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The extraordinary global challenges and opportunities of the 21st century call for a new vision of America’s engagement with the world. Today’s U.S. investments in diplomacy and development are insufficient to promote global stability, expand the benefits of the global economy, and guarantee American security. Our increasingly interconnected world requires strong U.S. leadership to strengthen democratic governance, harness economic potential, alleviate global poverty and improve human conditions. American investments in these goals will reaffirm America’s tradition of moral leadership, reduce our vulnerability to threats from destabilizing forces and improve America’s image abroad. To achieve these objectives, the U.S. must use smart power – elevating diplomacy and development assistance while integrating them with our economic policies, defense and intelligence activities.

Keeping America Safe: Our Best Defense is a Good Offense

We cannot rely on military power alone to make our nation secure. This was a key conclusion of three recent reports on national security: the 9/11 Commission Report, the 2006 Department of Defense Quadrennial Review Report, and the 2006 National Security Strategy. America’s prosperity and security have become inextricably linked to the prosperity and security of other nations and their people. Diplomatic initiatives, anti-proliferation programs, international exchanges and long-term investments in the health, education and livelihood of citizens of other nations keep America safer by combating terrorism, engendering goodwill toward the United States, and alleviating conditions that leave fragile countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan vulnerable to the influence of extremist groups.

Revitalizing Our Moral Leadership

America’s innovation and investment can address some of the world’s greatest challenges. Ten million children die every year of preventable diseases before age five; 77 million children don’t attend school; and more than one billion people lack clean water. Over the past four decades, U.S. assistance has helped millions of people feed their families; nearly eradicated river blindness and polio; helped Mozambique and El Salvador rebound from civil war; and put hundreds of thousands of HIV/AIDS patients on life-saving anti-retroviral treatments. Doing more to help governments of poor countries offer their people hope for a better future reaffirms our American humanitarian tradition and helps strengthen America’s image abroad.

Promoting and Harnessing Economic Growth in Developing Countries

Over the past 40 years, trade has tripled as a share of our national economy. Since nearly 45% of U.S. exports go to developing countries, economic progress in those countries has a direct impact on our own. We must put in place development assistance and trade policies that will increase market access and create greater economic opportunities for both America and our trading partners.

A Call to Action for the 2008 Presidential Candidates

The next U.S. President must be prepared to tackle these challenging issues with bold new ideas that encourage global cooperation in the pursuit of freedom, security and opportunity. The next Administration needs to revitalize America’s moral and pragmatic leadership by making greater investments in our diplomatic and development programs, modernizing our foreign assistance institutions, and improving the accountability and effectiveness of our foreign assistance programs.

We call on all of the 2008 Presidential candidates to elevate and strengthen our non-military tools of global engagement to build a better, safer, more prosperous America and world.