Colleen Hanabusa keeps her vocabulary regarding Iraq to one word: "No."
Since 2002, the Oahu Democrat has opposed U.S. intervention in Iraq. Her position echoes the stance by Hawaii’s 2002 congressional delegation, which back then voted against going to war.
That war also served as a dividing point between Hanabusa and her former Democratic primary opponent, Ed Case. He had said that if he had been in Congress during the vote, he would have supported the invasion. Case could never take that back.
Now our current congressional delegation is building up its own foreign policy stance. Much of it is heavily nuanced, and the public perception of it will be their baggage or armor in this and future campaigns.
Americans may think we are formally out of Iraq, but as Sunni extremist groups grab up portions of Iraq, President Barack Obama is putting somewhat less than a thousand American advisors on the ground, with the hope of slowing the group called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
American military advisers may be spread out in countries across the globe, but sending them to Iraq is raising red flags with Hanabusa.
On Thursday, she was able to win voice-vote approval for an amendment requiring the president to seek congressional approval for sustained military action in Iraq, according to reports by the Associated Press.
"President Obama needs to seriously consider the lack of objectives or an endgame the U.S. would achieve through any further military involvement in Iraq," Hanabusa said.
"The last decade of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrated what comes of war waged with poor planning. We cannot haphazardly enter another conflict with a sovereign nation," Hanabusa said in a statement.
Her words were backed up with action as she and California Democrat Rep. John Garamendi, described by Roll Call as "two House liberals," offered and saw passed the budget amendment limiting Obama.
Back in 2002, Hawaii’s Democrats were voting against a Republican president; today, Hanabusa is challenging a Democratic island son. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has also been wary of any extension of American involvement in Iraq.
Hanabusa’s Senate Democratic primary opponent, Sen. Brian Schatz, appointed to the U.S. Senate upon the death of Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, is cautious but staying somewhat above the fray.
When asked for comment, Schatz’s office offered:
"The current situation in Iraq is a result of our invasion, not our withdrawal. U.S. military engagement is not the answer in Iraq. The future of Iraq is now up to the Iraqis."
This is a particularly tricky political path for Schatz. His campaign is running a commercial of Obama’s endorsement of Schatz, while the young former lieutenant governor looks up adoringly at his president. But Schatz is also getting help from a variety of progressive groups opposing Obama, including MoveOn.org, an early and enthusiastic Schatz supporter.
MoveOn is also one of the opponents to Obama’s actions regarding Iraq.
"President Obama should reject the use of military force in Iraq, including air strikes," said Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn.org Civic Action. "Congress must act now to revoke the 12-year-old Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq, preventing any president from taking new military action without first getting explicit authorization from Congress."
Regarding America and Iraq, Hanabusa has a proactive vote to limit the president on record. In the Senate, Schatz may be eased out of making a choice because Senate leaders are saying that Obama already has the powers and there is no real effort to limit them.
Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.
