John Kerry Addresses U.S. Foreign Policy in Latin America
by Pamela LeaveyOn Thursday, April 20, Senator John Kerry delivered remarks at the U.N.’s Latin Economic Forum’s second annual summit on competitiveness and poverty reduction in Latin America at the United Nations.
Below are remarks as prepared for delivery:
During my campaign for the presidency in 2004, by necessity I spoke frequently about Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East and nuclear proliferation. However, other than the immediate challenges of the war on terror, there was only one speech I devoted to a single region. That region was Latin America and the Caribbean. I did so because I felt so strongly about the importance of the relationships between the United States and the other countries of the Americas.
The challenge I set forth then – of rebuilding a true partnership among our nations based on dialogue, consensus and cooperation – is even more pressing today. We are long overdue in acknowledging what we have understood previously – that we all have a stake in each other’s future. We are long overdue in creating a new Community of the Americas where neighbors look after neighbors as we strive together towards our common goals.
Like any real community, the Community of the Americas must be built on a foundation of mutual respect. And we cannot build this foundation until, as President Franklin Roosevelt once said, we are a good neighbor “who resolutely respects … the rights of others.”Of course, President Roosevelt was speaking of Latin America, and the message he sent has influenced every administration, from Kennedy to Clinton. They understood that a strong Latin America is key to a strong America, and that we are all much stronger when we stand together.
President Kennedy knew what it meant to be a good neighbor. He realized that abject poverty, inadequate health care, poor educational and housing facilities, and high unemployment were at the root of many of the problems in Latin America. His Alliance for Progress included major multilateral initiatives to promote democracy, relieve poverty and address social inequities throughout the region. And it resulted in a high water mark for U.S. relations in the region.
President Clinton also saw the importance of working together when he convened the historic Summit of the Americas in 1994. Relations with Latin America progressed during his Administration, and there was an almost universal embrace of democracy and institutional reform in Latin America as it edged ever closer to first-world economies and shared values.
That was good for the United States as well, because what happens in this hemisphere has a profound effect on Main Street, USA. From our jobs to healthcare, from immigration to schools, it’s fair to say that nearly every corner of the United States feels the effects of our relations with our neighbors. We all have a stake in each other’s future.
That’s why it’s been such a disappointment that this Administration has forgotten Roosevelt’s good advice. In fact, after 9/11 the current Administration effectively lost interest in Latin America. Just as the Alliance for Progress unraveled when we became preoccupied with Vietnam, our relationships in the region have been a casualty of our disastrous involvement in Iraq.
Instead of being a good neighbor, the President has largely ignored this critical region and a wide range of ills – including political and financial crises, runaway unemployment, and drug trafficking. And his one-note policy toward Latin America of one-size-fits all trade agreements have stripped away the respect and partnership that marked the Clinton years. As a result, relations between the United States and Latin America today are at their lowest point since the end of the cold war.
We need to get back to the spirit of cooperation fostered by President Kennedy and President Clinton. We need to build on that spirit to help forge this new and broader Community of the Americas. And for their sake and ours, its time to bring a sense of social conscience back to our relationships with Latin America.
Key to this is working with the countries of Latin America to help spur economic growth and strengthen their economies. In 2004, the region’s economy grew by 5.5%. Compare that with China, which has experienced a 10% growth rate for the last 25 years, and its clear that more needs to be done to increase growth and create opportunity.
Strengthening the economies of Latin America will in turn help strengthen our economy. U.S. exports to Latin America are currently valued at more than $150 billion per year – nearly matching our exports to the European Union. But of that amount, some two-thirds goes to Mexico — while huge potential markets like Brazil lag far behind. We can do better.
International trade enhances economic opportunity, spurs development and can serve to improve workers= rights. If it is pursued correctly, a successful trade policy will ensure that the citizens of the region experience the advantages of liberalized trade. I have long-supported open trade in the hemisphere. From the ANDEAN Trade Preference Program and Caribbean Basin Initiative to the recently enacted trade agreement with Chile, pursing open markets in the region must be a priority.
But trade without respect is not what our neighbors want. We need to lift up living standards and working conditions for all working men and women in the United States as well as in Latin America. That’s why it is essential that trade agreements include basic worker protections and strong enforcement mechanisms. And our trading partners should be provided technical assistance and capacity building programs to ensure new trade opportunities are shared across all economic sectors and by all citizens.
As I made clear with my vote, the Administration missed the mark with the Central American Free Trade Agreement. They did not provide a balanced agreement that ensured economic opportunity for all. That is why I offered an amendment to CAFTA to improve enforcement of worker rights.
As we look to the future of our trade relationship with Latin America — including the Free Trade Area of the Americas — we must be sure to negotiate balanced agreements that provide broad economic benefits, create jobs and include strong protections for labor and the environment.
There is much more to promoting economic development than free trade. Development assistance can also play a greater role in strengthening these economies. While the Millennium Challenge Account provides some funding for development assistance, many countries in Latin America are ineligible for funds. The United States must understand that making additional resources available for development in Latin America works to all of our advantage. Because we all have a stake in each other’s future.
During the campaign, I supported the Social Investment and Economic Development Fund for the Americas that a bipartisan group led by then Congressman Robert Menendez proposed. This $500 million fund was designed to strengthen democracy and combat poverty by investing in human capital in the areas of education, healthcare and economic development. It nurtured public and private partnerships and micro-enterprise by providing training and developmental credits to startup companies. And to demonstrate our shared commitment, recipient governments collectively matched the funds that were made available. I continue to support this proposal in the Senate because it’s past time to make this fund a reality.
We should also ensure that U.S. policies, international lending institutions and Latin American governments direct more resources to vocational training and micro-enterprise training and funding. Beyond providing a fair economic opportunity, these strategies would make millions of poor people into “stakeholders for reform”.
Finally, we should further reduce the costs of sending remittances back to Latin America and the Caribbean by workers in the U.S. We should better harness the use of these remittances for public works and education projects by encouraging charitable contributions of remittances sent back through “home town” associations for community development. And we should give serious consideration to creative initiatives that would enable recipients to better leverage these remittances with financial institutions to promote sustainable economic development.
At its core, the Community of the Americas must be based on democracy and the rule of law. Strong democratic states with transparent rules and a broad respect for the rule of law are essential to alleviating poverty and inequality in the region. That’s why I believe so strongly in supporting democratic institutions, assisting democracy where it is troubled, and promoting democracy in Cuba.
The fact is that far too often, we have sent mixed messages when it comes to supporting democracy in Latin America. This Administration sat by and watched as mob violence drove presidents from office in Bolivia and in Argentina. They even encouraged a president to flee in Haiti, and immediately recognized a government named by a military junta in Venezuela. There is no question that Hugo Chavez has undermined the democratic process in his country, supported narco-terrorists in Colombia, and provided massive assistance to Castro’s repressive regime in Cuba. But when we countenance mob rule or military force to oust an elected president — even objectionable leaders like Chávez — we lose the credibility necessary to become a true force for democracy. In fact, our policies have been so unpopular that opposition to the United States has become a rallying point for some of the very politicians we would most like to see defeated.
We must remember that this is a critical time for the future of Haiti. The election of President Preval was an encouraging step towards establishing a sustainable democracy. Now, the Haitians need unwavering support from the United States and others in the region as they undertake the difficult task of restoring the rule of law, rebuilding governmental institutions and enabling their country to become self-supporting. After the last elected leader was deposed, we did not do enough to stop the chaos and widespread suffering in Haiti. This serves as a constant reminder that we cannot sit on the sidelines and ignore our responsibilities in the region. We all have a stake in each other’s future.
And as the great Cuban patriot Jose Martí wrote, “It is not enough to come to the defense of freedom with epic and intermittent efforts when it is threatened at moments that appear critical. Every moment is critical for the defense of freedom.” That’s why I have advocated creating a Council for Democracy with distinguished international leaders who can work with the Organization of American States to resolve crises before order is threatened and blood is shed. And that’s why we should increase funding for the National Endowment for Democracy’s programs that strengthen democracy in Latin America.
Finally, we are losing the hearts and minds of a generation of leaders in Latin America by making it harder for young people to get visas to study here. We should triple the number of educational exchanges, and encourage colleges to give tuition waivers to foreign students in exchange for internships overseas for our students.
Building this Community of the Americas also means remembering that the United States is a nation of immigrants. America wouldn’t be where it is today – as a country and as a people – if it weren’t for immigrants. And neither would I – because I married one! My wife Teresa was raised under a dictatorship in Mozambique. She didn’t get to cast a vote in America until she was 31. But I can tell you, as much as she loves her roots and loves her heritage, I have met few people who love America as much as she does. Teresa is not alone. From soldiers to students, there are millions of immigrants who have come to our shores and made America a better place.
That is why it is so important that we pass comprehensive immigration reform—and so disappointing that the Senate failed to do so before the Easter Recess. We are a country that welcomes those who play by the rules and who contribute to their communities. We are a country that provides shelter to those facing oppression and persecution. History has shown us that these are the people who make us who we are—they are part of the great nation we aspire to be. American should not become, as Congressman Tom Tancredo has suggested, “a gated community.”
Don’t get me wrong. I understand that there are people in this world that would cross our borders to do us harm. That’s why strong enforcement of our laws and our borders is so important. But a policy of arrest and deportation is not a solution. We do not have to compromise our national security in order to continue our tradition as a nation of immigrants. We can make America stronger inside and out.
This requires providing a path to legalization for those undocumented workers who are living here, working hard and paying taxes. We need to reunite families more quickly. And as we do all this, we should improve our border security, fix our watch lists, and make other countries our real partners. Making the United States safer and more secure makes the entire region safer and more secure. We all have a stake in each other’s future.
With a true Community of the Americas, the potential for our hemisphere is limitless. The stories of progress in Latin America are inspiring. In Chile, when Michelle Bachelet became the country’s first woman president — and only the 11th female elected president in the world – she shared this moving image about her inauguration: “In the streets, thousands of women and children put on presidential sashes. It meant everyone was going to La Moneda together with me.” And we can learn so much from each other’s successes – like the innovations we see in Brazil, where a 30-year program to invest in alternative fuels will pay off this year when Brazil becomes energy independent.
In short, our fortunes are intertwined by geography, shared values and millions of human interactions across borders every day. Now it is our job to build a true community. By treating our neighbors as partners, with dignity and respect, we can ensure that this community we call the Americas will prosper and reach its full potential so this can truly be the Century of the Americas.
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Ron,
Thanks for this post. What a superb speech. Sen. Kerry’s shows us what must be done to truly give our neighbors to the south a chance at participating in a global economy that both ensures their workers rights, as well as protecting their environment, and this should have been in CAFTA. I can’t wait until Kerry takes over the helm and we start working together with our southern neighbors in a fair economic exchange, not the one we’re we continue to take advantage.
Oops!
Pamela, this was yet another fine post from you. Thank you, and while I’m at it, thanks for the fabulous job you did over the weekend keeping us all up to date on John. It was a treat to see our guy everywhere!!! You were working overtime. Gratias.
Connie
I’m waiting for the day that Ron gets called Pamela…
Kerry has a such a grasp on so many issues and he never seems to stop bringing them to the forefront. He runs circles around most of his peers, I think.
Pamela,
It’s happened if we’re simply referring to comments to a post being addressed to the wrong one of us.
Ron
We’re just all one here… thinking alike!
“Youze two” are simply the best, and this is my favorite site– bar none. There’s a sense of harmony here, along with the posting of great information. It sets you apart from the rest.
Connie
Thank you! There’s a different atmosphere here than most blogs and that’s no accident.
Connie,
Thanks for confirming that we achieve our goals – especially well enough to attract new people like you
Pamela and Ron remind me of Kerry, seemingly indefatigable.
The man, as Pamela says, runs circles around just about everyone and never ceases to amaze with yet another issue that he grasps and confronts with clarity unusual in politics.
I’ll particpate in this love-in, and safe haven.
Where so many candidates have to be briefed to walk and talk, I trust Kerry to be substantive and problem-solving wherever he goes. Imagine as our leader and spokesman.
Definitely a foreign policy guru, but he understands our economic cycles, our potential for world solutions.
Marjorie G
LOL! We have proof here on the Dem Daily that John Kerry can walk and talk with out being briefed first.
I’ll post an alert later, or in the morning – JK will be on Ed Schultz again tomorrow.
I think I will hide out here too. The blogsphere has been poison today. Those people are so scared of Kerry it’s almost sad yet funny at the same time.
Why do you think, Indie? Sense of feeling they might lose again? Not being able to play the game of American Idol, and have to play a more serious game of politics and saving the world. Politics as entertainment; still liking their 04 primary candidates; if they can’t think about new candidate fun, have to work on the tedious basics?
Some are so invested in not liking him because of reasons that have proven false, but prefer believing them, not a vote for war, etc, they’d now have to believe them and move on?
If we understood the resistance beyond asocial blog behavior, might help strategy?
Marjorie G
Politics as entertainment! That’s it in a nutshell. Okay and then add in the rest…
Marjorie- you have a point there. They think they need another superstar to get the whitehouse. Something the msm feeds them constantly and for all some folks gripes about the msm they believe every lie those media whores put out about JK.
The so called 08 favorites have been quite silent in the last week or so.
No one speaking out on Iraq escept JK
No one in the dem party even seems to address latin american issues execpt for JK
I guess the other dems are waiting to see how the wind blows before they way in. maybe that’s why folks have been in a tizzy today.
It’s the stun effect JK has. I think they are tizzied and silenced by the presence of real leadership. They are diminished and probably everyone is in shock after his beautiful display of what we’re all missing.
Is John Kerrry capable of speaking about anything without mentioning Vietnam?
Gringo
Not too familiar with foreign policy are you?
Of course, Ringo. You know that. It just so happens that we are engaged in a war right now that has a lot of similarities to Viet Nam. Kerry is an expert. He speaks about it because people want to hear.
If you follow his speeches you will see that he talks about many, many issues. Separately.
Ringo the Gringo…Sounds like fact-opinion confusion going on in your statement and even dressed up in the form of a question which really leads to a lot of confustion (& disruption, maybe that was the goal). Of course you know this man discusses so many things. Lots of things other than Vietnam.
But when he is discussing Vietnam, he’s doing what’s called learning from the past to create a better future. You know…unless we understand the failures of the past we are likely to repeat them…must I go on.
“Not too familiar with foreign policy are you?”
Why yes, I am, as a matter of fact.
Ringo the Gringo
Then you should understand the context of the brief mention of Vietnam in this speech. If you don’t you are just here to make trouble. Which is what I suspect.
DAS,
“…unless we understand the failures of the past we are likely to repeat them”
Judging from Mr. Kerry’s speech at Faneuil Hall on Saturday, he seems quite determined to repeat them. In fact, he sounds as if he’ll settle for nothing less than total defeat.
The poor guy reminds me a some old high school jock who, thirty years later, still brings up that big football game from his youth in every conversation.
Sad.
Pamela,
I just dropped by to add a bit of spice to your circle jerk.
Ringo
The only jerk around here is you.
Ringo the Gringo,
kinda twisted a little aren’t you…
Kerry wants to bring the troops home instead of wasting them…just like he tried to do when the VN war was going on.
DumboInc would rather they stay and be targets for no reason…just like when the VN war was going on.
So tell me…who is making the same mistake again?
Which one is in the best interests of the military and the country?
Too bad you see it that way Gringo. I on the other hand appreciate a leader who has real experience, real knowledge, AND OF ALL THINGS…the ability and aptitude to admit when things are not going well and a change of course is needed.
Those old, experienced jocks are always better to listen to than the cocky jocks who got all dressed up in uniform, who never played the game, stood on the sidelines (reading “My Pet Goat”)wishing they had the courage TO PLAY!
Touche.
Battlebob
Ringo just dropped in from the right wing Little Green Footballs. Sad little minds there.
That was in refence to the jerk comment, Pam.
Heh.
The problem with Kerry is the problem with the entire Democratic Party…Smug complaining (whining really)with no answers, NO IDEAS.
You’re all very good at pointing out what’s going wrong but damn pathetic when it comes to providing any realistic alternative.
DAS
Those airchair quarterbacks are lot like “those who never wore the uniform in battle”
Teresa
JK’s speech is just starting to bring out the right wingnuts. He hit some nerves it seems.
Heh Ringo
Ummm… it’s the Bush cabal that took to us into a war with no friggin plan.
So what happens to Iraq after we “bring the troops home”?
Really, I’d love to know what fate all you compassionate people imagine will befall the good people of Iraq after we leave.
I’m listening.
Ringo
I suggest you and your pals suit up and go take care of the fools mess over there. Sorry to say, but at this point, their civil war is not our problem.
Ringo, curious why you are here. But are you for endless war not in our interest?
It’s the Bush regime that is at stalemate, with no ideas, so we occupy indefinitely. Our being there is what is causing what we have now in Iraq, with no intention by the administration to change it in any way.
That is not a policy, unless you consider occupation valid, appropriate and a working plan. If we were helping rebuild what we broke, tempers may abate a little, but we have no business being there, unless diplomatically, with redeployed troops, convening a multi-nation peace conference.
Look what I found:
“#130 Ringo the Gringo 4/24/2006 11:11PM PDT
Anyone bored? I’m having great fun being a troll over here.
Feel free to join in.”
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=20248#c0130
Hello All,
So glad to finally be here.
Bush Sucks!!
Ringo the Gringo,
No ideas eh? What a small mind you have.
We could rehash Kerry’s 10 point plan but that would overwhelm your teenie tiny ability to reason or think. Off you go to the kool-aid jug
How about the idea to force the Iraqs to actually run their country? Dumbo has never said that. Dumbo’s idea is to grind us down until there is nothing left.
You are like the rest of the right-wing whiners. You have no ideas; no ability to solve problems; are afraid of your own shadows; would rather have incompetents do your thinking for you; and are afraid of those who speak the truth.
And you never, never debate the issues because you know your positions are wrong; The only recourse you have is attack those who are telling you how horribly wrong your position is.
This is not an empty philosophical debate; real people are dieing in a real war that didn’t need to happen. Some of us went thru this in the 70’s and still see the dead bodies and the names on the wall. Some of us are saying no more.
RTLM
Welcome to the party, I see you followed the Gringo here from Little Green Footballs. Well, we’re just a breath of fresh air aren’t we compared to those conservatives over there.
DAS from San Diego Says:
April 24th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
Too bad you see it that way Gringo. I on the other hand appreciate a leader who has real experience, real knowledge, AND OF ALL THINGS…the ability and aptitude to admit when things are not going well and a change of course is needed.
Yes, Kerry has experience.. in twenty plus years as a Senator.. can anyone tell me what he accomplished besides the Big Dig?
Al Gore rules!
Amalie
You too, eh… Well I’m just so excited you and RTLM have joined your pal the Gringo here. Should we expect more guests?
GNIDAthe#seCond
Oh you little Al Gore loving troll you.
Ringo the Gringo and RTML are phoney conservatives form LGF!
Pesky little green trolls.
They offer some good advice over there about trolls that our readers might enjoy:
“Before you post, remember the LGF prayer:
Lord, grant me the serenity to ignore the trolls,
the courage to debate with honest opponents,
and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Conquistador
Thanks for sharing… now you’ve gotten your 2 cents in. See Ya.
LGF banned me becuase I ripped the phoney conservatives to shred. You guys wouldn’t agree with my political ideas but we have a common enemy here the idiots from LGF!
Note to RTLM
Enjoy the black hole.
Conquistador
Aprreciate your candor – I guess. But if you don’t mind… it’s getting late and we’re not much fun to debate around here.
LGF like most of these Bush worshipping sites are intellectually challenged. At least you guys on the Left are honest in where you stand. The clowns over at LGF must resort to name calling! They parrot whatever Hush Bimbo and Sean Vannity say on their programs.
I thank this site for giving me a chance to expose the fruads over at LGF!
OKay good night and thanks for allowing me to call these clowns out.
Good night!
I don’t appreciate Ringo showing hatred for Kerry’s participation in the Vietnam War.
I have no doubt that those were 120 of the toughest days of Senator Kerry’s life. I’m sure you’ve never spent four months doing anything so difficult, Ringo.
And he was wounded, too. Many times.
Conquistador
LOL – Hush Bimbo and Sean Vannity! Again I appreciate your candor.
Chomsky2008
I’m quick on the trigger finger for banning and blackholing trolls this time of night. Thanks for sharing – nothing happening here.
Marjorie G,
I just happened to find this place while looking for a transcript of Kerry’s Saturday speech.
“But are you for endless war not in our interest?”
I asked earlier: what future do you all imagine for Iraq (and the entire region)if we pull out? Pamela basicly said screw ‘em. What do the rest of you all think? Since I started by mentioning Kerry’s constant Vietnam analogies, do you folks remember what happened to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam after we pulled out of that part of the world? Millions were slaughtered and tens of thousands became refuges. Shall we try that again?
I’m not for endless war but the consequences of failure are worse. Iraq is one theater in a much larger conflict…One which may last for decades.
This war is not about Bush, it’s about the preservation (and expansion) of traditional Western liberalism….Classical liberalism vs theocratic totalitarianism.
But then I’m sure I’m wasting my time here with all you well meaning but ultimately foolish and niave people.
I’m not running off….I really do need to go to bed.
Good night.
Ringo
If I had not found this on Little Green Footballs linking to this thread your explanation might be plausible:
“#130 Ringo the Gringo 4/24/2006 11:11PM PDT
Anyone bored? I’m having great fun being a troll over here.
Feel free to join in.”
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=20248#c0130
Ringo the Gringo
You copy and paste well but the problem in VN started long before we got there and lasted long after we left.
We did not have the ability to prevent any of the evils that went on before, during and after we left. To say that by staying in VN, we would have prevented what went on is absurd.
If we are to fight a war, there has to be a moral authority to fight a war. We had it in WWII, sort of had it in Korea, did not have it in VN, had it in Iraq1, had it in Kosovo and did not have it in Iraq2.
We lost Iraq2 because we did not have the moral reasoning to fight; and the other side does.
If we stay there, how is that going to help the Iraq people? We should get our troops out of Iraq but keep them near-by.
We have to fund the reconstruction; and not just allow Halliburton steal the money like now.
You mention classical Liberalism.
Do you really know what that means? Would you agree that liberalism is characterized by freedom of thought for individuals? Power is limited; especially the power of governments and religions. The rule of law protects us from abuse. We can exchange ideas freely; like now. Liberalism demands market economy that supports private enterprise. Would you not believe a transparent system of government which guarantees minority rights is important?
But that is not the reason for this Iraq war. The reason was to find WMDs and rewriting history to change that is not allowed. The Iraq people have to come up with their own brand of government; we cannot force it on them. It will not look like ours for a long time – if ever – because freedom must come from within; it can’t be forced on people.
If you really believe in what you say about Liberalism then tell me how is Dumbo doing in this country?
Do we really have freedom with the torture prisons and illegal wire-tapping? Do you feel safer?
Is the power of governments and churches increasing or decreasing?
Who is the big abuser of laws?
Is the market economy really working for all?
DumboInc is the most secretive government ever. How transparent is that?
Ringo and the rest of the trolls.
Off to bed. Come back tomorrow and get slapped around some more.
You dopes are our spring training for the upcoming elections. As we get closer, the real creative ones show up. Now it is just a bunch of rookies.
thanks.
Spring training, exactly. And so it begins, again.
Hey guys and gals you all were in fighting form earlier. Well done:-)