Kucinich: Time For A New Foreign Policy

Washington, Jun 21 -

Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) gave the following speech today on the House floor:

“If you had a friend who anytime they took the car out for a drive got in a wreck, if you really cared about your friend (and others) you would take away the car keys.

Nearly every time this Administration takes the US out for a drive in the world, they crash the car.

“Look at Iraq. No diplomacy. Confrontation, attack, occupation.
“Look at Iran. No diplomacy. Confrontation.
“Look at North Korea. No diplomacy. Threats, confrontation, even when North Korea is preparing a missile test.

“Instead of a National Missile Defense system that does not work protecting us from a North Korean missile of dubious accuracy, we should look at talking to them.

“North Korea wants direct talks. Well, talk to them, don’t crash the car.

“America must be able to negotiate a complex world without confrontation and without creating enemies. ‘You are either with us or against us’ or ‘Bring it On’ is not successful diplomacy. There is a basic flaw in this Administration’s worldview.

“This, then, is a call for a new diplomacy: Policies were we look at potential adversaries as potential allies, then acting upon that vision.

“You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can’t bomb the world to peace. [Michael Fanti]”

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