Barack Obama

Democratic backsliding in Russia is real and disturbing.

America's national security interests require improved ties with our European allies and stronger Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Real pressure on Russia will not come from rhetoric alone--it will come from a unified transatlantic alliance.

The new administration will work with Russia on areas of common strategic interest like counterterrorism and counterproliferation.

The United States has an interest in expanding export opportunities for American companies and securing the benefits of increased imports for the American consumer.

In order to equip the State Department with the tools that it needs to address today's challenges, we will need to invest additional resources in the Department.

We should support the ICC's investigations, including its pursuit of perpetrators of genocide in Darfur.

We cannot counter insurgent and terrorist threats without civilian counterparts who can carry out economic and political reconstruction missions.

America's national security interests require a vigorous and well-funded State Department. I am concerned that the Department's funding is insufficient to the task.

If confirmed as Secretary of State, I look forward to working with this committee and your colleagues in the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs to achieve these priorities.

Terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons, is indeed the gravest security threat we face today.

He has warned that competition over resources could lead to conflict and population movements.

The United States and Syria have profound differences on important issues, and the President-elect and I believe that engaging directly with Syria increases the possibility of making progress on changing Syrian behavior.

I believe the Arab states have an important role to play in advancing efforts to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

We will not sit down with Iran just for the sake of talking.

A nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable, and all elements of American power are on the table to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

America has both a moral obligation and a responsibility for security that demands we confront Iraq's humanitarian crisis.

These initiatives help create a model for individual responsibility and collective action to the Clinton Global Initiative, bringing people together to take on tough global challenges.

We are guided by unchanging truths: That all people are created equal; that each person has a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

We will return to a policy of vigorous involvement, partnership even, with Latin America.

We must build a deeper partnership with Mexico to address the shared dangers arising from drug trafficking and the challenges along our border.

The United States should seek to reform the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Clutch. He's clutch.

I will say that I think we are putting together the best basketball-playing cabinet in American history.

We are going to take the bowling alley out of the White House. We are going to be putting in a basketball court.