Lynn C. Woolsey: “on his first day in office, I sent a letter to President Barack Obama calling for an international cease fire or ``time…”

“on his first day in office, I sent a letter to President Barack Obama calling for an international cease fire or ``time out.'' Like many of my colleagues, I have serious concerns about our Nation and its ongoing participation in armed conflicts. Right now, our men and women in uniform are engaged in bloody struggles in Iraq, and Afghanistan, and other troops are based throughout six continents. I fear that our influence around the globe is felt more by our military presence than diplomatically, economically or socially. That, in turn, leads to a negative and hostile view of the United States, its policies and its people. Mr. Speaker, last November, people overwhelmingly supported then Candidate Obama because of his message of change and hope for a new America and a new era in foreign policy. I was especially encouraged by his statement. He said, ``To renew American leadership in the world, I will strengthen our common security by investing in our common humanity. Our global engagement cannot be defined by what we are against. It must be guided by a clear sense of what we stand for. We have a significant stake in ensuring that those who live in fear and want today can live with dignity and opportunity tomorrow.'' Mr. Speaker, while we have the most highly skilled military in the world, it is easily recognized that the world's conflicts will not be solved at the barrel of a gun.…”