Ever since my wife Patti and I embarked on a journey that would forever shape our lives – our two years fighting smallpox in rural Ethiopia as volunteers in the Peace Corps – my perspective on foreign policy has been shaped by three primary principles. 1) America’s moral authority as the world’s leader of free nations rests on a devotion to human rights and individual liberty for all citizens of all nations. 2) Diplomacy should always be our first mission in international relations, and ultimately, is almost always the best way to resolve conflicts abroad. 3) A strong and smart military is an essential safeguard for national security and an effective deterrent against those who would consider acts of aggression against peaceful nations and innocent people.
Israel/Palestine
The United States has a moral and strategic interest in a strong, secure and viable Israel. The special relationship between the United States and Israel is based on shared values and a commitment to democratic principles, and I support continuing that relationship. I am deeply troubled by the influence Hamas and Hezbollah have in Palestine, and America must work closely with Palestinian moderates to help ensure Israel has a partner in peace as we work together to create a two-state solution that works for both sides. For more information on my policies on Israel and Palestine, see here.
Iraq
The Iraq War was an unnecessary war of choice sold on mistruths, and I opposed it from the onset. By destabilizing the Middle East and increasing Iran’s clout, the Iraq War has made our country less safe. As I explained during my address at the 2008 California Democratic Convention, we must “end this senseless war with dignity and do it fast.” Iraqis, with assistance from the United States and the international community, deserve to be able to chart their own course. And we must always respect our returning men and women in uniform. They deserve our heartfelt respect and all the tools and services they require to get their lives in order.
Afghanistan/Pakistan
The border shared by Afghanistan and Pakistan is now the front line in our efforts to rid the world of a terrorist element bent on harming the United States and our allies. A continued American presence there is appropriate for the time being. Our military effort must be matched with an equal humanitarian, education, and economic development effort. We must develop an exit strategy that involves all interested countries in the region. We must not let Pakistan’s nuclear weapons arsenal fall into the hands of stateless enemies.
Working with our Allies
Despite President George Bush’s go-it-alone approach to foreign relations, the United States has a productive relationship with most nations of the world, and under President Barack Obama, a golden age of international cooperation is possible. We should work with our allies and free people everywhere to promote democracy, equality, opportunity, and freedom. Promoting international gender equality will be a priority of mine in Congress, because we know the oppression of women sets back liberty and makes for a more dangerous more oppressive planet. We must also work stridently to promote a free press the world over, because access to the truth is an essential first step to knowing what needs to be changed.
Economic and Social Development
America should be the world’s advocate in promoting human rights throughout the world. Even a minor increase in our foreign aid could have a profound impact in regions of the world suffering from starvation and disease. We know that extremism and violence thrives in the poorest regions of the world, so this is really a national security issue too. As a proud alumnus of the Peace Corps, I support its continued presence and expansion throughout the world, and we must work with the international community to promote fair trade and a green international economy. I was a principle United States negotiator for the Kyoto Protocol, and I am well aware that our response to global climate change must be international and must ultimately include India, China, and other developing nations. Terrorism, greenhouse gases, and air and water pollutants share at least one thing in common: they don’t respect national borders.
