President Obama’s
Strong and Steady Leadership on Foreign Policy
“My first job is to keep the American people safe. That’s what we’ve done over the last four years. We ended the war in Iraq, refocused ourselves on who actually attacked us on 9-11. We are now able to transition out of Afghanistan in a responsible way, making sure that Afghans take responsible for their own security, and that allows us also to rebuild alliances and make friends around the world to combat future threats.” – President Barack Obama
Tonight, President Obama will clearly outline for the American people how his leadership has made America stronger, safer and more secure than we were four years ago. The President has delivered on his commitment to responsibly end the war in Iraq, and announced a plan to responsibly end the war in Afghanistan. He’s delivered on his promise to bring Osama bin Laden to justice and decimated al-Qaeda’s senior leadership. He signed the New START Treaty, reducing the number of nuclear weapons in both countries and allowing the resumed inspection of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
The Obama administration has worked with the international community to secure sanctions on Iran and North Korea, and the President led our allies and partners to support the Libyan people as they overthrew the Qadhafi regime. President Obama has reaffirmed America’s unshakable commitment to Israel’s security and has expanded security cooperation between the two states. The Obama administration has cracked down on unfair Chinese trade practices, and signed free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama – marking the biggest step forward for U.S. trade in nearly two decades.
President Obama has offered strong and steady leadership for America and will continue to move us forward in the next four years. Mitt Romney has nothing to offer but more bluster, a record of blunders and a commitment to endless war.
PRESIDENT OBAMA DELIVERED ON HIS COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLY END THE WAR IN IRAQ
As A Candidate, Senator Obama Said He Would End The War, “Because It Is The Right Thing To Do For Our National Security.” “So when I am Commander-in-Chief, I will set a new goal on Day One: I will end this war. Not because politics compels it. Not because our troops cannot bear the burden- as heavy as it is. But because it is the right thing to do for our national security, and it will ultimately make us safer.” [Senator Obama, 3/19/08]
- · On December 18, 2011, The Last Convoy Of US Troops Crossed The Border Out Of Iraq, Officially Ending The War In Iraq. “The last convoy of American troops drove into Kuwait on Sunday morning, punctuating the end of the nearly nine-year war in Iraq.” [NYT, 12/18/11]
PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO RESPONSIBLY END THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
Upon Taking Office, President Obama Announced A Strategy To Refocus U.S. Efforts In Afghanistan And Pakistan And “Disrupt, Dismantle And Defeat Al Qaeda.” “I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future. That's the goal that must be achieved. That is a cause that could not be more just. And to the terrorists who oppose us, my message is the same: We will defeat you.” [Remarks President Obama, 3/27/09]
- · May 2012: President Obama Announced That By The End Of 2014, Afghan Security Forces Would Be Fully Responsible For The Security Of Their Country And US Troops Would Come Home. “This month, at a NATO Summit in Chicago, our coalition will set a goal for Afghan forces to be in the lead for combat operations across the country next year. International troops will continue to train, advise and assist the Afghans, and fight alongside them when needed. But we will shift into a support role as Afghans step forward. As we do, our troops will be coming home. Last year, we removed 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Another 23,000 will leave by the end of the summer. After that, reductions will continue at a steady pace, with more and more of our troops coming home. And as our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014 the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of their country.” [Remarks by President Obama, 5/1/12]
PRESIDENT OBAMA DELIVERED ON HIS PROMISE TO BRING OSAMA BIN LADEN TO JUSTICE
Shortly After Taking Office, President Obama Directed CIA Director Panetta To Make The Killing Or Capturing Of Osama Bin Laden A Top Priority. “And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network. [President Obama, 5/2/11]
- · On May 1, 2011, President Obama Announced An Operation Into Pakistan Had Successfully Killed Osama Bin Laden. “In a late-night appearance in the East Room of the White House, Mr. Obama declared that “justice has been done” as he disclosed that American military and C.I.A. operatives had finally cornered Bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda, who had eluded them for nearly a decade“ [NYT, 5/1/11]
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS DECIMATED AL-QAEDA’S SENIOR LEADERSHIP AND TAKEN DIRECT ACTION AGAINST AL-QAEDA AFFILIATES
More Than Two-Thirds Of Al Qaeda’s Senior Leadership Has Been Eliminated Since President Obama Took Office. Ask Osama bin Laden and the 22 out of 30 top al-Qaeda leaders who’ve been taken off the field whether I engage in appeasement,” the president fired back at an impromptu news conference at the White House. [President Obama, 6/28/11]
The Obama Administration Has Taken “Direct Action” Against Al Qaeda Affiliates In Yemen And Somalia. “Opening the window just a little further into his secret war on terrorists, President Obama publicly acknowledged for the first time on Friday that United States military forces had taken ‘direct action’ against groups affiliated with Al Qaeda in Somalia and Yemen. In a letter to Congress, Mr. Obama said American forces had engaged in ‘a limited number’ of operations against members of the Shabab in Somalia and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen, arguing that both posed a terrorist threat to “the United States and our interests.” [New York Times, 6/15/12]
PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED THE NEW START TREATY, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN BOTH COUNTRIES AND ALLOWING THE RESUMED INSPECTION OF RUSSIA’S NUCLEAR ARSENAL
The New START Treaty Reduces The Number Of Strategic Offensive Arms In Both Russia And The United States. “Under the Treaty, the U.S. and Russia will be limited to significantly fewer strategic arms within seven years from the date the Treaty enters into force. Each Party has the flexibility to determine for itself the structure of its strategic forces within the aggregate limits of the Treaty. These limits are based on a rigorous analysis conducted by Department of Defense planners in support of the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review.” [White House Press Release, 3/26/10]
The New START Treaty Allowed The Resumption Of Inspections Of Russia’s Nuclear Arsenal. “The Treaty has a verification regime that combines the appropriate elements of the 1991 START Treaty with new elements tailored to the limitations of the Treaty. Measures under the Treaty include on-site inspections and exhibitions, data exchanges and notifications related to strategic offensive arms and facilities covered by the Treaty, and provisions to facilitate the use of national technical means for treaty monitoring. To increase confidence and transparency, the Treaty also provides for the exchange of telemetry.” [White House Press Release, 03/26/10]
The New START Treaty Does Not Place Any Constraints On U.S. Missile Defense And Conventional Strike Capabilities. “The Treaty does not contain any constraints on testing, development or deployment of current or planned U.S. missile defense programs or current or planned United States long-range conventional strike capabilities.” [White House Press Release, 03/26/10]
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SECURE SANCTIONS ON IRAN AND NORTH KOREA
National Journal: Contrary To Romney’s Claims, The “Obama Administration Has Already Put In Place The Toughest Sanctions Ever Imposed On The Iranian Government.” “Mitt Romney claimed Wednesday night in the CNN debate that President Obama did not install stringent sanctions against Iran in its effort to derail its nuclear program, but top U.S. intelligence and defense officials disagree. Obama ‘should have placed crippling sanctions against Iran. He did not,’ Romney said. The Obama administration has already put in place the toughest sanctions ever imposed on the Iranian government, including new measures targeting, for the first time, Iran’s entire financial system. Obama on New Year's Eve also signed into law a raft of tough new sanctions that would penalize any foreign financial institution that does business with the Central Bank of Iran. As part of broader U.S.-led efforts to exert pressure on Iran, the European Union has agreed to ban new contracts to buy, transport or import Iranian crude oil.” [National Journal, 2/22/12]
In June 2009, The Obama Administration Secured Unanimous Support Of The Security Council, Including China And Russia, For Sanctions On North Korea That Provided A Framework For The Inspection Of Vessels Suspected Of Transporting Illegal Goods, An Extended Arms Embargo, And Financial Restrictions. “The Security Council today condemned in the strongest terms the 25 May nuclear test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and tightened sanctions against it by blocking funding for nuclear, missile and proliferation activities through targeted sanctions on additional goods, persons and entities, widening the ban on arms imports-exports, and calling on Member States to inspect and destroy all banned cargo to and from that country ‑‑ on the high seas, at seaports and airports ‑‑ if they have reasonable grounds to suspect a violation... The United States delegation, which had co-sponsored the resolution ‑‑ along with France, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom ‑‑ welcomed its unanimous adoption as a strong and united international response to North Korea’s test of a nuclear device.” [United Nations Resolution 1874, 6/12/09]
PRESIDENT OBAMA LED OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THE LIBYAN PEOPLE AS THEY OVERTHREW THE QADDAFI REGIME
Preside Obama Built A Coalition Of NATO and Arab Countries To Take Action Against The Qadhafi Regime. “Back in March, Obama gambled that the way to confront a potential civilian catastrophe in Libya was to build a coalition of NATO and Arab countries to use airpower ostensibly to protect Libyan citizens from a Gaddafi crackdown.” [Associated Press, 8/23/11]
CNN’s Fareed Zakaria: “Compared To The Wars In Iraq And Afghanistan, The Libya Operation Was A Bargain.” “Compared to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Libya operation was a bargain. It cost the U.S. about $1 billion. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan collectively cost the U.S. $1.3 trillion. In other words, success in Libya could be achieved at less than one-tenth of one percent of the cost of the interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's not a bad model for the future.” [Fareed Zakaria, CNN, 8/23/11]
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS REAFFIRMED AMERICA’S UNSHAKABLE COMMITMENT TO ISRAEL’S SECURITY AND HAS EXPANDED SECURITY COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO STATES
President Obama Directed The Pentagon To Expand U.S.-Israel Security Cooperation. “U.S. military aid to Israel has increased markedly this year… The effort stems from policy directives the White House gave the Pentagon early in Mr. Obama's presidency to ‘deepen and expand the quantity and intensity of cooperation to the fullest extent,’ according to a senior administration official.” [Wall Street Journal, 8/14/10]
Ehud Barak Called President Obama’s Support For Israel “Unprecedented.” "Once again it's been proven to all the doubters, President Obama is an ally and friend of Israel. The Obama administration gives backing to Israel's security in a wide, all-encompassing and unprecedented manner" [Jerusalem Post, 9/21/11]
President Obama Has Provided Israel With Record-High Levels Of Security Assistance Funding. “The case for Obama's Israel policy begins with record-high levels of Foreign Military Financing (FMF). The Obama administration has increased security assistance to Israel every single year since the president took office, providing nearly $10 billion in aid -- covering roughly a fifth of Israel's defense budget -- over the past three years.” [Foreign Policy, 8/16/12]
President Obama Committed $275 Million To Support Iron Dome In Shielding Israelis From Mortars And Rockets. “Israel says the Iron Dome is the first missile-defense system capable of detecting and destroying short-range missiles in flight… Mr. Panetta called Iron Dome a ‘game changer’ for Israel's security and said the U.S. intended to provide funding annually to support the system's deployment in Israel. The U.S. has so far committed $275 million to support the Iron Dome, which consists of arrays with about 20 rockets each, a command-and-control center and a radar facility. Each system can cover an area the size of a small city... Mr. Barak said the system has intercepted more than 100 rockets so far fired from Gaza and has a success rate of more than 80%.” [Wall Street Journal, 8/2/12]
This Month, The U.S. And Israel Will Commence Their Largest Ever Joint Air Defense Exercise. “The US and Israel will commence the largest-ever joint air defense drill of its kind in Israel on October 21, an army source said on Tuesday… On October 14, large numbers of American soldiers are expected to begin arriving in Israel, where they will set up aerial defense positions on Israeli territory and on US Navy vessels off the Israeli coastline.” [Jerusalem Post, 10/10/12]
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS CRACKED DOWN ON UNFAIR CHINESE TRADE PRACTICES, BRINGING TRADE CASES TO THE WTO AT TWICE THE RATE OF HIS PREDECESSOR, PROTECTING A THOUSAND U.S. JOBS FROM A FLOOD OF CHINESE TIRES, AND SUCCESSFULLY PRESSURING CHINA ON ITS CURRENCY
The Obama Administration Has Now Filed Eight Trade Complaints Against China To The WTO, Bringing More Cases Against China In A Single Term Than His Predecessor Did During Two Terms. Including today’s action, the Obama Administration, the U.S. has filed 8 complaints against China with the World Trade Organization. Under the eight years of the Bush Administration, the U.S. filed 7 complaints against China with the WTO. [WTO List Of Disputes Cases, Accessed 9/15/12]
President Obama Imposed Stiff Tariffs On Chinese-Made Tires, For The First Time Imposing Safeguard Provisions To Protect A US Industry From Chinese Competition. “The Obama administration will impose stiff tariffs on imports of Chinese-made tires after finding that a surge of imports has disrupted the U.S. domestic market… It is the first time the U.S. government has imposed special ‘safeguard’ provisions to protect a U.S. industry from Chinese competition.” [MarketWatch, 9/11/09]
Since Tariffs On Chinese Tires Were Announced, Domestic Tire Manufacturers Have Added Over 1,000 Jobs. Bureau of Labor Statistics data that show the number of tire manufacturing jobs went from 50,800 in September 2009, when tariffs on Chinese tires were announced, to 52,000 in September 2011. Year-over-year changes in jobs are used because Bureau of Labor Statistics data for tire manufacturing jobs is not seasonally adjusted. [Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Survey, Accessed 7/13/12]
New York Times: President Obama “Repeatedly” Made The Point That The United States Would No Longer Tolerate Deliberate Currency Manipulation During Talks With China’s Prime Minister. “Mr. Obama has tried to use the rising public anger over China's trade advantage to argue to Chinese leaders that the United States would no longer tolerate deliberate currency manipulation, a point Mr. Obama made repeatedly in a meeting last week with Wen Jiabao, China's prime minister. He did so again on Wednesday in Des Moines, where one businessman asked the president about the issue.” [New York Times, 9/29/2010]
After Adjusting for Inflation, The Chinese Yuan Has Risen About 11 Percent Against The Dollar Since June 2010. “China has allowed the yuan to appreciate and trimmed its current account surpluses, but the United States believes the currency remains undervalued and will press the issue with the Chinese, Treasury Undersecretary Lael Brainard said on Wednesday... A drop of China's current account surplus by more than 6 percentage points of GDP, reflecting an 11 percent appreciation of the yuan against the dollar, represented ‘progress that is worth acknowledging,’ said Brainard.’” [Reuters, 7/18/12]
PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH SOUTH KOREA, COLOMBIA AND PANAMA, MARKING THE BIGGEST STEP FORWARD FOR U.S. TRADE IN NEARLY TWO DECADES TO WORK TOWARDS HIS GOAL OF DOUBLING EXPORTS BY 2015
Associated Press: Romney Has “Ignored The Most Significant Expansion Of Trade Ties In Nearly Two Decades” In Accusing President Obama Of “Doing Nothing To Open New Markets.” “Mitt Romney ignored the most significant expansion of trade ties in nearly two decades when he accused the Obama administration Monday night of doing nothing to open new markets. Rick Santorum claimed to be taking purely the high road in campaign ads even as a new one from him veered from that path.” [Associated Press, 1/17/2012]
President Obama Signed Free Trade Agreements With South Korea, Colombia And Panama In The Largest Trade Deal Since 1994, With The Agreements To Support An Estimated 70,000 Jobs. “President Barack Obama will sign the South Korea, Colombia and Panama free trade agreements on Oct. 21, the White House announced. The accords were approved by Congress last week. The agreement with South Korea is the largest trade deal since 1994 and will widen U.S. export access for everything from cars to farm goods and support about 70,000 jobs, according to the administration.” [Bloomberg, 10/18/11]
President Obama Created The National Export Initiative To Create Jobs By Putting America On The Path To Doubling Exports By 2015. “[In] order to enhance and coordinate Federal efforts to facilitate the creation of jobs in the United States through the promotion of exports… The NEI will help meet my Administration's goal of doubling exports over the next 5 years by working to remove trade barriers abroad, by helping firms -- especially small businesses -- overcome the hurdles to entering new export markets, by assisting with financing, and in general by pursuing a Government-wide approach to export advocacy abroad, among other steps.” [Executive Order – National Export Initiative, 3/11/10]
