Senator Rubio Discusses Future of U.S. Foreign Policy “For this century is a time of tremendous challenge. But it is also a time of tremendous promise. This is indeed the world America made. And it is freer ......
BigNews.Biz - Apr 29,2012 - Senator Rubio Discusses Future of U.S. Foreign Policy
“For this century is a time of tremendous challenge. But it is also a time of tremendous promise. This is indeed the world America made. And it is freer and more prosperous than it has ever been. And it can be even better. As Americans we cannot make that happen by ourselves. But the world cannot make it happen without us."
Senator Marco Rubio
Remarks as Delivered for Brookings Institution Speech
April 25, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hb31bEa0mg
Thank you, Senator Lieberman. One of the best things about working in the Senate is the opportunity to know and learn from colleagues whose statesmanship sets an example for the rest of us. In my brief time in the Senate, I've had the chance to get to know Joe, and learn from him. He represents a view of America's role in the world in the tradition of Democratic leaders from Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman through John F. Kennedy and Scoop Jackson. In my every experience with him, it has always been evident that Joe Lieberman is a statesman, who takes positions on every important national issue because he believes they best serve our country’s interests and values. Thank you, Joe, for your introduction, and more importantly thank you for your example. It is a privilege to serve with you.
I want to thank, Brookings for this opportunity to contribute a few thoughts to the current debate over America’s role in the world in the 21st Century. I wanted to give this speech today to share with you my observations as someone who had a long time interest in foreign policy, who now finds himself in the role of policymaker.
I am always cautious about generalizations but until very recently, the general perception was that American Conservatism believed in robust and muscular foreign policy. That was certainly the hallmark of the foreign policies both President Bush's and of President Reagan. But when I arrived in the Senate last year I found that some of the traditional sides in the foreign policy debate had shifted.
On the one hand, I found liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans working together to advocate our withdrawal from Afghanistan, or our staying out of Libya. On the other hand I found myself partnering with Democrats like Bob Menendez or Senator Casey on a more forceful foreign policy. In fact, the resolutions that I co-authored with Senator Casey on Syria and with Senator Menendez condemning fraudulent elections in Nicaragua were held up by Republicans. I recently joked that today, in the U.S. Senate, on foreign policy, if you go far enough to the right, you wind up on the left.
And I found this sentiment not just in the Senate, but back home as well. For example, many of my loyal supporters were highly critical of my decision to call for a more active U.S. role in Libya.
The easiest thing for me to do here today is give a speech on my disagreements
.gif)
