April 26, 2008
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FOREIGN POLICY
AT A GLANCE
The War in Iraq
Obama is the only major candidate who had the judgment to oppose the Iraq War from the beginning. He will end the war responsibly by bringing our troops home within 16 months, pressing for a political solution
to Iraq’s civil war, and launching the diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives that are need to bring stability to Iraq.Terrorism
Obama will fight terrorism and protect America with a comprehensive strategy that finishes the fight in Afghanistan, cracks down on the al Qaeda safe-haven in Pakistan, develops new capabilities and international partnerships, engages the world to dry up support for extremism, and reaffirms American
values.Iran
Obama has stood up against going to war with Iran, and called for a new approach. He will lead tough diplomacy with the Iranian regime, and offer Iran the choice of increased international pressure or
incentives if it stops its disturbing behavior.Renewing American Diplomacy
Obama will turn the page on the Bush-Cheney diplomacy of not talking to countries that we don’t like. He
will talk to our foes as well as our friends, and he will restore American leadership and alliances abroad.Nuclear Weapons
Obama has a bold agenda to reduce the threat of nuclear proliferation. He will secure loose nuclear materials
from terrorists, and lead the world toward the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons.21st Century Military
Obama will give the finest military in the world the support it needs to face the threats of the 21st century.
He will expand our ground forces, develop new capabilities, and restore the trust between the commander in chief and those who serve.ENDING THE WAR IN IRAQ
Judgment You Can Trust
As a candidate for the United States Senate in 2002, Obama put his political career on the line to oppose going to war in Iraq, and warned of “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences.” Obama has been a consistent, principled and vocal opponent of the war in
Iraq:• In 2003 and 2004, he spoke out against the war on the campaign trail;
• In 2005, he called for a phased withdrawal of our troops;
• In 2006, he called for a timetable to remove our troops, a political solution within Iraq, and
aggressive diplomacy with all of Iraq’s neighbors;• In January 2007, he introduced legislation in the Senate to remove all of our combat troops from Iraq by March 2008.
• In September 2007, he laid out a detailed plan for how he will end the war as president.
Bring Our Troops Home
Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that
we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda.Press Iraq’s leaders to reconcile
The best way to press Iraq’s leaders to take responsibility for their future is to make it clear that we are
leaving. As we remove our troops, Obama will engage representatives from all levels of Iraqi society – in and out of government – to seek a new accord on Iraq’s Constitution and governance. The United Nations will play a central role in this convention, which should not adjourn until a new national accord is reached addressing tough questions like federalism and oil revenue-sharing.Regional Diplomacy
Obama will launch the most aggressive diplomatic effort in recent American history to reach a new compact on the stability of Iraq and the Middle East. This effort will include all of Iraq’s neighbors – including Iran
and Syria. This compact will aim to secure Iraq’s borders; keep neighboring countries from meddling inside Iraq; isolate al Qaeda; support reconciliation among Iraq’s sectarian groups; and provide financial support for Iraq’s reconstruction.Humanitarian Initiative
Obama believes that America has a moral and security responsibility to confront Iraq’s humanitarian crisis – two million Iraqis are refugees; two million more are displaced inside their own country. Obama will form an international working group to address this crisis. He will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find a safe-haven.
IRAN
The Problem
Iran has sought nuclear weapons, supports militias inside Iraq and terror across the region, and its leaders
threaten Israel and deny the Holocaust. But Obama believes that we have not exhausted our non-military options in confronting this threat; in many ways, we have yet to try them. That’s why Obama stood up to the Bush administration’s warnings of war, just like he stood up to the war in Iraq.Opposed Bush-Cheney Saber Rattling
Obama opposed the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which says we should use our military presence in Iraq to counter the threat from Iran. Obama believes that it was reckless for Congress to give George Bush any justification to extend the Iraq War or to attack Iran. Obama also introduced a resolution in the Senate declaring that no act of Congress – including Kyl-Lieberman – gives the Bush administration authorization
to attack Iran.Diplomacy
Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. Now is the time to pressure Iran directly to change their troubling behavior. Obama would offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move
toward normal diplomatic relations. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation. Seeking this kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran is our best way tomake progress.RENEWING AMERICAN DIPLOMACY
The Problem
The United States is trapped by the Bush-Cheney approach to diplomacy that refuses to talk to leaders we don’t like. Not talking doesn’t make us look tough – it makes us look arrogant, it denies us opportunities to make progress, and it makes it harder for America to rally international support for our leadership. On
challenges ranging from terrorism to disease, nuclear weapons to climate change, we cannot make progress unless we can draw on strong international support.Talk to our Foes and Friends
Obama is willing to meet with the leaders of all nations, friend and foe. He will do the careful preparation
necessary, but will signal that America is ready to come to the table, and that he is willing to lead. And if America is willing to come to the table, the world will be more willing to rally behind American leadership to deal with challenges like terrorism, and Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programs.Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Obama will make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a key diplomatic priority. He will make a sustained push – working with Israelis and Palestinians – to achieve the goal of two states, a Jewish state in
Israel and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security.Expand our Diplomatic Presence
To make diplomacy a priority, Obama will stop shuttering consulates and start opening them in the tough and hopeless corners of the world – particularly in Africa. He will expand our foreign service, and develop
the capacity of our civilian aid workers to work alongside the military.Fight Global Poverty
Obama will embrace the Millennium Development Goal of cutting extreme poverty around the world in half by 2015, and he will double our foreign assistance to $50 billion to achieve that goal. He will help the
world’s weakest states to build healthy and educated communities, reduce poverty, develop markets, and generate wealth.Strengthen NATO
Obama will rally NATO members to contribute troops to collective security operations, urging them to invest more in reconstruction and stabilization operations, streamlining the decision-making processes, and giving NATO commanders in the field more flexibility.
Seek New Partnerships in Asia
Obama will forge a more effective framework in Asia that goes beyond bilateral agreements, occasional summits, and ad hoc arrangements, such as the six-party talks on North Korea. He will maintain strong ties with allies like Japan, South Korea and Australia; work to build an infrastructure with countries in East Asia
that can promote stability and prosperity; and work to ensure that China plays by international rules.NUCLEAR WEAPONS
A Record of Results
The gravest danger to the American people is the threat of a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon and
the spread of nuclear weapons to dangerous regimes. Obama has taken bipartisan action to secure nuclear weapons and materials:• He joined Senator Dick Lugar in passing a law to help the United States and our allies detect and stop the
smuggling of weapons of mass destruction throughout the world.• He joined Senator Chuck Hagel to introduce a bill that seeks to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global
nuclear arsenals, and stop the spread of nuclear weapons.• And while other candidates have insisted that we should threaten to drop nuclear bombs on terrorist training camps, Obama believes that we must talk openly about nuclear weapons – because the best way
to keep America safe is not to threaten terrorists with nuclear weapons, it’s to keep nuclear weapons away from terrorists.Secure Loose Nuclear Materials from Terrorists
Obama will secure all loose nuclear materials in the world within four years. While we work to secure existing stockpiles of nuclear material, Obama will negotiate a verifiable global ban on the production of
new nuclear weapons material. This will deny terrorists the ability to steal or buy loose nuclear materials.Strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Obama will crack down on nuclear proliferation by strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty so that countries like North Korea and Iran that break the rules will automatically face strong international
sanctions.Toward a Nuclear Free World
Obama will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons, and pursue it. Obama will always maintain a
strong deterrent as long as nuclear weapons exist. But he will take several steps down the long road toward eliminating nuclear weapons. He will stop the development of new nuclear weapons; work with Russia to take U.S. and Russian ballistic missiles off hair trigger alert; seek dramatic reductions in U.S. and Russian stockpiles of nuclear weapons and material; and set a goal to expand the U.S.-Russian ban on intermediate-range missiles so that the agreement is global.BUILDING A 21st CENTURY MILITARY
The Problem
The excellence of our military is unmatched. But as a result of a misguided war in Iraq, our forces are under
pressure as never before. Obama will make the investments we need so that the finest military in the world is best-prepared to meet 21st-century threats.Rebuild Trust
Obama will rebuild trust with those who serve by ensuring that soldiers and Marines have sufficient training
time before they are sent into battle.Expand the Military
We have learned from Iraq that our military needs more men and women in uniform to reduce the strain
on our active force. Obama will increase the size of ground forces, adding 65,000 soldiers to the Army and 27,000 Marines.New Capabilities
Obama will give our troops new equipment, armor, training, and skills like language training. He will also
strengthen our civilian capacity, so that our civilian agencies have the critical skills and equipment they need to integrate their efforts with our military.Strengthen Guard and Reserve
Obama will restore the readiness of the National Guard and Reserves. He will permit them adequate time to train and rest between deployments, and provide the National Guard with the equipment they need for
foreign and domestic emergencies. He will also give the Guard a seat at the table by making the Chief of the National Guard a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.BIPARTISANSHIP AND OPENNESS
The Problem
Under the Bush administration, foreign policy has been used as a political wedge issue to divide us – not as
a cause to bring America together. And it is no coincidence that one of the most secretive administrations in history has pursued policies that have been disastrous for the American people. Obama strongly believes that our foreign policy is stronger when Americans are united, and the government is open and candid with the American people.A Record of Bringing People Together
In the Senate, Obama has worked with Republicans and Democrats to advance important policy initiatives
on securing weapons of mass destruction and conventional weapons, increasing funding for nonproliferation, and countering instability in Congo.Consultative Group
Obama will convene a bipartisan Consultative Group of leading members of Congress to foster better executive-legislative relations and bipartisan unity on foreign policy. This group will be comprised of the
congressional leadership of both political parties, and the chair and ranking members of the Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Intelligence, and Appropriations Committees. This group will meet with the president once a month to review foreign policy priorities, and will be consulted in advance of military action.Getting Politics out of Intelligence
Obama would insulate the Director of National Intelligence from political pressure by giving the DNI a fixed term, like the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Obama will seek consistency and integrity at the top of our intelligence community – not just a political ally.
Change the Culture of Secrecy
Obama will reverse President Bush’s policy of secrecy. He will institute a National Declassification Center to
make declassification secure but routine, efficient, and cost-effective.Engaging the American People on Foreign Policy
Obama will bring foreign policy decisions directly to the people by requiring his national security officials
to have periodic national broadband town hall meetings to discuss foreign policy. He will personally deliver occasional fireside chats via webcast.ON AFRICA
Stop the Genocide in Darfur
Barack Obama has been a leading voice urging the Bush Administration to take stronger steps to end the genocide in Sudan. He worked with Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) to pass the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. Obama has traveled to the United Nations to meet with Sudanese officials and visited refugee camps on the Chad-Sudan border to raise international awareness of the ongoing humanitarian disaster there. He also worked with Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) to secure $20 million for the African Union peacekeeping mission. Obama believes the United States needs to lead the world in ending this genocide,
including by imposing much tougher sanctions that target Sudan’s oil revenue, implementing and helping to enforce a no-fly zone, and engaging in more intense, effective diplomacy to develop a political roadmap to peace. The international community must, over the Sudanese regime’s protests, deploy a large, capable UN-led and UN-funded force with a robust enforcement mandate to stop the killings.
