Excerpts of Hillary's speech
Posted: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 10:18 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Security, Andrea Mitchell, State Dept.
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell and Libby Leist
The State Department has released excerpts of Secretary of State Clinton's foreign policy speech later today.
On the foreign-policy challenges and President Obama:
-- "...the international agenda today is unforgiving: two wars, conflict in the Middle East, ongoing threats of violent extremism and nuclear proliferation, global recession, climate change, hunger and disease, and a widening gap between rich and poor. All of these challenges affect America's security and prosperity. And all threaten global stability and progress."
-- "For President Obama and me, the question is not whether our nation can lead, but how it will lead in this new global context."
-- "...we have the right strategy, the right priorities, the right policies. We have the right President. And we have the American people, diverse, committed, involved and open to the future."
On the foreign-policy priorities:
-- "reverse the spread of nuclear weapons, prevent their use, and build a world free of their threat;"
-- "isolate and defeat terrorists and counter violent extremists while reaching out to Muslims around the world;"
-- "encourage and facilitate the efforts of all parties to pursue a comprehensive peace in the Middle East;"
-- "pursue global economic recovery and growth - by strengthening our own economy, advancing a robust development agenda, expanding trade that is free and fair, and boosting investment that creates decent jobs;"
-- "combat climate change, increase energy security, and lay the foundation for a prosperous clean-energy future;"
-- "support and encourage democratic governments that protect the rights of and deliver results for their people;"
-- "and stand up for human rights everywhere."
On "smart power":
-- "Not everybody in the world wishes us well or shares our values and interests. Some will seek to undermine our efforts. In those cases, our partnerships will help constrain or deter their actions. And to these foes and would-be foes, let me say: You should know that our focus on diplomacy and development is not an alternative to our national security arsenal. You should never see America's willingness to talk as a sign of weakness to be exploited. We will not hesitate to defend our friends and ourselves vigorously when necessary with the world's strongest military. This is not an option we seek. Nor is it a threat; it is a promise to the American people."
-- "...smart power counsels that we lead with diplomacy, even in the case of adversaries or nations with whom we disagree. We cannot be afraid or unwilling to engage. Yet some suggest that this is a sign of weakness or naiveté - or acquiescence to these countries' repression of their own people. That is wrong. The President and I believe that refusing to talk to countries rarely punishes them. And as long as engagement might advance our interests and our values, it is unwise to take it off the table."
On Iran:
-- "We watched the energy of Iran's election with great admiration, only to be appalled by the manner in which the government used violence to quell the voices of the Iranian people, then tried to hide its actions by arresting foreign nationals, expelling journalists, and cutting off access to technology. As we ... have made clear, these actions are deplorable and unacceptable... Neither the president nor I have any illusions that direct dialogue with the Islamic Republic will guarantee success. But we also understand the importance of trying to engage Iran and offering its leaders a clear choice: whether to join the international community as a responsible member or to continue down a path to further isolation."
