Ultimately it is the right of people to choose any economic model they want. But it is the political opportunities that are most important.

Despite robust U.S. aid in bilateral and multilateral programs, food insecurity is a daily concern for millions of people around the world and a source of instability that impact U.S. interests abroad.

I think what you are saying is that there is nothing necessarily that would stand in your way of reaching out to them, and working with them, and having a close relationship with them.

What exactly have they done that has been so promising to move them from a Tier 3 to a Tier 2?

I think will play a critical role in the months to come as the Libyan people struggle to reach, for example, their own democratic aspirations.

The problem, of course, has been that over the years there are now people that have taken advantage of that system or have taken advantage of that problem and make it much, much worse.

the one thing I didn't hear you mention and I am concerned about is some of these nations' association with a Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, or what's known as ALBA, which quite frankly is, in my opinion an…

I think it sends a terrible message to our friends and to moderate reformers in the region when the United States is silent about their well-being.

I am impressed by the resilience of a people that have faced extraordinary struggles even before an earthquake, but yet have optimism about the promise of the future.

It's time to wake up and start dedicating the resources and our attention in a hemisphere which is incredibly important to the national interests and security of the United States.

one of the major obstacles that I found to private investment in the country is the absence of a credible land registry.

The expansion of democracies around the world have led to free markets, and free markets have led to prosperity, freedom, and security.