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America's role in world affairs
President Barack Obama on Wednesday outlined a foreign policy vision of "might doing right," arguing that modern pragmatism requires both a strong military and the diplomatic tools of alliances and sanctions to exert influence and provide global leadership.
He told graduating cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point that after the nation's "long season of war and divisions about how to move forward," they now would represent America with the duty "not only to protect our country, but to do what is right and just."
Under fire from the political right for what critics call diminishing U.S. global influence, Obama offered a robust defense of his foreign policy as the pragmatic and most effective expression of America's leadership role in the world.
"I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being," he said, referring to a tenet of conservative ideology.
"But what makes us exceptional is not flouting international norms and the rule of law; it's our willingness to affirm them through our actions," Obama said in arguing that true leadership involves not only having the world's most powerful military, but in doing the right thing.Full story
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At 6:30pm ET, Dr. Ben Carson and former Governor Ted Strickland (D-OH) join Newt Gingrich and Stephanie Cutter for a debate.
Do you think America should play a bigger or smaller role in world affairs?
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Meet the Hosts
Author, documentary filmmaker, historian, Speaker of the House (1995-1999), and 2012 Republican presidential candidate
Fmr. Obama Deputy Campaign Mgr. and W.H. Sr. Adviser, founder of Precision Strategies, fmr. Sr. Adviser to Maj. Leader Reid and Sen. Kennedy
Conservative columnist for New York Daily News, contributing editor at Townhall Magazine, commentator and author
Former Special Adviser for Green Jobs under President Obama, co-founder of Rebuild the Dream, author and attorney
obama has conquered the the world for america. africa, middle east, asia were going under chinese control, he saved them from china and brought them to with american ideology, business and trades. obama has saved these countries and saved america from disaster. hope hilary, if elected as president, will do the same.
The GOP Prayer/Mantra/Solution: Dear God...With your loving kindness, help us to turn all the Old, Sick, Poor, Non-white, Non-christian, Female, and Gay people into slaves. Then, with your guidance and compassion, we will whip them until they are Young, Healthy, Rich, White, Christian, Male, and Straight. Or until they are dead. God...Grant us the knowledge to then turn them into Soylent Green to feed the military during the next "unfunded/off-the-books" war. God...Give us the strength during our speeches to repeatedly yell........TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH!!!..........and........GET RID OF SS AND MEDICARE!!!
In your name we prey (purposely misspelled, or is it?)........Amen
"America's involvement in world affairs". When might that have happened? I noticed that since the White House Policy of "Lead from behind", became the watchword of this Administration – America has not be "much" involved in anything resembling "world affairs".
More needs to be addressed and action taken in our National affairs rather than in World affairs. There is only so much the U.S. can do for other countries and if we don't specifically need be involved and or our troops involved, we need to not be involved.
Our role in the arena of World Affairs has become the entertainment for all the other serious countries.. We no longer hold the "super power" designation and no one listens to what we have to say.. So until we change the entire staff sitting in Washington, we will be the laughed at country.........
when your friends and allies suspect you are promoting war to keep alive the only real economy you still possess,
the end of greatness is not only in sight, it draws quite near ...
Dr. Carson is taking him to the woodshed lol.
The U.S. Should play a collaborative role.....it's time the U.N . Should be the,leader in the role....otherwise disbanded it
Who do you think is in charge of NATO?
How about recklessly realistic?