Richard Gephardt: “this motion to recommit symbolizes the direction I believe we should be steering U.S. national security policy in the…”

“this motion to recommit symbolizes the direction I believe we should be steering U.S. national security policy in the 21st century. Last year, our diplomats made significant progress, negotiating an agreement with North Korea in which it would end its ballistic missile program. Unfortunately, President Bush has backed away from these discussions, publicly telling South Korean President Kim Dae Jung that the North Koreans could not be trusted. Meanwhile, the administration is proceeding full speed ahead with plans for a costly missile defense system, whose initial purpose is to defend against ballistic missiles from North Korea. These actions and others strongly suggest that the Bush administration is taking us down the wrong path: toward a policy of isolationism, unilateralism, and disengagement that jeopardizes our security and undermines our leadership role in the world. We must resist this direction. Instead, we should convince the Administration that there is a better way to serve our interests and enhance the security of our citizens. We must choose leadership over isolation. We must work to shape the international security environment rather than simply insulate ourselves from it by relying excessively on a defensive shield. We should choose cooperation over unilateralism, and collaborate with our allies like South Korea, not alienate them.”