American Realism Links U.S. Ideals and Interests, Says Rice
(At economic forum, Rice explains America’s commitment to promoting freedom)

For the full text of Sec. Rice’s keynote address, click here.

By David McKeeby
Staff Writer

Washington -- In a turbulent world, America’s interests are inseparable from its ideals, making its support for the spread of political and economic freedoms more vital than ever, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

“American Realism,” an unshakable and abiding belief in the positive power of democracy, open markets and free trade, human rights, and the rule of law, is at the core of U.S. foreign policy, she said.

“Like any nation, we have made mistakes throughout our history,” Rice said in her January 23 keynote address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  “But our confidence in our principles, and our impatience with the pace of change, is also a source of our greatest successes -- and this will ensure that the United States remains a strong, confident, and capable global leader in the 21st century.”

FOREIGN AID, FREE TRADE

In a world where half the population lives on less than $2 a day, American realism stands for free markets and free trade, which, when combined with democracy, yields prosperity and social justice for all citizens, she said.

Since 2001, President Bush has worked with Congress to launch America’s largest international development effort since the Marshall Plan, Rice said, doubling aid to Latin America, quadrupling aid to Africa, and tripling aid worldwide, while reforming its foreign aid programs.

“We must treat developing nations not as objects of our policy, but as equal partners in a shared endeavor of dignity,” Rice said.

The United States is saving lives through its $15 billion initiative to combat HIV/AIDS in 120 countries and efforts to help African countries confront malaria. It has also contributed $7.5 billion to its Millennium Challenge Account, which provides additional incentives to developing nations undertaking democratic reforms.

But long-term prosperity takes more than aid, Rice said.  It also requires a global expansion of free trade, making a successful Doha round another priority. The Doha round, formally titled the Doha Development Agenda, refers to the current World Trade Organization stalemated free-trade negotiations. (See related article)

“The president has pledged that the United States will eliminate all tariffs, subsidies, and barriers to free flow of goods and services -- including agriculture -- as other nations do the same,” she said.

AMERICAN REALISM SUPPORTS DEMOCRACY

American realism means helping nations share in the benefits of democracy, which Rice said provides the most effective means to resolving social differences and ensuring lasting peace among nations.

“Different nations will find ways to express democratic values that reflect their own cultures and their own ways of life,” Rice said. “Yet the basics are universal and we know them -- that men and women have the right to choose those who will govern them, to speak their minds, to worship freely, and to find protection from the arbitrary power of the state.”

Acknowledging criticisms of U.S. support for democracy, particularly in the Middle East, Rice said that the process takes time, particularly when regional leaders are faced with the forces of violent extremism, as seen in continued violence in Lebanon and Iraq; the jailing of bloggers and human rights activists; and continued opposition from the terrorist group Hamas to the Middle East peace process.

Rice, reflecting on the struggles of her African-American ancestors and the violence and reforms undertaken before they could take their rightful place in American society, added that the United States has no illusions about the challenges of building democracy.

“We believe that human imperfection makes democracy more important and all who are striving for it more deserving of patience and support,” Rice said.

NO PERMANENT ADVERSARIES

American realism also means that while the U.S. has a permanent interest in promoting democratic and economic freedoms, it does not believe in permanent adversaries, and is thus committed to diplomacy.

In recent years, the United States has remade its relationships with Libya, Vietnam, China and even former adversary Russia. Rice said Russia is playing a constructive role in addressing a host of international diplomatic challenges, from counterterrorism and nuclear proliferation to the Middle East peace process.

Through diplomacy, Rice said, the United States can imagine a future of improved relations with North Korea through the Six-Party Talks process. Improved relations with Iran also are possible if the Iranian leadership accepts the international community’s demand to suspend nuclear enrichment and joins the United States in negotiations.

“I’ve said if that suspension takes place, I will meet my counterpart anytime, anyplace, anywhere to talk about anything,” Rice said at a Davos forum panel discussion earlier in day. “I don’t know how to make a stronger invitation than that.”

American realism, Rice concluded, is watching Iraqi leaders resolve their differences democratically, witnessing Saudi leaders applaud Israelis and Palestinians working for peace at a November 2007 conference in Annapolis, Maryland, and to “face the world everyday as it is, but to know that it does not have to be that way -- and to keep in sight the better, not perfect, but better world that it can be.”(See Rice’s keynote address)

A transcript of remarks during a panel discussion in which Rice participated is available on the State Department Web site here.

 

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