| Edwards
Sets Self Apart on Foreign Policy
While CCD is a strictly non-partisan
organization, we feel that it is important to highlight some
of those mutual goals shared by both CCD and vice-presidential
candidate John Edwards, as reported by the Washington Post
on July 9th, 2004. The article, written by Robin Wright and
Glenn Kessler and titled “Edwards Sets Self Apart on
Foreign Policy,” defines Edwards as a politician dedicated
to the cause of global democracy. Also linked below are two
relevant articles, one a press
release announcing his new “Strategy
for Freedom,” and the “Strategy for Freedom
Document. It is clear from these articles that Edwards believes
that global democracy is not only an important moral goal
but a priority to national security of the United States.
“Edwards
in January called for the United States to draw up a "freedom
list" that would identify dissidents jailed for political
or religious expression in an attempt through "name and
shame" to persuade other countries to free political
prisoners. He also proposed linking U.S. aid to progress on
human rights and democracy -- a practice that, if implemented,
would almost certainly disqualify many key U.S. allies, such
as Egypt and Pakistan.”
“On key national security issues, Edwards has increasingly
staked out a centrist and occasionally hawkish policy, making
terrorism his top focus well before Sept. 11, 2001, and pressing
for a global push on democracy before Bush made it a cornerstone
of his Middle East policy… ”
“On
one issue, Edwards and his running mate take strikingly different
positions: how to promote democracy. While Edwards outlines
ambitious programs and goals, Kerry has stuck largely to promoting
free trade, public diplomacy and reinvigorating the Middle
East peace process -- steps not far from the Bush administration
formula.
In contrast,
Edwards outlined a ‘strategy for freedom’ in January
that included establishing a "democracy caucus"
at the United Nations to punish nations that fail to embrace
democratic reforms to exclude them from powerful positions.
He also
proposed an ‘organization for security and cooperation’
in the Middle East, modeled on the former Helsinki process
that pushed for freedom in Eastern Europe. The Bush administration
later promoted a similar idea that was watered down after
Arab protests. Edwards also suggested linking Russia's membership
in the Group of Eight wealthy nations to improving democratic
practices -- a position Kerry rejected during a recent interview
with The Washington Post.”
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