Chris Dodd: “at this moment in history our Nation faces enormous challenges from terrorism, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Israel and…”

“at this moment in history our Nation faces enormous challenges from terrorism, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Israel and the occupied territories, Sudan's Darfur region, Iran, North Korea, Syria, HIV/AIDS, global health generally, climate change, energy security, and the list seems endless. These are all important issues that call out for important action and leadership from the United States. America's capacity to respond to this global clarion call has been seriously circumscribed, in my view, by the Bush administration's preemptive war of choice in Iraq--circumscribed militarily, politically, and economically. The options have become fewer since March 19, 2003, as the world has become more dangerous, and the reputation and global standing of the United States has become weaker. Our friends know this. More importantly, so do our adversaries, apparently. That is why it is imperative that we make the most of the options still available to respond to these challenges. Diplomacy is one of the few options that remain available with a reasonable political and minority pricetag. As John Kennedy said so eloquently more than 45 years ago, this Nation should never fear to negotiate but never negotiate out of fear. It is going to take effective and pragmatic diplomacy to build the kinds of international partnerships and coalitions to address the challenges that confront us so that America can feel safe and be safer and more secure.…”