A Call to the President to Sustain and Enhance U.S. Global Leadership
December 8, 2012 Dear President Obama,
On behalf of the Connect U.S. Fund and our network of foreign policy experts and advocates, we congratulate you on your recent reelection. Over the next four years, your administration will confront global challenges and opportunities in which America’s security and prosperity are tied to interconnected, global trends. Now more than ever, critical national security concerns will require innovative global solutions and visionary leadership from the United States. Our community of advocacy and grassroots groups, philanthropic foundations, and think tanks/academic and research-based organizations is eager to provide resources to support your global leadership. Specifically, we are ready to involve our constituents, commit financial and human resources, and provide expertise around achievable policy changes to meet twenty-first century challenges. To promote effective collaboration toward common priorities, we invite you or an appropriate representative to join our December 13 community-wide meeting (or to meet with us at a time convenient to you).
Our community works on four key areas: human rights, climate change, nuclear weapons, and development. We urge you to take action to: Promote international human rights and humanitarian law, and prevent and mitigate deadly conflict; Establish U.S. leadership on international efforts to address climate change; Accelerate efforts to reduce the threat of nuclear war and prevent proliferation by state and non-state actors; and Dramatically strengthen U.S. domestic and international policies to promote development.
Over 180 foreign policy leaders, experts, and practitioners who work across the country and are affiliated with non-governmental organizations representing millions of Americans, came together to develop an index of current policy recommendations that are important to enhancing U.S. global leadership in this new presidential term. The recommendations presented here reflect the views of the organizations and experts on particular issues within their organizational mandates and expertise. Members of our community will follow up with you and your transition team in order to expand on these recommendations and on how best to implement them.
The United States faces many urgent foreign policy challenges beyond the scope of this letter, and we appreciate that progress on these measures will require close consultation with Congress in addition to strong presidential leadership. We are hopeful that both of these branches of government will return to a spirit of bipartisan cooperation on these issues; we stand ready to bring to bear our resources to bolster this bipartisan cooperation.
All of the experts listed below share the belief that U.S. international engagement, including multilateralism, is crucial to meeting twenty-first century challenges across these issues. These recommendations will enhance the safety and security of the United States and generate substantial savings by offering tools to prevent or resolve critical, costly problems.
Thank you for your interest in these important issues and we look forward to discussing them with you during the transition. If you have any questions about this effort, please contact Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, President of the Connect U.S. Fund, at [email protected] or (202) 721-5622.
SIGNATORIES (181)
Select Foreign Policy Practitioners (in alphabetical order)
Dr. Pauline H. Baker, President Emeritus, The Fund for Peace; and former Professional Staff Member and Staff Director of the Subcommittee on African Affairs, Senate Foreign Relations Committee *
Amb. David Birenbaum, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for United Nations Management and Reform *
Amb. Kenneth C. Brill, Former U.S. Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency and Founding Director of the National Counterproliferation Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence *
Rosa Brooks, Law Professor, Georgetown University; Schwartz Senior Fellow, New America Foundation; and former Counselor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, U.S. Department of Defense *
Gen. (ret) James Cartwright, U.S. Marine Corps, former Commander of U.S. Strategic Command and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff *
Aimee Christensen, Chief Executive Officer, Christensen Global Strategies; Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General’s High Level Group on Sustainable Energy For All; and former Program Chair of the World Climate Summit *
P.J. Crowley, former Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State *
Maria Echaveste, Director, Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute for Law & Social Policy, U.C. Berkeley, and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff *
Michel Gabaudan, President, Refugees International and former United Nations High Commission on Refugees Regional Representative for the United States and the Caribbean *
Lt. General (ret.) Robert G. Gard, Jr., U.S. Army and Chairman, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation *
Amb. Thomas Graham Jr., Chairman, Lightbridge Corporation and former Special Assistant to the President for Arms Control, Nonproliferation and Disarmament *
Victor C. Johnson, former Staff Director of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs and former Director of the Peace Corps’ programs in Latin America and the Caribbean *
Lawrence J. Korb, former Assistant Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense *
* Organizational affiliation included for identification purposes only 2
Jan M. Lodal, Counselor, Nuclear Threat Initiative and Former Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense *
Dr. Kristin M. Lord, Executive Vice President and Director of Strategic Studies, Center for a New American Security and former Special Adviser to the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs *
Kishore Mandhyan, former Deputy Director for Political Affairs, UN Secretary-General *
Kathleen Rogers, President, Earth Day Network and former Environmental Representative on the United States Delegation Free Trade Area of the Americas *
Mark Schlakman, Esq., Senior Program Director, The Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights and former Senior Advisor to the White House Special Envoy to the Americas *
Eric P. Schwartz, Professor and Dean, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota and former Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration *
Andrew K. Semmel, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Nuclear Nonproliferation, U.S. State Department *
Katherine Sierra, Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Brookings Institution; and former Vice President for Sustainable Development at the World Bank *
Dr. Anne-Marie Slaughter, Bert G. Kerstetter ‘66 University Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University, and former Director of Policy Planning, U.S. State Department *
Dr. Joseph P. Smaldone, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University and former Director of the Office of Export Control and Conventional Arms Nonproliferation Policy, U.S. State Department *
Amb. Nancy E. Soderberg, President of the Connect U.S. Fund and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations *
Michael Stopford, former Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Strategic Communications, North Atlantic Treaty Organization *
Amb. Edward S. Walker, Jr., Christian A. Johnson Professor, Hamilton College; former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs; and former Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, United Nations, Egypt and Israel *
* Organizational affiliation included for identification purposes only
3 Non-governmental Experts
Dr. Susan Aaronson, Associate Research Professor, The Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University and Minerva Chair, National War College *
Jeff Abramson, Director (Secretariat), Control Arms *
Prof. Gordon Adams, School of International Service, American University *
Niemat Ahmadi, President, Darfur Women Action Group
Chris Ajemian, Principal, Chris Ajemian Consulting *
Sehreen Noor Ali, Truman National Security Fellow and former State Department official
Alex Arriaga, Managing Partner, Strategy for Humanity *
Peter Bahouth, Executive Director, US Climate Action Network
William Banks, Director, Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism and Board of Advisors Distinguished Professor, Syracuse University *
Donna Baranski-Walker, Founder and Executive Director, Rebuilding Alliance
Tyson Barker, Director, Transatlantic Relations, Bertelsmann Foundation *
Harriet Barlow, Director, HKH Foundation
Kate Bateman, Truman National Security Fellow
Medea Benjamin, Co-Director, CODEPINK: Women for Peace
Eric Bjornlund, President, Democracy International *
Ariela Blätter, Managing Partner, Strategy for Humanity *
Dr. Barry Blechman, Co-Founder and Distinguished Fellow, Stimson Center *
Dr. Jeff Bloodworth, Associate Professor & Chair of the Department of History & Archaeology, Gannon University *
Paula Boland, Executive Director, United Nations Association of the National Capital Area
John C. Bradshaw, Executive Director, Enough Project
* Organizational affiliation included for identification purposes only
4
Michael Breen, Executive Director, Truman National Security Project
Binta Niambi Brown, Board Member, Human Rights First, Truman National Security Fellow and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader *
Dr. Nancy E. Brune, Non-resident Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security and Truman National Security Fellow *
John Cavanagh, Director, Institute for Policy Studies *
Keya Chatterjee, Senior Director, International Climate Policy, World Wildlife Fund-US
Joe Cirincione, President, Ploughshares Fund *
Lindsay Coates, Executive Vice President, InterAction
Jay Coghlan, Executive Director, Nuclear Watch New Mexico *
Brian Concannon Jr., Esq., Director, Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti *
Michael D. Cooper, President, Ploughshare Strategies, LLC and Public Interest Law Scholar, Georgetown University Law Center *
Shelley Corteville, Chapter Coordinator, Lane County Veterans For Peace Chapter 159, Oregon
Shan Cretin, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee
Susan Cundiff, Chair, Oregon Women's Action for New Directions *
Sharon D'Amico, Bread for the World Seattle
Karen Dickman, Executive Director and Water Program Manager, Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy *
Louise Diamond, President, Global Systems Initiatives
Michael W. Doyle, Harold Brown Professor of International Affairs, Law and Political Science, Columbia University *
Laurie Dundon, Truman National Security Project Fellow and former senior advisor, U.S. State Department *
Jimmy Durchslag, Executive Director, Mainstream Media Project *
Dr. Michael J. Dziedzic, independent consultant
* Organizational affiliation included for identification purposes only
5 Christopher Edley, Jr., Dean, U.C. Berkeley School of Law *
Peter Eicher, independent consultant on human rights, elections and democracy
Jenefer Ellingston, Delegate, U.S. Green Party *
Francesco Femia, Founding Director, The Center for Climate and Security
Dr. Charles D. Ferguson, President, Federation of American Scientists *
John Filson, Program Manager, 3P Human Security
Justin Ford, President, Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy and Veterans Director, Truman National Security Project *
Blanche Foster, Acting Executive Director, Darfur Rehabilitation Project, Inc.
Marilyn Fowler, President and Chief Executive Officer, Women's Intercultural Network *
Conor French, Chief Executive Officer, Indego Africa and Truman National Security Fellow
Alicia Godsberg, Executive Director, Peace Action New York State *
Curt Goering, Executive Director, The Center for Victims of Torture
Irene Etkin Goldman, Chair, Coalition for Peace Action *
Dr. Natalie Goldring, Senior Fellow, Center for Security Studies, Georgetown University and United Nations Consultant, Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy *
William C. Goodfellow, Executive Director, Center for International Policy
Melanie Greenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Peacebuilding
Jo Marie Griesgraber, Executive Director, New Rules for Global Finance *
Erik K. Gustafson, Executive Director, Education for Peace in Iraq Center
Dr. Paula Gutlove, Deputy Director, Institute for Resource and Security Studies
Heather Hamilton, former Executive Director, The Connect U.S. Fund
Nate Haken, Senior Associate, The Fund for Peace
* Organizational affiliation included for identification purposes only
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Lianchao Han, Vice President, Initiatives for China *
Jesse Hawkes, Executive Director, Global Youth Connect
Susan W. Hayes, President & Chief Executive Officer, ReSurge International
Lukas Haynes, Vice President, Mertz Gilmore Foundation and Board Member, Independent Diplomat *
Dr. Ping He, President, International Fund for China’s Environment *
Stephen Heintz, President, Rockefeller Brothers Fund *
Dr. Hazel Henderson, President, Ethical Markets Media
Krista Hendry, Executive Director, The Fund for Peace
Jeffrey Henigson, Executive Director, Rightswire *
Robert Herman, Vice President, Regional Programs, Freedom House
Matthew Hodes, Executive Director, Partnership for a Secure America *
George Ingram, Co-Chair, Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network *
Paul Ingram, Director, British American Security Information Council
John Isaacs, Executive Director, Council for a Livable World
Karen Jacob, Chapter President, Women’s Action for New Directions of Northern Indiana
Patricia Jurewicz, Director, Responsible Sourcing Network *
David Kaye, Professor of Law, UC Irvine School of Law; Former Attorney Adviser, U.S. Department of State *
Marylia Kelley, Executive Director, Tri-Valley CAREs
Colleen Kelly, Co-Founder and Chair, Rule of Law Committee, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
Daryl G. Kimball, Executive Director, Arms Control Association *
Marcus King, Associate Research Professor, The Elliott School of International Affairs *
Judith Kipper, Director, Middle East Programs, Institute of World Affairs *
* Organizational affiliation included for identification purposes only
7 Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld, President, Truman National Security Project
Shulamith Koenig, Founder, People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning *
Don Kraus, Chief Executive Officer, GlobalSolutions.org *
Stephen M. Kretzmann, Executive Director, Oil Change International
David Krieger, President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation *
Eric LeCompte, Executive Director, Jubilee USA Network
Lou Leonard, Managing Director, Climate Change, World Wildlife Fund
Hope Lewis, Professor of Law, Northeastern University School of Law *
Valerie Lincy, Executive Director, Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control *
Milburn Line, Executive Director, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, University of San Diego *
Nick Mabey, Chief Executive Officer, E3G – Third Generation Environmentalism
Jenifer Mackby, consultant
Kate Martin, Director, Center for National Security Studies *
Kevin Martin, Executive Director, Peace Action and Peace Action Education Fund *
Joshua J. Marcuse, Founder & Chairman, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy *
Francesco Mancini, Senior Director of Research, International Peace Institute *
Elisa Massimino, President and CEO, Human Rights First
Susan Masten, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Co-President, Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations *
Kathy McNeely, Director, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Dr. Matthew Meselson, Thomas Dudley Cabot Professor of the Natural Sciences, Harvard University *
Alden Meyer, Director of Strategy & Policy, Union of Concerned Scientists
* Organizational affiliation included for identification purposes only
8
Chris Miller, National Security Analyst; Iraq War Veteran and Purple Heart recipient; and former Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare Specialist, U.S. Army *
Shamarukh Mohiuddin, Executive Director, U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council *
Jonathan Morgenstein, Iraq War, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Truman National Security Fellow *
Carroll Muffett, President and CEO, Center for International Environmental Law
Karen Mulhauser, President, Mulhauser and Associates *
Laura W. Murphy, Director, American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office
Robert Naiman, Policy Director, Just Foreign Policy
Sen. Nan Grogan Orrock, President, Women Legislators’ Lobby of Women’s Action for New Directions
William Pace, President, Center for the Development of International Law
Nealin Parker, Truman National Security Fellow
Dr. Trita Parsi, President, National Iranian American Council
Stewart Patrick, Senior Fellow and Director of the International Institutions and Global Governance Program, Council on Foreign Relations *
Bobbie Paul, Executive Director, Georgia Women's Action for New Directions
Matt Petersen, President and CEO, Global Green USA
Ted Piccone, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director for Foreign Policy, Brookings Institution *
Jon Rainwater, Executive Director, Peace Action West *
Diane Randall, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation
James T. Ranney, Chair, Global Constitution Forums *
Kathy Crandall Robinson, Senior Public Policy Director, Women’s Action for New Directions and Women Legislators’ Lobby
Mark W. Roberts, Senior Counsel and International Policy Advisor, Environmental Investigation Agency
* Organizational affiliation included for identification purposes only
9 Eric Rosenthal, Executive Director, Disability Rights International
David Rubenstein, President, Best Shot Foundation *
Leonard S. Rubenstein, Senior Scholar, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health *
Karin D. Ryan, Director, Human Rights Program, The Carter Center *
David Santoro, Senior Fellow for Nonproliferation and Disarmament, Pacific Forum CSIS *
Eric Sapp, Executive Director, American Values Network
Dr. Richard H. Schwartz, Professor Emeritus, College of Staten Island *
Larry Schweiger, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Wildlife Federation
John Sewell, President, New Rules for Global Finance *
Susan Shaer, Executive Director, Women’s Action for New Directions
Dr. Douglas B. Shaw, Assistant Professor, The Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University *
Alice Slater, Abolition 2000 New York *
Roger Sorkin, Owner and Executive Producer, Sorkin Productions and Fellow, Truman National Security Project *
Richard H. Stanley, Chair, The Stanley Foundation *
Jerry Stein, Coordinator, The Peace Farm
Dr. Bart M.J. Szewczyk, Associate-in-Law, Columbia University Law School *
Catherine Tactaquin, Executive Director, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights *
Prof. Raymond Tanter, President, Iran Policy Committee Publishing *
Dr. Catherine Thomasson, Executive Director, Physicians for Social Responsibility
John Topping, President, Climate Institute
* Organizational affiliation included for identification purposes only
10
Dianne Anderson Valentin, Co-Founder and Executive Director, The Black Heritage Museum & Cultural Center, Inc. *
Dr. Ann Van Dusen, Director, Global Human Development, Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service *
Toni G. Verstandig, Chair, Middle East Programs, The Aspen Institute *
Dr. Paul F. Walker, Director, Environmental Security & Sustainability, Green Cross International *
Dr. Jim Walsh, Research Associate, Security Studies Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology *
Kimberly Weichel, Chief Executive Officer, Peace X Peace
Caitlin E. Werrell, Founding Director, The Center for Climate and Security
Luke Wilcox, Development and Communications Director, Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project
James Winkler, General Secretary, United Methodist General Board of Church and Society
Dr. Leslie R. Wolfe, President, Center for Women Policy Studies *
Michele Wucker, President, World Policy Institute *
Peter Yeo, Executive Director, Better World Campaign *
Durwood Zaelke, President, Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development *
* Organizational affiliation included for identification purposes only
11 Promote international human rights and humanitarian law, and prevent and mitigate deadly conflict: Support non-violent democratic movements struggling against authoritarian repression and effective democratic transitions, such as those triggered by the “Arab Spring” and the transition in Burma. Institutionalize human rights accountability in all Department of Defense and intelligence programs with maximum transparency. Ensure that all foreign assistance is consistent with promoting free societies, democracy, good governance, and the rule of law. Take action to address the continuing legacy of human rights abuses related to indefinite detentions, torture, illegal surveillance, as well as Guantanamo Bay. Re-evaluate and publicly clarify the criteria and basis for targeted killings, the process by which such decisions are made, and the mechanisms in place to ensure compliance with international law and the protection of civilians. Engage constructively with international human rights institutions, such as the UN Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court, and support the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Prioritize civilian security in nations whose populations are at risk. Provide appropriate agencies with the necessary resources to coordinate a comprehensive approach to atrocity prevention. Institutionalize the Atrocities Prevention Board with a robust role for civil society and international partners.
In addition to domestic efforts, establish U.S. leadership on international efforts to address climate change: Assert constructive U.S. leadership to ensure global emissions peak and begin to decline by 2015, and to ensure adoption of a binding global agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Mobilize innovative sources of climate finance to help deliver the developed world’s existing pledge to developing countries: $100 billion per year by 2020. Build up funding prior to 2020, including by implementing mechanisms in the international aviation and shipping sectors that both reduce emissions and generate revenue.
Phase out all U.S. fossil fuel subsidies by 2015; press for transparency and consistency in reporting of global fossil fuel subsidies; provide assistance and safeguards to developing countries and poor and vulnerable groups; and promote the establishment of an international body to facilitate fossil fuel subsidy reform.
Continue action to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (e.g., black carbon, methane, and HFCs), by strengthening bilateral cooperation with major emerging economies at the head of state level; adequately funding and setting goals for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition; pushing for a phase out of HFCs under the Montreal Protocol; and establishing an inter-agency task force to reduce short-lived climate pollutants. 12
Promote strong climate change mitigation and adaptation criteria for U.S. bilateral and multilateral foreign aid, export credit and overseas private investment guarantee operations, including through the Global Climate Change Initiative and the policy processes of the G20, the multilateral development banks, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Direct attention to the security risks of climate change at all levels of national security planning and in all future national security strategy documents. Ensure that climate activities financed by the United States, in particular REDD+ initiatives, are consistent with international human rights instruments, international environmental agreements, and other relevant safeguards.
Accelerate efforts to reduce the threat of nuclear war and prevent proliferation by state and non- state actors: Pursue a negotiated deal with Iran that ties its enrichment activities and stockpiles to its peaceful nuclear needs, combined with more extensive IAEA safeguards that would guard against weaponization. Undertake efforts to cap, reduce, and ultimately eliminate North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, and prevent these from being transferred. In order to enhance global protections against nuclear terrorism, support the development of an accountability framework on nuclear security that establishes effective global standards and provides international assurance that these standards are being met. Accelerate reductions established by New START and pursue further mutual, reciprocal, and verifiable reductions in U.S. and Russian arsenals and delivery systems substantially below the ceilings established by New START. To facilitate these reductions, continue to seek an agreement with Russia on ballistic missile defense. Reach a comprehensive agreement with NATO and Russia to withdraw U.S. short-range nuclear weapons from Europe and for Russia to substantially reduce its stockpile of short-range nuclear weapons and locate them at centralized sites far from NATO’s borders. Undertake bipartisan efforts to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and make every effort to bring on board other states whose ratifications are required for the treaty to enter into force. Pursue an international treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons. Reduce the role and salience of nuclear weapons in U.S. policy by eliminating outdated Cold War targeting plans, increase warning and decision time by de-alerting the arsenal in cooperation with Russia, and reduce the requirements for costly, new nuclear weapons delivery systems. To reduce the possibility that still more states pursue enrichment or reprocessing capabilities and to improve IAEA safeguards, update U.S. standards for civil nuclear trade and ensure those standards are applied to all states with whom we and other nuclear suppliers engage. Accelerate efforts to secure and eliminate global highly enriched uranium and plutonium, including by setting a timeline for a ban on the civil use of highly enriched uranium.
13 Dramatically strengthen U.S. domestic and international policies to promote development: Work with Congress to protect the international affairs budget from further cuts and continue to strengthen and invest in poverty-focused foreign assistance, including ground-breaking initiatives, such as Feed the Future and the Global Health Initiative, that seek to address the root causes of poverty. Implement U.S. commitments and promote adherence to the globally-accepted Busan indicators of aid effectiveness by building partnerships, transparency, and accountability. Strengthen the capacity of USAID to act as the United States’ premier development agency, ensure that USAID is a full and equal participant in development decisions, and clearly delineate roles between the Departments of Defense and State, and USAID. Ensure U.S. trade policy protects the rights of developing countries regarding financial regulation, foreign investment, and the availability of inexpensive prescription drugs. Encourage all multilateral institutions to continue to implement the transparency agenda established by the World Bank, recognize and work to enhance the role of civil society in advancing social accountability and promoting effective development, and focus on rights-based and inclusive approaches to development and just economic policies. Advocate for implementation of the G20 commitment to achieve transparency and merit-based decisions on leadership in the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, all regional banks, and the G20’s Financial Stability Board. Encourage G20 countries to support the establishment of an international bankruptcy process for sovereign nations. Continue expanding debt relief to developing countries burdened with unsustainable debt levels, high levels of human need and environmental distress to achieve a level of sustainable development that ensures a decent quality of life for their citizens.
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