Patrick Fox

Executive
Letter To Constituents: Patrick Fox

During last session in congress, I supported bills with maximum economic and foreign policy
benefits for the United States, from Ukraine to Pakistan.
The first issue we addressed was a bill to pass economic sanctions on Russia for its mistreatment
of Ukraine. Russia has not only invaded Crimea, but clearly intervened in Ukraines political unrest,
torturing and killing some political leaders. Although this clearly violates Americas foreign policy
interests, one of which is to maintain peace and stability, Economic sanctions on Russia will not help us.
The issue in Ukraine is an economic battle between Western Europe and Russia about who will have
greater trading abilities with Ukraine. It is really a matter for European nations to resolve with each other.
Economic sanctions on Russia will simply damage the American economy. America imports much more
than it exports from Ukraine ($997.3 million discrepancy,) mostly oil and other petrol goods (Trade In
Goods With Russia). Only until this year have we had a positive trade turnover with Ukraine (more
imports than exports,) and it is less than half that of Russia (MFA). Clearly, Russias economic value,
although considered small by many, is more valuable than minimal loss of trade with Ukraine that may
result from a trade agreement between Russia and Ukraine. I voted against it, and the bill died with lack
of support with 17 votes yes, 15 votes no and 4 abstentions.
The issue I was campaigning to stop a bill to continue funding to Pakistans military, which
almost openly supports the terrorist factions in the region, allowing them to enter Afghanistan and kill
U.S. soldiers. In 2013, they seemed to be harboring Osama Bin Laden near many military complexes.
Most of the money that goes to the Pakistani military goes towards buying advanced military supplies to
use against India. Instead of suddenly leaving Pakistans authorities without funding to hold power over
their tentative terrorist allies, I voted to move funding instead to Pakistans civilian government, which is
powerless over their military due to U.S. funding. Extreme oversight over the funding would be needed,
but in general, it would be considered humanitarian aid to boost their economy and support a democracy.
I voted to pass the neutered bill, as it now was more of a humanitarian effort instead of a drain of military
money only used to harbor terrorists. It passed 20 yes, 13 no, and 2 abstentions.
The next issue we addressed was whether to send troops into Syria to depose leader Bashar- Al-
Assad, a war criminal who has caused the deaths of more than 140,000 people in his country over the past
three years. What the author of the bill must not have understood is that there are about five different
factions fighing in Syria. It is not a two- sided revolution. Jihadi fighters from Al- Nusra and ISIS poured
in to aid the Free Syrian Army, but all three are at war with each other at the same time. Al Qaeda (which
supports Al-Nusra,) opposes ISIS, and some rebels also fight their jihadi allies because their actual
interest is in securing power in a new Syria. Hezbollah and Iran support the Assad regime, and the battle
has turned into an all- out sectarian war between Shiites and Sunnis. Invading Syria would mean taking a
side in a religious battle between two sects of Islam while supporting terrorist organizations. I voted
against the bill, and it died, 23 no, 4 yes, and 7 abstentions.
In Iran, scientists have been working on refining Uranium to the point of use in a bomb. For Iran
to have a nuclear bomb could mean all out nuclear war in the Middle East, as the government houses
terrorist organizations and a very tense relationship with Israel. We voted on a bill to remove economic
Patrick Fox
Executive
sanctions on Iran in return for discontinuation of their nuclear program. When the new president, Hassan
Rouhani, agreed to talk on the telephone with Obama, it was clear that the sanctions had brought Iran to
the table. Actual communication and negotiation with Iran had been nonexistent since 1979, and this is
probably our only chance ever to negotiate this tough issue. I voted for it quickly, before Iran had a
chance to renege, and it passed with 33 yes, 2 no, and 1 abstention.
Since the 1979 peace accords between Egypt and Israel, we have been obliged to pay military
funds to both Egypt and Israel to ensure peace in the Sinai Peninsula area and prevent another Arab-
Israeli war. The bill brought to the table would stop military funding for Egypt if they could not hold a
civilian democratic election. Unfortunately, the election of Sisi would still fall under this category. I voted
to table the bill because of its ambiguity and to honor the Camp David peace accords. The bill did not
pass.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going on for more than half a century, since Israel first
declared independence in 1947. The bill brought to the senate would negotiate a two state solution in
which Hamas and the PLA repudiate terrorism in exchange for recognition by Israel as a state. This two
state solution is considered the only option in the conflict. Unfortunately, there was an added amendment
to take Jerusalem from the jurisdiction of Israel and make it its own nation- state. Jerusalem is already
divided into religious sects and the amendment takes all of the power out of the bill. Neither side will
agree to a proposal that takes Jerusalem out of their hands. I found the bill to be unrealistic without
incentives for each side, and backed an amendment to start backing off military funding for Israel if they
do not agree. The horror of another Arab- Israeli war would immediately galvanize them into action. The
amendment was killed, and I voted against the entire bill, which died with 15 yes, 15 no, and 5
abstentions.
I think that I represented the foreign policy goals of the United States accurately, and that the
decisions on each of the bills would actually go in accordance with real senatorial decisions. Midterm
elections are coming up. You better vote for me.










Patrick Fox
Executive
Works Cited
MFA. "he state of trade and economic relations and investment between the United States and
Ukraine." Embassy of Ukraine in the United States of America. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar.
2014. <http://usa.mfa.gov.ua/en/ukraine-us/trade>.
"Trade in Goods with Russia." Census.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c4621.html>.