Foreign Policy / National Security

Nearly 20 years ago, I worked in the U.S. Senate as the Foreign Policy Legislative Assistant for the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Democratic Senator David Boren.  I learned a great deal during my three years working in the Senate, traveling and meeting with some of our top foreign policy officials, from Senators Sam Nunn and Claiborne Pell to Defense Secretary Gates and the Soviet Ambassador.  That experience helped shape my approach to foreign policy and national security issues.

I am pragmatist when it comes to our foreign policy, and believe that a strong America is a safe America.  We must be prepared to deploy the full arsenal of U.S. and international power to protect our national interests, and must engage with our allies and international institutions to protect and advance those interests.  We must be ready to use our military strength to keep us safe from terrorists and others who would harm our country; but we must also act reasonably in light of the specific threat at hand so that we do not sacrifice the credibility our country has deservedly established through our world leadership in the fight against oppression and brutality.

Our power does not come solely from our extraordinary military strength, but also from our diplomats, intelligence community, international development agencies, and our unique power to lead by example.  We must be clear about the issues that threaten our national security, including our dependence on foreign oil, in defining our national security needs. And we must keep front-and-center our debt of gratitude to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces, and never take any of them or their families for granted in making decisions about whether to send our troops abroad.