"We can't kill our way out” : A bipartisan vision for 21st century American foreign policy
By Jane Harman, Special to CNN
Editor's note: Jane Harman is the director of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. She served nine terms as a Democratic member of the House of Representatives from California where she served on the Armed Services, Intelligence and Homeland Security Committees. The views expressed here are her own.
In spite of all the hoopla about bayonets and horses during Monday's presidential debate about America's role in the world, Governor Mitt Romney sounded surprisingly like President Barack Obama on the campaign trail four years ago:
"We can't kill our way out of this mess," Romney said. We're going to have to put in place a very comprehensive and robust strategy to help the world of Islam and other parts of the world ... reject this radical violent extremism."
Yes! At last, we have two presidential candidates who believe that playing whack-a-mole will never suffice.
As Obama said when he ran for his first term, America is a country "whose strength abroad is measured not just by armies, but rather by the power of our ideals, and by our purpose to forge an even more perfect union at home."
Both candidates consistently made that case on Monday. While partisans panned the debate - and neither side appears to have gained much of an election bounce - I saw it as evidence that we're that much closer to articulating a much-needed bipartisan vision for projecting our values around the world.
Both Romney and Obama seemed to understand that while the U.S. should always carry a big stick, we also need to speak in a way that wins the argument with the teenager who is deciding whether or not to strap on a suicide vest. Doing this requires us to explain and abide by what America stands for: rule of law, opportunity for all, gender equality, economic fairness, religious tolerance, and democratic pluralism.
I was in the auditorium at Lynn University - a place dedicated to educating a diverse student body from 87 nations. Worldwide press, 40% of which was international, was covering the debate. And through a partnership between the Commission for Presidential Debates and the National Democratic Institute, foreign delegations were learning how to develop their own candidate debates.
A perfect teachable moment to showcase (more) civility and comity about America's intentions. Though not as warm or humorous as the Al Smith dinner four days earlier, the candidates performed well for a worldwide audience.
The debate highlighted ways in which our country can and should help the rest of the world, including:
- Providing public and private economic assistance
- Trying to resolve seemingly intractable problems by using diplomatic and economic tools (including sanctions), with use of military force as the very last resort
- Working with allies and regional organizations to internationalize the U.S. role
- With those allies, helping countries to build political capacity
- supporting democratic movements against tyranny
I would also add:
- Building schools and designing fact-based curricula to teach boys and girls
- And aid for recovery from natural disasters
Without more effort to articulate our vision, children around the world associate the U.S. with drones and attack helicopters, which they see when they look up. For the few optimists left on this bleak election canvas - I being one –a common agenda of positive actions gives running room to our next president to improve our optic, and he should move on it promptly.
Maybe, just maybe, the effort began this week: a consensus on initiatives to make alienated kids in failing states think twice about hating America and acting to harm us.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
Where the world slides?
What a bunch of quitters. We haven't really tried killing our way out yet. A war on Islam shouldn't take more than 30 minutes and 4 missiles with 10 independently targeted re-entry vehicles apiece.
Such is to be expected from someone like you with your right-wing Tea Party mentality, Dude! Is that all you ignoramuses know, kill, kill and kill?! You ought to be ashamed of your self for posting the above!!! I would definately be!
How many ways can Romney agree and disagree on the same topic?
It is soothing to listen to Romney agree with the President on some very important issues like foreign policy. I was getting very worried with Romney's bashing of Russia, threatening trade with China and what amounted to war talk on Iran. As for the economy although the recovery is slow i reckon thats the best path for the US. The economy has been stabilised from the Bush era and Obama team seem to have done their homework on economic fundamentals. Romney's plan is unenforceable, if he wins the election he is gonna continue Obama's plan because from an economic perspective his economic advisers will tell him in private that his won't work. The other thing i think other world leaders are more comfortable working with Obama. That America will have more muscle under Romney is like saying America had more muscle under the previous President, unless by more muscle you mean being bully and picking up fights with every Jack and Jill with a constant stream of American soldiers corpses.
Yes, I noticed that too.
Romney backed off on repealing Obama care.
Foreign policy is in sync per the last debate,
If Joe Biden was not around Romney would make a good Vice President for Obama.
Yeah go ahead and send your first born off to another pointless war...like the USSR you too will end up bankrupt of money and democracy....what a waste ...
Well said, Elijah. Our involvement in Afghanistan is nothing but a big, fat folley but the general public is just too dumb to see that and that is disgusting!
I think we really could with a little commitment.
Thanks, noname. With just a little comittment we can be out of Afghanistan almost overnight! We need to rename Afghnistan "Bush's Follie" or is that Iraq where people are killing each other almost constantly? It's hard to tell.
THIS WEBSITE IS REJECTING COMMENTS BY ME STATING THAT IT IS A "DUPLICATE COMMENT." BE AWARE
The same happens to me too Ellie P, the reason being that my posts are very seldom politically correct. Everone has a right to have their opinion displayed whether it's PC or not!
Actually, posting hereis not a matter of right. If you are thinking first amendment, go learn what it means first.
Let's get both the Karzai regime and the Taliban to the negotiating table in order to find a graceful way out of Afghaistan instead of us just butchering these people like pigs in a pen, day after day! Both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are truly a national disgrace over Afghanistan!!! Neither have any sense of humanity!
Jane, you're kidding right?
Obama nonpartisan?
He is the most partisan president the US has had to endure and doesn't have a clue about a big stick. Look at how he mishandled Benghazi.
Yes Romney the non-47% President is most nonpartisan , right ?
Look at his record! Look at Obama's record! He disses everyone who doesn't agree with, and kowtow, to him. (including the supreme court)
A leader unites...there are always things both parties can agree on.
Bragging about spending 24 up to campaign....well it's obvious what's important to Obama!
obama failed Americans in Lbya , and followed through with a cover up that was supported by a apology campaign for being America.
Vote for a strong America , vote Romney
If you want to vote for right wing BS than vote for Romney.
it's time we need to bomb our way out, faster and cheaper too!
Yes Bomb all warmongers.
Sorry folks, I never posted the above. It looks like Phunnie boy's at it again, trying to make me look like an ignorant, warmongering Tea Partier. Just ignore the above post. I say, let's just pull out of there like the Russians did back in 1989!!!
Wow,
Romney supports Obama's foreign policy.
Romney agrees Obama care should stand as is.
If Joe Biden was not around Romney would make a good Vice President for Obama!
I don't want to play whack-a-mole. I want to turn the whole region into a glass plate. Just get it over with.
The whole north American region.
Obvious. So, what are there specific plans and timeline for implementing such? I fear the battle upon Islamofascism is taking our attention from more pressing security concerns.
I think people are making too big of deal out of Romney's statement: "We can't kill our way out of this."
This statement was crafted by Romney's advisers as a rebuttal to Obama's success with dictators Khadaffi and Osama Bin Laden. The statement was crafted to make Romney look a little more humanitarian in the foreign policy debate and not actually praise the president for this accomplishment. A brilliant political move by his advisers.
As this was merely a political move, it complete and utter bu#@&^it, not to be trusted. Romney, like Obama, supports the use of drones and 5 of his 6 major foreign policy points are exactly the same as Obama's.
Yeah! Maybe we can't "kill our way out of this"; but we can sure give it a good try! My friends need to grow their military supply business. An outbreak of peace would destroy the economy (of my friends).
Elijah second comeing he deal with Islam
With three debates finished, has Obama ever said what his plan is for the next four years if he's re-elected?
Yes actually. Pay attention.
We can kill our way out of this. It just requires the use of nuclear weapons so we can steralize this portion of the Earth. The people of this region of the world have been fighting each other and everyone else since the dawn of mankind. The people are genetically predisposed to causing mayhem. Time to do away with the defective genes they carry forever.
including israel
The North America has been attacking many other countries in world since last 2 centuries its time to get rid of such countries from the world.
America is a country "whose strength abroad is measured not just by armies, but rather by the power of our ideals, and by our purpose to forge an even more perfect union at home."
Oh, yes, Obama did recognize that America is not easy, but that blame on those perfect hopes whatever is not an option. No great strategy has received more success and luck than it is built under the reliable hopes. Does President Obama agree with that?
Expect nothing better but mayhem among humanity by following of hinduism, denial of truth absolute, Allah, and following of hindu pagan Mithra ism, savior ism, neither commanded, nor allowed in Islam as a religion, but Theen Allah, consti tution of truth absolute.
Shiaism
hindu Mithra ism, savior ism invented little over 100 years after Sydana Mohammad pbh by tribes of Kujar of north Africa and imposition as Fatmid Khalaphit by force by denial of Hidth and Quran, justified by hindu Judaism, pagan secularism to impose hinduism, racism by hindu, fabricated relationship with Family of Syadana Mohammad pbh to justify existence of hindu criminal Kings, a violation of fundamental commandment, human equality under the LA. truth absolute Allah. Cause of conflict among Muslim's and cause of down fall of Muslim's and Islam in Spain.
Sunisim, invented by Turk's by corruption of Quran and hidth to justify existence of hindu King's as Khalipha, after death of Ruler Mohammad, but later renamed, Mehmmat, wisdom of spirit of truth by siblings from his Armenian wife, follower of hindu pagan Mithra ism, savior ism in 13th century.
Christianity, invented by hinduism,. corruption of truth absolute by hindu Pharisees, pagan self centered, follower of hindu filthy pig ism by corrupted Torah, known as Greek Torah, translated and commented by Ben Asheer in 250 AD in Yiddish, secularist, self centered language, also known as Old Testament, part of book of Mithra ism labeled as Bible. A way to justify hindu criminal Kings and self proclaimed Prophets, fortune tellers as god's to rule over humanity.
JUDAISM, Self center ism, pig ism, or Atheism, invented by hindu's pagan's of Egypt by corruption of truth absolute in Torah to Justify hindu pagan Pharaoh's and their hindu pagan Santans, goons as god's to rule over humanity with impunity.
HAVE hINDUISM, CORRUPTION OF TRUTH ABSOLUTE, RELIGIONS AND LIVE WITH MAYHEM, AS HAS BEEN THE CASE FROM hIND, DARK AGES TILL TODAY. FOLLOW THEEN aLLAH, CONSTI TUTION OF TRUTH ABSOLUTE, ALLAH , GOD AND THE LORD, FOUNDATION OF CONSTI TUTION OF AMERICA TO HAVE PEACE AMONG HUMANITY. To learn more please visit truthisthelimit.com
don't expose yourself.
Instead of "killing our way" out of Afghanistan, how just getting out like the Russians did back in 1989? It sounds good to me!!!
Well it is no morethan talk when you say these things, then send more troops to Afghanistan . . . .
"After a decade of war, it's time to do some nation building here at home," Does that mean we are done building things for people who do not appreciate it? I think it does. I think this drone campaign is part of a new strategy of cost effective warfare. At first I understood the need for winning hearts and minds. However, after a resurgent Al Qaeda, continued Taliban resistance, and regular green on blue attacks I have changed my view. We have done enough for the Afghans at the expense of the American public. Less carrots, more sticks...