Sanders: ‘We cannot be the policemen of the world’

BEDFORD, N.H. – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) highlighted his vote against the Iraq War during Thursday’s Democratic debate as a centerpiece of his foreign policy views.

Sanders downplayed the difference between him and presidential rival Hillary Clinton, who voted to authorize the war, saying there was a larger lesson.

“While the secretary and I voted different on Iraq, what is important is we learned the lesson of the war on Iraq,” Sanders said.

{mosads}“And the lesson, which is intrinsic to my foreign policy is, the U.S. cannot do it alone. We cannot be the policemen of the world.”

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NBC’s Chuck Todd questioned Sanders on his foreign policy, charging the Vermont senator with not laying out a foreign policy strategy or naming his foreign policy advisers.

Sanders shot back that his foreign policy was spelled out during a speech at Georgetown University. He summed up his doctrine as: “No, we cannot continue to do it alone.”

“We have got to work in a strong coalition with major powers of the world and with those Muslim countries that are prepared to stand up and take on terrorism.”