Hillary Clinton's Foreign Policy Platform

Hillary Clinton's (presidential election) home page states, "The next president's most urgent task will be to restore America's standing in the world to promote our interests, ensure our security, and advance our values."

Clinton states she will end the war in Iraq and opposes permanent bases in Iraq. She believes the U.S. should maintain a vastly reduced military presence for providing logistical support and additional training for the Iraqi army. Further she promises she will ensure proper planning for all military missions in the future.

Senator Clinton contends the best way, perhaps the only way, to tackle global problems is to start "engaging our enemies again." Climate change, poverty, AIDS, terrorism and other issues involve many countries, and these countries need to work together to resolve the problems facing us all. Clinton feels the United States can and should play a key leadership roll in working with other nations to reach common goals for the benefit of all.

While she served as First Lady, with her husband, President Bill Clinton, she visited more than 80 countries and met many world leaders as the representative of the United States. Her work on international affairs in the Senate (D-NY) has continued to promote U. S. interests.

Clinton introduces three principles she feels are essential to bring about consensus on national security. The first principle is for the U. S. to renew internationalism in our fight against terrorism. Second, we must value both a strong military as well as international diplomacy. Finally, Clinton contends, "our foreign policy must blend both idealism and realism in the service of American interests.

Clinton poses these questions in responding to arguments against internationalism:

Is it "realist" or "idealist" to stop nuclear proliferation?

Is it "realist" or "idealist" to come together on global warming?

Is it "realist" or "idealist" to help developing nations educate their children, fight diseases, and grow their economies?

And is it "realist" or "idealist" to believe we must turn around the ideology underpinning terrorism?

She believes a healthy mix of both idealism and realism will be required to reach consensus on many of the most pressing international issues today.

Senator Clinton points out that not enough attention has been paid to the situation in Afghanistan-overshadowed by the Iraq War. Clinton states Afghanistan and NATO need us as a to help with security, get rid of corruption, to improve the situation with Pakistan. She also states America needs to take the lead in finding an alternative to opium production in Afghanistan, which accounts for 87% of the world's opium production.

Clinton backs up her stand, stating, "We should begin by responding to our NATO commander's call for more troops in Afghanistan, where on a per capita basis we have spent 25 times less than we spent in Bosnia, and deployed one-fiftieth as many troops." Clinton promises she will ask her colleagues who chair the Senate Armed Services Committee and Foreign Relations Committee to hold joint hearings on the future of America's non-proliferation policy with a goal of creating a new plan for security around the world.

Clinton warns the world is watching us and how we respond to situations around the world. Her prediction is we will lose influence and respect if we appear to be losing ground with terrorists and other threats to our security. Internationalism, newly formulated and designed, is the only way to accomplish security and safety for the poor, the sick, for women, children and families around the world.