You may have seen ads by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa regarding her opposition to further U.S. military involvement in Iraq.

They apparently prompted Sen. Brian Schatz’s campaign to pull together his recent statements on the issue.

JUNE 13, 2014 ­ KHON

ANCHOR: Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz says he’s pleased President Obama is making a commitment on Iraq.

SEN. SCHATZ: “Well, I’m happy to hear he has committed to no boots on the ground, no troops committed to this situation. On the other hand, it is a serious situation.” [KHON, 6/13/14 at 5:33 pm]

JUNE 22, 2014 ­ Star Advertiser

SEN. SCHATZ: “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.” [Star Advertiser, 6/22/14]

JULY 1, 2014 ­ Kauai Chamber of Commerce Senate Democratic Primary Debate

Q: Do you support President Obama’s plan to resolve the conflict in Iraq?

SEN. SCHATZ: “Well, I think he doesn’t, he hasn’t developed a plan, yet. The truth of the matter is, they’re considering their options. But, I’ll tell you what I think. I think there is no military solution in Iraq. There is no military solution in Iraq. There is no utility in the United States military getting engaged in Iraq. We have learned that lesson. We are not going to commit blood or treasure to that sectarian conflict. This is now up to the Iraqis. President Al Maliki has lost the confidence of the other sectarian groups that are seeking to, and successfully, so far, breaking up Iraq. But that’s what’s happening there. And if there’s one thing we learned over the past twelve years is you don’t go in because you feel that it’s urgent but you have no plan. It’s even worse than before in the following sense, that even if we were to consider air strikes, there is no intelligence with respect to who we would be striking against. We do not have the ability to influence matters on the ground in a productive way using the United States military and we should stay out. Now, we have to protect the United States Embassy. The embassy is the mechanism through which we’re going to express our diplomatic efforts. And, we need to protect the men and women who serve at the embassy. If there’s anything that the Benghazi tragedy taught us, it’s that we need to harden embassy security, especially in a situation that is emerging and is dangerous. And so, I certainly support the hardening of the embassy but I do not support any military action in Iraq, other than that which is necessary to keep our embassy personnel safe.”