Page 15 - CSA Speaker Bulletin September 2016 | CSA Celebrity Speakers
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US ELECTIONS
The Most Important
Election In A Lifetime?
JAMES RUBIN
When politicians say that The alternative, a President Hillary military, economic and political.
an upcoming election Rodham Clinton, would mean for Given the remarkable resilience of
is the most important the first time in history, a group the American economy, such an
in their lifetime, they are usually of women will be at the center of extension of U.S. power should not be
exaggerating. In the case of this events, as Clinton joins the female regarded as an undue burden. Above
November’s U.S. election, however, British Prime Minister, the female all, this prominent group declared
it is no exaggeration to say the German Chancellor, the female head that the times demand a new and
stability of the civilized world and the of the IMF, and maybe even a female strengthened leadership role for the
leadership of the United States really Secretary General of the United United States.
does hang in the balance. Nations. A Clinton Presidency would
also entail more forceful American With the Russia of Vladimir Putin
Historians will spend years trying to leadership in world affairs. challenging the rules-based order that
figure out how a shady real estate so many cherish, and with China’s
marketer and sometime reality Along with the diplomatic scholar new assertiveness in the South
TV huckster managed to become Robert Kagan, over the last year, I China Sea and elsewhere, no doubt
the Republican Party’s nominee. chaired a high level task force of top stronger American leadership is sorely
While most prominent Republicans officials from previous Republican needed in the coming years. More
emphasize the need for a strong and Democratic administrations. We immediately, with instability in the
international role led by a President all agreed that despite the popularity Middle East now affecting the political
whose personal dignity is beyond of retrenchment during the Obama and economic future of Europe, there
question, Donald Trump’s promises years, Washington should reverse will be no shortage of challenges for a
and personality threaten core course. It should not choose to new U.S. administration. And that’s
principles Republicans have advocated retreat in the face of new and more why the whole world will be watching
for decades. Whether it is repudiating difficult international challenges, closely when Americans finally choose
critical defense commitments of the but instead the course of wisdom their next President on that first
NATO alliance, cozying up to the is to extend American power and Tuesday in November. n
Kremlin, or threatening to tear up influence to deal with a more complex
trade agreements in Europe and Asia, international environment. James Rubin is former US Assistant
the evidence is overwhelming that Secretary of State for Public
a Trump Presidency would do grave Furthermore, the group urged the Affairs and Advisor on Politics and
damage. new administration to strengthen International Affairs.
all elements of American power,
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