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the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the American people
are perhaps more aware today than at any time since the end
of World War II of the importance of maintaining strong U.S.
international leadership and a military that is second to
none. My lifelong commitment to upholding these values began
as a young man. |
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I learned from my father, a member of the U.S. Foreign Service,
that the United States has a unique and important role to
play in promoting democracy and respect for human rights around
the world. These lessons have greatly impacted my work over
the last 18 years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
where I have promoted active and responsible U.S. engagement
in global affairs. I continue to work for full funding of
a robust international affairs budget to give U.S. diplomats
the tools they need to develop strong relationships with our
friends and allies and to promote our long-term economic,
political and security interests. As Chairman of the Subcommittee
on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, I continue to work to ensure
that U.S. policies in the region reflect the American commitment
to peace, progress and human dignity.
My commitment to supporting a U.S. military
that is second to none is rooted in my service in the Navy
during Vietnam, commanding a swift boat in the Mekong Delta.
My two tours in Vietnam gave me a firsthand understanding
of the sacrifice and courage of those who have served and
fought to defend our country. It also taught me the grave
responsibility that America's leaders have to ensure that
we do not demand these sacrifices lightly, nor take them
for granted. In my 18 years in the Senate, I have taken
this responsibility very seriously, working to ensure that
the military is deployed overseas only when the objectives
are clear, the support of the American people is solid,
and the ability of the Armed Forces to pursue their mission
is unrestricted by political considerations. I am also committed
to providing quality health care and housing to our military
families, as well as ensuring competitive wages for those
who volunteer to serve our country. While I believe that
our limited defense dollars must be spent wisely and efficiently,
we must provide the training, equipment and technology that
allow our Armed Forces to successfully meet the daunting
security challenges of the 21st century.
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