Around the World with John Faso

The Sullivan TimesWe cover and uncover the big stories in Sullivan County, NY.

Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - Issue 6

Around the World With Congressman John Faso: A Discussion About American Foreign Policy Challenges Calls Russia ‘A Criminal Enterprise’ & Worries About China, Iran

Story and photo by Rich Klein

(The Sullivan Times interviewed Republican Congressman John Faso for almost 30-minutes last night exclusively on foreign policy issues. We made the same offer to Democrat Antonio Delgado but his campaign declined, citing a series of upcoming debates).

Congressman John Faso, who represents the 19th District, said last night that the Saudi Arabian government “owes the world an explanation about the demise of Mr. (Jamal ​Ahmad) Khashoggi. “I think we need to to the bottom of this.” Asked what he thought of President Trump’s initial comment that it may have been a “rogue” murder, Faso said “clearly he (Trump) was speculating off the top of his head so I don’t want to read a lot into that.”

Faso, 66, was less measured in talking about the threats from Iran, China and Russia. ​“The Iranians have never given up their effort to export their revolution,” Faso said. “And they are continually acting in a maligned and antagonistic way, not just in the Middle East but in other places around the world.” Regarding the Iran nuclear deal under President Obama, Faso said, “I opposed that (deal) from the get-go, and I know my opponent has been praising that deal. I don’t think it (the deal) was in the interest of peace or in the interest of the U.S. or our ally in the Middle East, Israel, or other allies in that region.”

Faso pointed out that the Iranians have either conducted or supported terrorist activities “perhaps in response to the pressure that the U.S. and others in the West are putting on them.”