Bloomberg - April 23 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) said the U.S. must stay active in world affairs while focusing on issues such as reducing nuclear threats and addressing global climate change.
The Illinois senator told the Chicago Council on Global Affairs today that Americans are disillusioned with U.S. foreign policy because of the war in Iraq. Many are tempted ``to turn inward'' and press for less involvement in the world, he said.
``Such an abandonment of our leadership is a mistake we must not make,'' Obama said, according to remarks prepared for delivery in Chicago. ``We must neither retreat from the world, nor try to bully it into submission.''
The speech, one of a series Obama plans over coming weeks on major issues, focused on five objectives for foreign policy. The U.S. should end the war in Iraq, build a more advanced military, focus on destroying weapons of mass destruction, strengthen diplomatic alliances and spend money addressing world problems such as AIDS and poverty that breed violence, Obama said.
Among other things, Obama advocated the creation of an international fuel bank, an idea backed by billionaire investor Warren Buffett. Such a bank would offer an assured supply of fuel so that countries would have no excuse to build enrichment plants that might allow them to develop nuclear weapons, Obama said.
Obama also said he would set up a ``more effective regional framework'' for U.S. activity in Asia, increase investment in global education and health and focus on reducing production of greenhouse gases. Global warming has effects such as reducing the yield of rice, potentially leading to famine, he said.
Doubling foreign aid would help ``ensure that those who live in fear and want today can live with dignity and opportunity tomorrow,'' Obama said. ``A relatively small investment in these fragile states up front can be one of the most effective ways to prevent the terror and strife that is far more costly -- both in lives and treasure -- down the road.''
To contact the reporter on this story: Kristin Jensen in Washington at kjensen@bloomberg.net
source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20070423/pl_bloomberg/ag7kcv2nds8k [link] 
04-24-2007, 08:12 PM
