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BillClintonwillbecampaigningonbehalfofhiswife,NewYorkSen.HillaryClinton,inFrankfort,MaysvilleandMoreheadonTuesday,March25,accordingtoabriefcampaignannouncementreleasedFridayafternoon.
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--Polwatchers;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor
ToppingthelistofKentuckyendorseesisBruceLunsford,whoisrunningforU.S.SenateagainstMitchMcConnell,theRepublicanminorityleaderwho’sledthefightagainstworkingfamily-friendlypolicieslikeareal
Therearesomeprettybigchangeshappeningouttherewiththevoters.BarackObamarecentlydeclaredhimselfthefrontrunnerintherace,althoughthereare10contestsremainingandMIandFLhavenotyetbeendecided.ButalookatthepollsshowsthatSen.Obama’sleadnationallywithDemocratshasbeenevaporating.TheGallupdailytrackingpollshowsHillaryleadingSen.ObamaamongDemocratsby7points,andthelatestZogby/ReuterspollhasSen.Obama’sleaddownfrom14pointslastmonthtojust3pointsnow.ThissuggestsastrongswinginmomentumintheracetoHillarysincetheTexasandOhioprimariesearlierthismonth.
ThemorethatthevoterslearnaboutBarackObama,themorehisabilitytobeatJohnMcCainisdecliningcomparedtoHillary.Foralongtimewehaveexplainedthatpollnumbersforacandidatewhohasnotyetbeenvettedortestedarenotfirmnumbers,andwearebeginningtoseethatclearly.Justamonthago,theObamacampaignclaimedthatthepollsshowedBarackObamadoingbetterthanHillaryagainstSen.McCain.Nowsuchnumbersarealothardertofind.
InthelatestUSAToday/Galluppoll,HillaryleadsJohnMcCainby5points(Hillary51/McCain46)whileSen.Obamaisonly2pointsaheadofSen.McCain(Obama49/McCain47).ThisisareversalfromFebruary,whenSen.McCainledHillaryby4points.ThelatestCNNpollalsoshowsthatHillaryleadsSen.McCainbyabiggermarginthanBarackObama.
Inseveralkeystates,HillaryisastrongergeneralelectioncandidatethanBarackObamaagainstJohnMcCain.Forexample,thelatestSurveyUSApollhasHillaryleadingSen.McCainby6pointsinOhiowhileSen.ObamatrailsSen.McCainby7points.InKentucky,Hillary’smarginagainstSen.McCainis26pointsbetterthanBarackObama’s.InMissouri,Sen.ObamalagsJohnMcCainby14pointswhileHillarycomeswithin2pointsofSen.McCain.InFlorida,thelatestPPPpollshowsBarackObamalosingtoJohnMcCainby11pointswhileHillarycomeswithin4pointsofSen.McCain.Lastweek'sUniversityofCentralArkansaspollshowedHillaryleadingSen.Sen.McCainby15pointsinthatstatewhileSen.ObamatrailsSen.McCainby16points.AndthelatestRasmussenpollshowedHillaryleadingSen.McCainby11pointsinNewJerseywhileSen.ObamatrailsSen.McCainby2points.
Moreover,24percentofFloridaDemocratssaythatifFlorida'sdelegatesarenotcountedattheDemocraticconventioninAugust,theyarelesslikelytovoteforaDemocratinNovember,accordingtothelatestSt.PetersburgTimes/BayNews9/MiamiHeraldpoll.SinceFloridaisthesinglelargestandmostimportantswingstateinthecountryandnearly1.8millionFloridaDemocratsvotedintheJanuaryprimary,DemocratsmustfindasolutiontoallowFlorida'sdelegatestocountifwearetohaveanyhopeofwinninginNovember.
AndinthecrucialstateofPennsylvania-thenextDemocraticprimarybattlegroundandthebiggeststatewhichhasnotyetvoted-thelatestQuinnipiacpollshowsHillarydoublingherDemocraticprimaryleadoverBarackObamafrom6pointsto12points.InPennsylvania,Hillaryimprovedamongmen,maintainedher24pointadvantageamongwomen,andimprovedamongyounger,older,moreeducatedandlesseducatedvoters.Sheleadsineveryregionacrossthestate(NE,SE,NW,SW,Central,Alleghany)withtheexceptionofPhiladelphia.
Ultimately,thisDemocraticnominatingprocessismeanttoselectthecandidatewhowill:a)bethebestpresident-thebestcommander-in-chief,stewardoftheeconomy,andexerciseleadership;b)defeatJohnMcCain;andc)promoteanddefendcoreDemocraticprinciplessuchasuniversalhealthcare.Onallthreefronts,HillaryisthebestchoicefortheDemocraticParty.
Hillaryistherunawayleaderonmostqualifiedtobecommander-in-chief.IntheOhioexitpoll,60percentofDemocraticprimaryvoterssaidHillarywasmostqualifiedtobecommander-in-chief,comparedwith37percentforBarackObama.InTexas,sheledby16points,andinmostotherstates,sheledby10pointsormore.Shealsowonamongthosewhosaidtheeconomywasthemostimportantissue-by12pointsinOhio,forexample.AndinthelatestCNNpoll,morevoterssayHillarywoulddoagoodjobontheeconomythanBarackObamaorJohnMcCain.Finally,inthelatestUSAToday/Galluppoll,HillaryleadsBarackObamaonstronganddecisiveleadership,managingthegovernmenteffectivelyandhavingaclearplanforsolvingthecountry’sproblems
--ClintonforPresidentCampaign;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEdiitor
byRobertFreedland,TheDemocraticDaily
LastweektheWhiteHouse
As
“Openingwhatislikelytobeanintensepoliticalbattleinthedeepeningmortgagecrisis,theWhiteHousesaiditstronglyopposedthebill,whichwouldletbankruptcycourtjudgesmodifythetermsofamortgageaspartoftherestructuringofadebtinabankruptcyfiling.”
Thearticlecontinued:
“Butmortgagelenders,andtheWallStreetfirmsthatpurchasedtheloans,havemountedacampaignagainstthebill,sayingitwouldsendachillingmessagetoinvestorsandleadtohigherborrowingcostsinthefuture.
“We’repullingoutallthestopsonthis,”saidStephenO’Connor,chieflobbyistfortheMortgageBankersAssociation.“Howwilllendersandinvestorsreacttotheaddedrisk?Theywilllikelychargeahigherinterestrate,likelychargemorepointsonthemortgageandlikelydemandhigherdownpayments.””
Notwantingtosendany‘chillingmessages’toinvestors,thesesameWallStreetfirmsarenowborrowingbillionsofdollarstohelptheirownfinancialfuture.
I
“Thenewlendingprogramgivesthe20primarydealersofTreasurysecuritiesspecialaccesstotheFed’sdiscountwindow.Theovernightloansareovercollateralizedandpaytheprevailingdiscountrate,currently2.50%.”
ButIguessitwouldn’tbefairforabankruptcycourttoreduceamortgageinterestratetosay….somethinglike2.5%wouldit?
WhoweretheseborrowerswillingtotakemoneyfromtheFed?
Asnotedinthesamearticle:
“IntheweekendingWednesday,theinvestmentbanksborrowedadailyaverageof$13.4billionfromtheFed,implyinganaverageborrowingofabout$19billionforMondayandTuesday.
Threeinvestmentbanks—MorganStanley,GoldmanSachsandLehmanBros.—havepubliclyannouncedtheyborrowedfromtheFed.Othersmayalsohavedoneso,butthenamesoftheborrowersarenotannouncedbytheFed.”
Also:
“Aspartofthetakeoverbid,theFedalsogaveJ.P.Morganupto$30billioninsupportforpotentiallossesfromtheriskiestassetsownedbyBear.ThatcreditlinehadapparentlynotbeentappedasofWednesday.”
SodoesthelowlyhomeownerseemlessworthyforfinancialsupportthanthemajorbanksinAmerica? Isn’t“
AndthecostofaidtothepublicinsteadoftoMorganStanleyandthelike?
AstheWallStreetJournal
Meanwhile,PresidentBushisalsothreateningtovetothereckless$4billioninaidtostatesandlocalitiestoredevelopabandonedandforeclosedhouses.
ContrastTHATtotheaidgiventhelasttwodaystothebanks.
Isitreallytoomuchtoaskforagovernmenttooffer
--TheDemocraticDaily;courtestyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor
“TwoStateDepartmentemployeeswerefiredrecentlyandathirddisciplinedfor
Thisisanoutrageousbreachofsecurityandprivacy,evenfromanAdministrationthathasshownlittleregardforeitheroverthelasteightyears.Ourgovernment'sdutyistoprotecttheprivateinformationoftheAmericanpeople,notuseitforpoliticalpurposes.Thisisaseriousmatterthatmeritsacompleteinvestigation,andwedemandtoknowwholookedatSenatorObama'spassportfile,forwhatpurpose,andwhyittooksolongforthemtorevealthissecuritybreach.
--ThinkProgress;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor
JustbeforeAmerica'sentryintoWorldWarI,PresidentWoodrowWilsonaddressedCongress:"Itisafearfulthingtoleadthisgreatpeacefulpeopleintowar,"hesaid."...Buttherightismorepreciousthanpeace."Wilson'swordscapturedtwoawesomeresponsibilitiesthattestanyCommander-in-Chief–toneverhesitatetodefendAmerica,buttonevergotowarunlessyoumust.Warissometimesnecessary,butithasgraveconsequences,andthejudgmenttogotowarcanneverbeundone.
Fiveyearsagotoday,PresidentGeorgeW.Bushaddressedthenation.BombshadstartedtoraindownonBaghdad.Warwasnecessary,thePresidentsaid,becausetheUnitedStatescouldnot,"liveatthemercyofanoutlawregimethatthreatensthepeacewithweaponsofmassmurder."Recallingthepainof9/11,hesaidthepriceofinactioninIraqwastomeetthethreatwith"armiesoffirefightersandpoliceanddoctorsonthestreetsofourcities."
AtthetimethePresidentutteredthosewords,therewasnohardevidencethatIraqhadthosestockpilesofweaponsofmassdestruction.TherewasnotanyevidencethatIraqwasresponsiblefortheattacksofSeptember11,orthatIraqhadoperationaltiestothealQaedaterroristswhocarriedthemout.Bylaunchingawarbasedonfaultypremisesandbadintelligence,PresidentBushfailedWilson'stest.SodidCongresswhenitvotedtogivehimtheauthoritytowagewar.
Fiveyearshavegonebysincethatfatefuldecision.ThiswarhasnowlastedlongerthanWorldWarI,WorldWarII,ortheCivilWar.NearlyfourthousandAmericanshavegiventheirlives.Thousandsmorehavebeenwounded.Evenunderthebestcasescenarios,thiswarwillcostAmericantaxpayerswelloveratrilliondollars.Andwhereareweforallofthissacrifice?Wearelesssafeandlessabletoshapeeventsabroad.Wearedividedathome,andouralliancesaroundtheworldhavebeenstrained.Thethreatsofanewcenturyhaveroiledthewatersofpeaceandstability,andyetAmericaremainsanchoredinIraq.
Historywillcatalogthereasonswhywewagedawarthatdidn'tneedtobefought,buttwostandout.In2002,whenthefatefuldecisionsaboutIraqweremade,therewasaPresidentforwhomideologyoverrodepragmatism,andthereweretoomanypoliticiansinWashingtonwhospenttoolittletimereadingtheintelligencereports,andtoomuchtimereadingpublicopinion.ThelessonofIraqisthatwhenwearemakingdecisionsaboutmattersasgraveaswar,weneedapolicyrootedinreasonandfacts,notideologyandpolitics.
NowwearedebatingwhoshouldbeournextCommanderinChief.AndIamrunningforPresidentbecauseit'stimetoturnthepageonafailedideologyandafundamentallyflawedpoliticalstrategy,sothatwecanmakepragmaticjudgmentstokeepourcountrysafe.That'swhatIdidwhenIstoodupandopposedthiswarfromthestart,andsaidthatweneededtofinishthefightagainstalQaeda.Andthat'swhatI'lldoasPresidentoftheUnitedStates.
SenatorClintonsaysthatsheandSenatorMcCainhavepasseda"CommanderinChieftest"–notbecauseofthejudgmentsthey'vemade,butbecauseoftheyearsthey'vespentinWashington.ShemadeasimilarargumentwhenshesaidhervoteforwarwasbasedonherexperienceatbothendsofPennsylvaniaAvenue.Buthereisthestarkreality:thereisasecuritygapinthiscountry–agapbetweentherhetoricofthosewhoclaimtobetoughonnationalsecurity,andtherealityofgrowinginsecuritycausedbytheirdecisions.AgapbetweenWashingtonexperience,andthewisdomofWashington'sjudgments.Agapbetweentherhetoricofthosewhotouttheirsupportforourtroops,andtheoverburdenedstateofourmilitary.
ItistimetohaveadebatewithJohnMcCainaboutthefutureofournationalsecurity.AndthewaytowinthatdebateisnottocompetewithJohnMcCainoverwhohasmoreexperienceinWashington,becausethat'sacontestthathe'llwin.ThewaytowinadebatewithJohnMcCainisnottotalk,andact,andvotelikehimonnationalsecurity,becausethenwealllose.ThewaytowinthatdebateandtokeepAmericasafeistoofferaclearcontrast,andthat'swhatIwilldowhenIamthenomineeoftheDemocraticParty–becausesincebeforethiswarinIraqbegan,Ihavemadedifferentjudgments,Ihaveadifferentvision,andIwillofferacleanbreakfromthefailedpoliciesandpoliticsofthepast.
NowhereisthatbreakmorebadlyneededthaninIraq.
IntheyearsincePresidentBushannouncedthesurge–thebloodiestyearofthewarforAmerica–thelevelofviolenceinIraqhasbeenreduced.Ourtroops–includingsomanyfromFortBraggandPopeAirForceBase–havedoneabrilliantjobunderdifficultcircumstances.YetwhilewehaveaGeneralwhohasusedimprovedtacticstoreduceviolence,westillhavethewrongstrategy.AsGeneralPetraeushashimselfacknowledged,theIraqisarenotachievingthepoliticalprogressneededtoendtheircivilwar.BeyondIraq,ourmilitaryisbadlyoverstretched,andwehaveneitherthestrategynorresourcestodealwithnearlyeveryothernationalsecuritychallengeweface.
ThisiswhythejudgmentthatmattersmostonIraq–andonanydecisiontodeploymilitaryforce–isthejudgmentmadefirst.Ifyoubelievewearefightingtherightwar,thentheproblemswefacearepurelytacticalinnature.ThatiswhatSenatorMcCainwantstodiscuss–tactics.WhatheandtheAdministrationhavefailedtopresentisanoverarchingstrategy:howthewarinIraqenhancesourlong-termsecurity,orwillinthefuture.That'swhythisAdministrationcannotanswerthesimplequestionposedbySenatorJohnWarnerinhearingslastyear:Arewesaferbecauseofthiswar?AndthatiswhySenatorMcCaincanargue–ashedidlastyear–thatwecouldn'tleaveIraqbecauseviolencewasup,andthenarguethisyearthatwecan'tleaveIraqbecauseviolenceisdown.
Whenyouhavenooverarchingstrategy,thereisnocleardefinitionofsuccess.Successcomestobedefinedastheabilitytomaintainaflawedpolicyindefinitely.Hereisthetruth:fightingawarwithoutendwillnotforcetheIraqistotakeresponsibilityfortheirownfuture.AndfightinginawarwithoutendwillnotmaketheAmericanpeoplesafer.
SowhenIamCommander-in-Chief,IwillsetanewgoalonDayOne:Iwillendthiswar.Notbecausepoliticscompelsit.Notbecauseourtroopscannotbeartheburden–asheavyasitis.Butbecauseitistherightthingtodoforournationalsecurity,anditwillultimatelymakeussafer.
Inordertoendthiswarresponsibly,IwillimmediatelybegintoremoveourtroopsfromIraq.Wecanresponsiblyremove1to2combatbrigadeseachmonth.IfwestartwiththenumberofbrigadeswehaveinIraqtoday,wecanremoveallofthem16months.Afterthisredeployment,wewillleaveenoughtroopsinIraqtoguardourembassyanddiplomats,andacounter-terrorismforcetostrikealQaedaifitformsabasethattheIraqiscannotdestroy.WhatIproposeisnot–andneverhasbeen–aprecipitousdrawdown.Itisinsteadadetailedandprudentplanthatwillendawarnearlysevenyearsafteritstarted.
MyplantoendthiswarwillfinallyputpressureonIraq'sleaderstotakeresponsibilityfortheirfuture.Becausewe'velearnedthatwhenwetellIraq'sleadersthatwe'llstayaslongasittakes,theytakeaslongastheywant.Weneedtosendadifferentmessage.WewillhelpIraqreachameaningfulaccordonnationalreconciliation.Wewillengagewitheverycountryintheregion–andtheUN–tosupportthestabilityandterritorialintegrityofIraq.AndwewilllaunchamajorhumanitarianinitiativetosupportIraq'srefugeesandpeople.ButIraqismusttakeresponsibilityfortheircountry.Itispreciselythiskindofapproach–anapproachthatputstheonusontheIraqis,andthatreliesonmorethanjustmilitarypower–thatisneededtostabilizeIraq.
Letmebeclear:endingthiswarisnotgoingtobeeasy.Therewillbedangersinvolved.Wewillhavetomaketacticaladjustments,listeningtoourcommandersontheground,toensurethatourinterestsinastableIraqaremet,andtomakesurethatourtroopsaresecure.SenatorClintonhastriedtousemypositiontoscorepoliticalpoints,suggestingthatIamsomehowlesscommittedtoendingthewar.Shemakesthisargumentdespitethefactthatshehastakenthesamepositioninthepast.Soaskyourself:whodoyoutrusttoendawar–someonewhoopposedthewarfromthebeginning,orsomeonewhostartedopposingitwhentheystartedpreparingarunforPresident?
Nowweknowwhatwe'llhearfromthoselikeJohnMcCainwhosupportopen-endedwar.TheywillarguethatleavingIraqissurrender.Thatweareemboldeningtheenemy.ThesearethemistakenandmisleadingargumentswehearfromthosewhohavefailedtodemonstratehowthewarinIraqhasmadeussafer.Justyesterday,weheardSenatorMcCainconfuseSunniandShiite,IranandalQaeda.MaybethatiswhyhevotedtogotowarwithacountrythathadnoalQaedaties.MaybethatiswhyhecompletelyfailstounderstandthatthewarinIraqhasdonemoretoemboldenAmerica'senemiesthananystrategicchoicethatwehavemadeindecades.
ThewarinIraqhasemboldenedIran,whichposesthegreatestchallengetoAmericaninterestsintheMiddleEastinageneration,continuingitsnuclearprogramandthreateningourally,Israel.InsteadofthenewMiddleEastwewerepromised,HamasrunsGaza,HizbollahflagsflyfromtherooftopsinSadrCity,andIranishandingoutmoneyleftandrightinsouthernLebanon.
ThewarinIraqhasemboldenedNorthKorea,whichbuiltnewnuclearweaponsandeventestedonebeforetheAdministrationfinallywentagainstitsownrhetoric,andpursueddiplomacy.
ThewarinIraqhasemboldenedtheTaliban,whichhasrebuiltitsstrengthsincewetookoureyeoffofAfghanistan.
Aboveall,thewarinIraqhasemboldenedalQaeda,whoserecruitmenthasjumpedandwhoseleadershipenjoysasafe-haveninPakistan–athousandmilesfromIraq.
ThecentralfrontinthewaragainstterrorisnotIraq,anditneverwas.WhatmorecouldAmerica'senemiesaskforthananendlesswarwheretheyrecruitnewfollowersandtryoutnewtacticsonabattlefieldsofarfromtheirbaseofoperations?Thatiswhymypresidencywillshiftourfocus.Ratherthanfightawarthatdoesnotneedtobefought,weneedtostartfightingthebattlesthatneedtobewononthecentralfrontofthewaragainstalQaedainAfghanistanandPakistan.
Thisistheareawherethe9/11attackswereplanned.ThisiswhereOsamabinLadenandhistoplieutenantsstillhide.Thisiswhereextremismposesitsgreatestthreat.YetinbothAfghanistanandPakistan,wehavepursuedflawedstrategiesthataretoodistantfromtheneedsofthepeople,andtootimidinpursuitofourcommonenemies.
Itmaynotdominatetheeveningnews,butinAfghanistan,lastyearwasthemostdeadlysince2001.Suicideattacksareup.Casualtiesareup.Corruptionanddrugtraffickingarerampant.NeitherthegovernmentnorthelegaleconomycanmeettheneedsoftheAfghanpeople.
ItisnottoolatetoprevailinAfghanistan.ButwecannotprevailuntilwereduceourcommitmentinIraq,whichwillallowustodowhatIcalledforlastAugust–providingatleasttwoadditionalcombatbrigadestosupportoureffortsinAfghanistan.Thisincreasedcommitmentinturncanbeusedtoleveragegreaterassistance–withfewerrestrictions–fromourNATOallies.ItwillalsoallowustoinvestmoreintrainingAfghansecurityforces,includingmorejointNATOoperationswiththeAfghanArmy,andanationalpolicetrainingplanthatiseffectivelycoordinatedandresourced.
Asteppedupmilitarycommitmentmustbebackedbyalong-terminvestmentintheAfghanpeople.Wewillstartwithanadditional$1billioninnonmilitaryassistanceeachyear–aidthatisfocusedonreachingordinaryAfghans.Weneedtoimprovedailylifebysupportingeducation,basicinfrastructureandhumanservices.WehavetocountertheopiumtradebysupportingalternativelivelihoodsforAfghanfarmers. Andwemustcallonmoresupportfromfriendsandallies,andbettercoordinationunderastronginternationalcoordinator.
TosucceedinAfghanistan,wealsoneedtofundamentallyrethinkourPakistanpolicy.Foryears,wehavesupportedstabilityoverdemocracyinPakistan,andgottenneither.ThecoreleadershipofalQaedahasasafe-haveninPakistan.TheTalibanareabletostrikeinsideAfghanistanandthenreturntothemountainsofthePakistaniborder.ThroughoutPakistan,domesticunresthasbeenrising.ThefulldemocraticaspirationsofthePakistanipeoplehavebeentoolongdenied.AchildgrowingupinPakistan,moreoftenthannot,istaughttoseeAmericaasasourceofhate–nothope.
ThisiswhyIstooduplastsummerandsaidwecannotbaseourentirePakistanpolicyonPresidentMusharraf.Pakistanisourally,butwedoourownsecurityandourallynofavorsbysupportingitsPresidentwhileweareseentobeignoringtheinterestsofthepeople.Ourcounter-terrorismassistancemustbeconditionedonPakistaniactiontorootoutthealQaedasanctuary.AndanyU.S.aidnotdirectlyneededforthefightagainstalQaedaortoinvestinthePakistanipeopleshouldbeconditionedonthefullrestorationofPakistan'sdemocracyandruleoflaw.
ThechoiceisnotbetweenMusharrafandIslamicextremists.Astherecentlegislativeelectionsshowed,thereisamoderatemajorityofPakistanis,andtheyarethepeopleweneedonoursidetowinthewaragainstalQaeda.ThatiswhyweshoulddramaticallyincreaseoursupportforthePakistanipeople–foreducation,economicdevelopment,anddemocraticinstitutions.ThatchildinPakistanmustknowthatwewantabetterlifeforhim,thatAmericaisonhisside,andthathisinterestinopportunityisourinterestaswell.That'sthepromisethatAmericamuststandfor.
Andforhissakeandours,wecannottolerateasanctuaryforterroristswhothreatenAmerica'shomelandandPakistan'sstability.Ifwehaveactionableintelligenceabouthigh-levelalQaedatargetsinPakistan'sborderregion,wemustactifPakistanwillnotorcannot.SenatorClinton,SenatorMcCain,andPresidentBushhavealldistortedandderidedthisposition,suggestingthatIwouldinvadeorbombPakistan.Thisispolitics,pureandsimple.Myposition,infact,isthesamepragmaticpolicythatallthreeofthemhavebelatedly–iftacitly–acknowledgedisoneweshouldpursue.Indeed,itwasmonthsafterIcalledforthispolicythatatopalQaedaleaderwastakenoutinPakistanbyanAmericanaircraft.Andrememberthatthesamethreeindividualswhonowcriticizemeforsupportingatargetedstrikeontheterroristswhocarriedoutthe9/11attacks,arethesamethreeindividualsthatsupportedaninvasionofIraq–acountrythathadnothingtodowith9/11.
Itispreciselythiskindofpoliticalpoint-scoringthathasopenedupthesecuritygapinthiscountry.WehaveasecuritygapwhencandidatessaytheywillfollowOsamabinLadentothegatesofhell,butrefusetofollowhimwhereheactuallygoes.WhatweneedinournextCommanderinChiefisnotastubbornrefusaltoacknowledgerealityoremptyrhetoricabout3AMphonecalls.Whatweneedisapragmaticstrategythatfocusesonfightingourrealenemies,rebuildingalliances,andrenewingourengagementwiththeworld'speople.
InadditiontofreeingupresourcestotakethefighttoalQaeda,endingthewarinIraqwillallowustomoreeffectivelyconfrontotherthreatsintheworld-threatsthatcannotbeconqueredwithanoccupyingarmyordispatchedwithasingledecisioninthemiddleofthenight.WhatliesintheheartofachildinPakistanmattersasmuchastheairplaneswesellhergovernment.What'sintheheadofascientistfromRussiacanbeaslethalasaplutoniumreactorinYongbyon.What'swhisperedinrefugeecampsinChadcanbeasdangerousasadictator'sbluster.Thesearetheneglectedlandscapesofthe21stcentury,wheretechnologyandextremismempowerindividualsjustastheygivegovernmentstheabilitytorepressthem;wheretheancientdividesofregionandreligionwashintotheswiftcurrentsofglobalization.
WithoutAmericanleadership,thesethreatswillfester.WithstrongAmericanleadership,wecanshapethemintoopportunitiestoprotectourcommonsecurityandadvanceourcommonhumanity–forithasalwaysbeenthegeniusofAmericanleadershiptofindopportunityembeddedinadversity;tofocusonasourceoffear,andconfrontitwithhope.
HerearejustfivewaysinwhichashiftinstrategyawayfromIraqwillhelpusaddressthecriticalchallengesofthe21stcentury.
First,inaddressingglobalterrorandviolentextremism,weneedthekindofcomprehensivecounter-terrorismstrategyIcalledforlastAugust.Weneedtostrengthensecuritypartnershipstotakeoutterroristnetworks,whileinvestingineducationandopportunity.Weneedtogiveournationalsecurityagenciesthetoolstheyneed,whilerestoringtheadherencetoruleoflawthathelpsuswinthebattleforheartsandminds.ThismeansclosingGuantanamo,restoringhabeascorpus,andrespectingcivilliberties.AndweneedtosupporttheforcesofmoderationintheIslamicworld,sothatalliancesofconveniencematureintofriendshipsofconviction.
Second,thethreatofnuclearproliferationmustserveasacalltoaction.IhaveworkedacrosstheaislewithRichardLugarandChuckHagelintheSenatetosecuredangerousweaponsandloosenuclearmaterials.AndasPresident,Iwillsecureallloosenuclearmaterialsaroundtheworldinmyfirstterm,seekdeepcutsinglobalnucleararsenals,strengthentheNuclearNon-ProliferationTreaty,andoncemoreseekaworldwithoutnuclearweapons.
Third,thedangerofweakandfailedstatesrisksspreadingpovertyandrefugees;genocideanddisease.Nowisthetimetomeetthegoalofcuttingextremepovertyinhalf,inpartbydoublingourforeignassistancewhiledemandingmorefromthosewhoreceiveit.Andnowisthetimetobuildthecapacityofregionalpartnersinconflictprevention,peacekeeping,andthereconstructionofravagedsocieties.
Fourth,thecatastrophicconsequencesoftheglobalclimatecrisisarematchedbythepromiseofcollectiveaction.NowisthetimeforAmericatolead,becauseifwetakeaction,otherswillactaswell.Throughourowncapandtradesystemandinvestmentsinnewsourcesofenergy,wecanendourdependenceonforeignoilandgas,andfreeourselvesfromthetyrannyofoil-richstatesfromSaudiArabiatoRussiatoVenezuela.WecancreatemillionsofnewjobshereinAmerica. Andwecansecureourplanetforourchildrenandgrandchildren.
Andfifth,America'ssluggisheconomyriskscedingoureconomicprominencetoarisingChina.CompetitionhasalwaysbeenacatalystforAmericaninnovation,andnowshouldbenodifferent.Wemustinvestintheeducationofourchildren,renewourleadershipinscience,andadvancetradethatisnotjustfree,butfairforourworkers.WemustensurethatAmericaistheeconomicengineinthe21stcenturyjustaswewereinthe20th.
Ihavenoillusionsthatanyofthiswillbeeasy.ButIdoknowthatwecanonlybegintomakethesechangeswhenweendthemindsetthatfocusesonIraqandignorestherestoftheworld.
IalsoknowthatmeetingthesenewthreatswillrequireaPresidentwhodeploysthepoweroftough,principleddiplomacy.ItistimetopresentacountrylikeIranwithaclearchoice.Ifitabandonsitsnuclearprogram,supportforterror,andthreatstoIsrael,thenIrancanrejointhecommunityofnations–withallthebenefitsthatentails.Ifnot,Iranwillfacedeeperisolationandsteepersanctions.Whenweengagedirectly,wewillbeinastrongerpositiontorallyrealinternationalsupportforincreasedpressure.WewillalsoengendermoregoodwillfromtheIranianpeople.Andmakenomistake–ifandwhenweeverhavetousemilitaryforceagainstanycountry,wemustexertthepowerofAmericandiplomacyfirst.
Onceagain,SenatorClinton,SenatorMcCain,andPresidentBushhavemadethesameargumentsagainstmypositionondiplomacy,asifreadingfromthesamepoliticalplaybook.TheysayI'llbepencilingtheworld'sdictatorsontomysocialcalendar.Butjustastheyaremisrepresentingmyposition,theyaremistakeninstandingupforapolicyofnottalkingthatisnotworking.WhatI'vesaidisthatwecannotseizeopportunitiestoresolveourproblemsunlesswecreatethem.ThatiswhatKennedydidwithKhrushchev;whatNixondidwithMao;whatReagandidwithGorbachev.AndthatiswhatIwilldoasPresidentoftheUnitedStates.
WhatIhavetalkedabouttodayisanewstrategy,anewsetofprioritiesforpursuingourinterestsinthe21stcentury.AndasPresident,Iwillprovidethetoolsrequiredtoimplementthisstrategy.WhenPresidentTrumanputthepolicyofcontainmentinplace,healsoinvestedinandorganizedourgovernmenttocarryitout–creatingtheNationalSecurityCouncilandtheCIA,andfoundingNATO.Now,wemustupgradeourtoolsofpowertofitanewstrategy.
Thatstartswithenhancingthefinestmilitaryinthehistoryoftheworld.AsCommanderinChief,IwillbeginbygivingamilitaryoverstretchedbyIraqthesupportitneeds.Itistimetoreducethestrainonourtroopsbycompletingtheefforttoincreaseourgroundforcesby65,000soldiersand27,000Marines,whileensuringthequalityofourtroops.Inanagemarkedbytechnology,itisthepeopleofourmilitary–ourSoldiers,Sailors,Airmen,Marines,andCoastGuardsmen–whobeartheresponsibilityforcomplexmissions.Thatiswhyweneedtoensureadequatetrainingandtimehomebetweendeployments.ThatiswhyweneedtoexpandourSpecialForces.Andthatiswhywemustincreaseinvestmentsincapabilitieslikecivilaffairsandtrainingforeignmilitaries.
Butwecannotplacetheburdenofanewnationalsecuritystrategyonourmilitaryalone.Wemustintegrateourdiplomatic,information,economicandmilitarypower.Thatiswhy,assoonasItakeoffice,IwillcallforaNationalStrategyandSecurityReview,tohelpdeterminea21stCenturyinter-agencystructuretointegratetheelementsofournationalpower.
Inaddition,Iwillinvestinourciviliancapacitytooperatealongsideourtroopsinpost-conflictzonesandonhumanitarianandstabilizationmissions.Insteadofshutteringconsulatesintoughcornersoftheworld,it'stimetogrowourForeignServiceandtoexpandUSAID.Insteadofgivinguponthedeterminationofyoungpeopletoserve,it'stimetodoublethesizeofourPeaceCorps.InsteadoflettingpeoplelearnaboutAmericafromenemypropaganda,it'stimetorecruit,train,andsendoutintotheworldanAmerica'sVoiceCorps.
Andwhilewestrengthenourowncapacity,wemuststrengthenthecapabilityoftheinternationalcommunity.WehonorNATO'ssacrificeinAfghanistan,butwemuststrivetomakeitalargerandmorenimblealliance.WemustworkwithpowerslikeRussiaandChina,butwemustalsospeakupforhumanrightsanddemocracy–andwecanstartnowbyspeakingoutforthehumanrightsandreligiousfreedomofthepeopleofTibet.AndwhilewearefrustratedbytheUN,wemustinvestinitscapabilitytokeepthepeace,resolvedisputes,monitordisarmament,andsupportgoodgovernancearoundtheworld–andthatdependsonamoreengagedUnitedStates.
Weareatadefiningmomentinourhistory.
Wecanchoosethepathofunendingwarandunilateralaction,andsapourstrengthandstanding.Wecanchoosethepathofdisengagement,andcedeourleadership.Or,wecanmeetfearanddangerhead-onwithhopeandstrength;withcommonpurposeasaunitedAmerica;andwithcommoncausewitholdalliesandnewpartners.
Whatwe'veseentheselastfewyearsiswhathappenswhentherigidideologyanddysfunctionalpoliticsofWashingtonisprojectedabroad.Anideologythatdoesnotfittheshapeofthetimescannotshapeeventsinforeigncountries.Apoliticsthatisbasedonfearanddivisiondoesnotallowustocallontheworldtohope,andkeepsusfromcomingtogetherasonepeople,asonenation,towritethenextgreatchapterintheAmericanstory.
WealsoknowthatthereisanotherfaceofAmericathatwehaveseentheselastfiveyears.FromdowntheroadatFortBragg,oursoldiershavegoneabroadwithagreatersenseofcommonpurposethantheirleadersinWashington.Theyhavelearnedthelessonsofthe21stcentury'swars.AndtheyhaveshownasenseofserviceandselflessnessthatrepresentstheverybestoftheAmericancharacter.
Thismustbetheelectionwhenwestandupandsaythatwewillservethemaswellastheyhaveservedus.ThismustbetheelectionwhenAmericacomestogetherbehindacommonpurposeonbehalfofoursecurityandourvalues.ThatiswhatwedoasAmericans.It'showwefoundedarepublicbasedonfreedom,andfaceddownfascism.It'showwedefendeddemocracythroughaColdWar,andshinedalightofhopebrightenoughtobeseeninthedarkestcornersoftheworld.
WhenAmericaleadswithprincipleandpragmatism,hopecantriumphoverfear.Itistime,onceagain,forAmericatolead.
SenatorBarackObama
March19,2008
--ObamaforPresidentCampaign;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor
Forthelastthreeweeks,stafffromKentuckyDemocraticPartyHeadquartershavetraveledtheCommonwealthconductingtrainingsessionsforour2008ReorganizationandConventionprocess.
Tonight(inRussellSprings)andtomorrow(inElizabethtown)markstheendofa16-citytour,withhundredsofDemocratsbravingcoldandwetMarchweatherinKentuckytocomeoutandlearnhowtogetinvolvedintheParty.
--KDP;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor
--MikeCassaroforU.S.SenatorCampaign;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor
Ifelected,Sen.JohnMcCain(R-AZ)wouldbethefirstpresidentbornoutsidethe50states,afactthatis“
[A]NashuamanhasaskedthefederalcourttorulethatSen.JohnMcCaincan’tbepresidentbecausehewasborninthePanamaCanalZone.[…]
AlawyerinRiverside,Calif.,filedasimilarsuitonMarch6.Thatcaseasksonlyfora“declaratoryjudgment”onwhetherMcCainwouldbeeligibletoserveaspresidentifelected.
--ThinkProgress;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor
