategies that spurred responsible
resource development, energy security, and a dramatic increase in
good-paying jobs across a number of critical sectors in the Alaska
economy. He also developed a comprehensive plan to streamline
and reform the state’s regulatory and permitting system.
Sullivan is one of a select number of Alaskan attorneys who has
held judicial clerkships on both the highest federal and state
courts in Alaska. He served as a judicial law clerk for Judge
Andrew Kleinfeld of the United States Court of Appeals for the
Ninth Circuit in Fairbanks, Alaska and for Chief Justice Warren
Matthews of the Alaska Supreme Court in Anchorage, Alaska.
Sullivan also served as a judicial law clerk/intern for Judge James
L. Buckley on the United States Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit.
Sullivan has a distinguished record of military and national
security service. He is currently an infantry officer and
Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. Over
the past 21 years, Sullivan has served in a variety of command and
staff billets on active duty and in the reserves, including: TRAP
Force Commander and 81mm mortar Platoon Commander, 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable); Weapons Company
Executive Officer, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines; Commanding
Officer, Delta Company, Anti-Terrorism Battalion; Executive
Officer, Echo Company, Fourth Reconnaissance Battalion; and
Commanding Officer, 6thAir
Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO). In 2004, Sullivan
was recalled to active duty for a year and a half to serve as a
staff officer to the Commander of U.S. Central Command, General
John Abizaid, spending substantial time deployed in the Middle
East, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia. In July 2013,
Sullivan was recalled to active duty to serve with a Joint Task
Force in Afghanistan focusing on dismantling terrorist networks and
criminalizing the Taliban insurgency.
Sullivan served in the Administration of President George W. Bush
as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and
Business under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He focused on
fighting terrorist financing, and implementing policies relating to
international energy, economic, trade, finance, transportation,
telecommunications, and Arctic issues. Sullivan also served as a
Director in the International Economics Directorate of the National
Security Council staff at the White House.
Sullivan earned a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University in 1987
and a joint law and Masters of Science in Foreign Service from
Georgetown University in 1993. Dan and his wife Julie Fate Sullivan
were married over 20 years ago in Julie’s hometown of Fairbanks,
Alaska. They have three teenage daughters: Meghan, Isabella and
Laurel.
0:00
but was present I want a speak this afternoon
0:03
about 10 most important issues facing the United States
Senate
0:08
today for weeks maybe months maybe even years
0:12
and that's the debate we're having over there and
0:15
nuclear agreement how many my colleagues have already spoken very
eloquently very
0:21
about this agreement I want to give one example my colleague from
maine senator
0:26
King was on the floor the other day when I was presiding
0:30
imploring us to fully debate the issue his
0:34
he stated quote the truth emerges from the fire
0:39
have an argument on an issue of this importance and I couldn't
agree more
0:43
we should debate this issue we should believe that this issue
0:48
we should bring all the voices of the people we represent into this
body
0:53
to debate this issue some is present where to begin
0:58
there is so much here so many issues we've seen some of them
1:03
centrifuges enrichment
1:06
inspections sanctions anytime anywhere
1:10
inspections we have to examine all of that
1:15
but I thought it was important to date a step back
1:19
to take a look at some other big issues
1:22
three in particular but I think are important as we start this
debate
1:28
first the role of the american people
1:32
and this body in the congress with regard to this Agreement
1:36
second the basic underlying premise
1:40
up this Agreement the driving force that in many ways is behind
this agreement
1:46
and third the main goal
1:49
as has been agreed to by the president by members of this body and
what we
1:54
should be trying to achieve
1:56
with regard to this Agreement so first the role of the american
people in this
2:01
you miss present there's a can there's confusion
2:04
it's been perpetuated by this administration that
2:08
those of us who are asking questions who are skeptical of the
agreement
2:13
are being somehow partisan the president said that
republicans
2:18
no matter the deal will disagree with him will not go for him will
not vote
2:23
and in some ways he seems to be making this
2:26
about his personal agenda but with all due respect to the
president
2:34
Iran nuclear agreement is much bigger
2:37
and President Obama much bigger
2:42
president will be gone in eighteen months
2:45
the american people will have to live with the consequences of this
Agreement
2:50
for decades that's why it's so important
2:54
that the congress debates and approved
2:59
or disapprove this Agreement
3:02
and yet had the Obama administration had its way
3:07
we would not we would not be doing that today
3:12
what we're doing right now debating this Agreement
3:15
in fact throughout this process from the very beginning
3:18
they've been dismissive up the raw love the american people through
their
3:22
representatives in Congress
3:24
Tollway N to bring clarity
3:28
to bring wisdom to what the screamin
3:31
is all about just few months ago miss president
3:34
the president said that he did not want the congress to be involved
at all
3:40
we started debating an act on this floor
3:44
to provide this body with an opportunity to review and
approve
3:48
he said he would be doing no involvement from the american
people
3:52
the administration only backed off on a bipartisan group
3:58
have senators Democrats and Republicans stood firm
4:01
a veto-proof majority and said no the American people need to
be
4:07
read into this Agreement so that was when we pass Iran
nuclear
4:13
Review Act I personally wouldn't have preferred that this be viewed
as a
4:17
treaty by the administration
4:18
but we're reviewing it now under that law
4:23
in the president the sector Carey
4:26
have taken the deal to the UN Security Council again
4:30
before congress in the american people
4:33
even started to debate the issue
4:36
russians Chinese were voting on this agreement before we had the
opportunity
4:42
members of this body Democrats and Republicans
4:46
implore the secretary don't do this it's an affront to the american
people
4:52
they didn't listen and finally the president saying
4:56
even before we debate if we're not in agreement with him he's gonna
veto
5:00
whatever we do in this body up miss present this is not how the
federal
5:05
government disposed to conduct foreign policy
5:07
throughout the history this great body
5:10
weighing in and voting an international agreements
5:15
international treaties I've this magnitude
5:18
has been the Senate's most important job
5:21
the heart and soul what we do in this body
5:25
sadly two former members at this party the president
5:29
and the Secretary of State have actively fought against
5:33
our involvement but Alexander Hamilton knew better
5:39
the Federalist Papers he spoke about the critical role
5:43
the senate and foreign affairs
5:46
he warns against the president
5:49
having sole authority over issues have such delicate and momentous
combine
5:55
he argued vigorously for the senate to have a say
6:00
and critical foreign policy and national security issues
6:05
in our history and the Constitution
6:09
reflect this that's where we come in
6:13
and that's why we're debating this so in examining the agreement
mister president
6:18
it's important understand a look at the bigger picture what's the
driving force
6:23
what's the underlying premise what's the full %ah sophy
6:27
that's motivating this Agreement
6:31
it's not hard to discern from the beginning at the Obama
administration
6:35
the president and his team
6:37
have been focused on transforming our relationship with Iran
6:41
to bring it into the community a respected nations
6:47
transforming the Middle East president
6:51
has talked about this a number times he highlighted this
6:54
in a speech the United Nations in 2013
6:58
and it's here again in the tax
7:03
up this Agreement the text to the agreement
7:07
States the p-5 plus one
7:11
expresses its desire to build a new relationship with Iran
7:15
that's in the agreement this is a ball
7:19
an ambitious goal no doubt but also dangerously naive
7:24
interestingly there's no reciprocal statement
7:29
in the agreement by Iran
7:32
about Iran wanting to have a new relationship
7:36
with the United States where the West we want it
7:40
they don't seem to wanna in fact
7:44
with its leaders regularly each still chanting death to the
amid
7:47
death to America death to Israel even after the signing this
agreement
7:52
it seems very clear that Iran does not want a new
relationship
7:57
in this is the biggest flaw the agreement it amounts to a
high-stakes
8:03
the highest I've stakes the security the United States
8:08
that Iran will change its behavior and what I fear the most
8:13
is if they don't change and there's no sign that they're going
to
8:18
by its own terms this Agreement
8:22
within 10 years 1 able or an to have a much stronger economy
8:26
is significant ballistic missile capability
8:30
be on the verge of a nuclear bomb
8:34
and still be the world's largest sponsor
8:40
this is a huge risk for the security of our country
8:43
and our allies in the Middle East but it didn't have to be this
way
8:48
this agreement could have mitigated these Rhys
8:52
we do this all the time and diplomacy we tell countries that we
negotiate with
8:57
you improve your behavior you get rewarded
9:02
incrementally step-by-step
9:06
step by difficult step
9:09
for example during the debate we had
9:14
and Iran nuclear review agreement I of an amendment that was
simple
9:19
but was based on this issue
9:23
sanctions would be lifted on Iran
9:26
once a rant came off the list of countries that sponsor state
terrorism
9:32
simple improve your behavior
9:36
you get rewarded but this Agreement does not do that
9:40
instead when you look at
9:44
the structure of this Agreement in a row
9:48
it allows Iran to get almost all love the benefits
9:51
up front almost half
9:54
love this Agreement is about
9:58
our obligations to lift sanctions in very very minute detail
10:03
our obligations live sanctions on Iran
10:07
within the next several months think about that mister
president
10:11
we had the leverage countries that negotiated this are among the
most
10:18
we had a rant on the ropes was strong american-led sanctions
10:24
we had the leverage and we lost it
10:29
with this Agreement on the hope
10:35
that Iran will change its behavior and so far it's clear that their
leaders
10:39
did not get the memo and the change behavior
10:43
run the new relationship iran is still
10:47
destabilizing the Middle East holding americans hostage
10:51
threatening Israel supporting terrorist groups like Hezbollah and
others
10:55
throughout the world
10:56
in fact haran which is a nation
11:00
that has had Imperial ambitions throughout the Middle East
11:04
for centuries could very well accelerates
11:12
its destabilizing activities as a result have the power
11:15
and prestige that this Agreement provides up
11:21
numbers present supporters up this agreement
11:24
including the president are arguing that look the united states
we've done this
11:29
we negotiate with our enemies to a positive and
11:34
president reagan did it with the Soviet Union
11:37
you got a constructive deal but this is a flawed analogy
11:42
both strategically and tack tactically
11:46
when we negotiate with the Soviet Union
11:49
it was the world's two superpowers it was the world's two
superpowers they
11:55
were armed with nuclear weapons
11:57
similar military strength thousands of nuclear weapons
12:05
we're bringing a nuclear pariah
12:11
have nuclear powers this is very different
12:16
and tactically Team Obama
12:21
has never demonstrated the desire to walk away from this deal
12:25
this wasn't the case for president reagan
12:29
he famously walked away from the soviets
12:32
in Reykjavik Iceland over verification
12:36
issue on that IMF agreement this meeting is over
12:41
President Reagan said to george shultz as secretary state
12:44
when he thought we're giving away too much let's go george
12:48
we're leaving said the president and they did
12:52
they left a year later
12:55
mikhail gorbachev came back to the table
12:59
and agreed on-site inspections of its nuclear facilities
13:02
American USSR sign the IMF treaty
13:06
and soviet power began to unravel contrast that to the experience
we've
13:11
heard about in the last few months
13:13
up these negotiations on the issue of conventional weapons
13:17
and ballistic missiles the chairman the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General Martin
13:24
testifying from the armed services committee very recently
13:27
he said quote under no circumstances
13:31
should we be relieved pressure on Iran
13:35
relative to ballistic missile capabilities
13:38
and arms trafficking the number one military adviser
13:42
to the president Nitin States but we did
13:46
within seven days that statement we did in the embargo on
conventional weapons
13:51
and ballistic missiles
13:53
is gonna be lifted as part of this agreement
13:57
when the Russians and Chinese push this position at the very end to
these
14:03
sector Carey should've listened a general Dempsey's
14:07
military advice and should have done what secretary schultz
did
14:17
should a walk to get a better deal
14:19
finally miss present I want to conclude by underscoring what
14:23
everybody from the president to members of this body
14:27
have agreed should be the principal negotiation
14:31
objective up this agreement
14:34
that has always been to keep Iran from developing a nuclear
weapon
14:38
and from Desmet and to dismantle
14:42
its nuclear capability in fact
14:48
this body is waitin last year
14:52
October march from 2014
14:56
a letter written by sis 81 United States senators
15:01
to the present in nine states about these negotiations
15:04
was present I ask unanimous consent to
15:08
submit the spar the record without consent has helped without
objection
15:13
the letter had a number benchmarks
15:18
for the negotiators one stated sanctions quote
15:22
must continue until a Rand a banded
15:26
its efforts to build a nuclear weapon the letter then goes on
15:31
to cite another critical basic
15:34
goal the agreement it states quote
15:39
we believe any agreement must dismantle
15:43
Iran's nuclear weapons program and prevent it from
15:47
ever ever having a uranium
15:51
for plutonium path to a nuclear bomb
15:54
81 senators last year
15:59
stated that me repeat that mister president
16:03
we believe any agreement must dismantle
16:06
Iran's nuclear weapons program and prevent it from
16:09
ever having you uranium for plutonium path to a nuclear bomb
16:14
I agree with the eighty-one senators forty democrats
16:18
forty republicans one independent who signed that letter
16:22
72 those senators are still members of this body
16:28
but they need awsome self
16:29
are they sure that this goal has been achieved
16:33
I read this entire agreement miss president
16:38
I believe this call is not been achieved
16:42
and that should deeply concerned
16:45
all members the united states senate
16:48
this present let me conclude by quoting someone I normally do not
quote
16:53
on the floor the United States Senate Iranian
16:57
supreme leader Ayatollah Cup come I Khamenei
17:01
who just this past Saturday stated the following:
17:04
quote even after this deal
17:07
our policy towards the arrogant United States
17:11
will not change and then
17:15
he led the crowd was before
17:18
into channing death to america that mister president
17:26
is the country that we're hoping
17:30
and risking our future on
17:36
that will change that we will have a
17:42
quote new relationship with as the agreement states
17:46
to the american people we will continue to debate this critical
issue
17:52
in the words my colleague from maine we will bring fire to the
debate
17:57
and the truth will emerge unfortunately
18:02
here's one truth but I find self-evident
18:05
haran is not changing
18:09
anytime soon that's because this Agreement
18:14
didn't force it to miss president are you before