John Kerry: Real Security in the Post 9/11 World

Today, John Kerry is delivering a speech on the war on terror at the Council on Foreign Relations. The Democratic Daily has obtained an advanced copy of the text of Kerry's speech.

Senator John Kerry: “Real Security in the Post-9/11 World”
Council on Foreign Relations, New York City
December 8, 2005 - Remarks As Prepared For Delivery:

So much of what we used to take for granted in national security policy has now been called into question.

We used to know that despite our differences in philosophy and in perspective our two great parties could cooperate to craft international policies in our national interest.

We used to understand that the vast and unique role of the United States in world affairs required a far-sighted and multi-faceted approach to protecting our people and our interests.

We used to value as a national treasure the international alliances and institutions that enhanced our strength, amplified our voice, and reflected our traditions and ideals in maintaining a free and secure world.

We used to measure America's strength and security by our moral authority, our economic leadership, and our diplomatic skills, as well as by the power of our military.

And we used to say politics stopped at the water's edge--we used to call on our people to share in the sacrifices demanded by freedom, and our leaders used to raise hopes and inspire trust, not raise fears and demand blind faith.

All that has changed in a remarkably brief period of time.

In recalling what we've lost, I'm not looking back to the Greatest Generation of World War II--or to the leaders who shaped our Cold War policies, and wore down the threat of totalitarian communism. I'm not talking about thirty or forty or fifty years ago--I'm talking about what we had just four short years ago.

After September 11th, the American people, elected officials from both parties, and much of the whole world offered the President of the United States their loyal support when he announced our intention to wage a global war on terror. Not since the bombing of Pearl Harbor has a president enjoyed a greater reservoir of moral and political capital, or more material and diplomatic resources, at the beginning of a war.

Four years later, our reservoir of resources has been diminished and our goodwill has been squandered. And as the 9/11 Commission’s final report has just told us, Washington is failing to take the basic steps necessary to make us safe. It is an inexplicable abdication of responsibility.

So where do we go from here?

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