Democratic Vision of a Strong, Free-Trading, Interventionist U.S.

[Khephra]

Talk about swimming upstream.

Last week, an impressive group of centrist Democratic foreign policy thinkers released a thoughtful document urging the party to adopt a "progressive internationalism" built around a strong defense, free trade and American leadership through international alliances "to shape a world in which the values of liberal democracy increasingly hold sway."

As a long-term compass, the manifesto — "Progressive Internationalism: A Democratic National Security Strategy" — offers Democrats much sound guidance.

Signed by prominent party thinkers like Will Marshall, president of the Progressive Policy Institute, and Iraq expert Kenneth Pollack of the Brookings Institution, the paper updates for a new century the vision advanced by Democratic presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. In that tradition, the authors envision an America that expands its own security by working with allies to encourage the spread of trade and freedom around the globe — but defends its interests with force when threatened.

more...............

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-outlook3nov03,1,4794860.column?coll=la-headlines-nation-manual

[minto grubb]

1. Free Trade?...

What about FAIR Trade instead?
Yes, I welcome any move away from the use of military force, and towards using economic and cultural means, as long as America uses them in the interests of the people of the world, not for its own ends alone.
At present, Britain and America are holding the poorer nations of the world over a barrel. We, as world citizens, must speak out against the injustice that condemns so may to poverty and starvation.
We live on a planet that could support 12 billion, according to UNESCO, and yet have only half that number to feed, and about 1/3rd of those go hungry.

[Devils Advocate NZ]

2. PNAC in makeup...

The "Democratic National Security Strategy" version:

In that tradition, the authors envision an America that expands its own security by working with allies to encourage the spread of trade and freedom around the globe — but defends its interests with force when threatened.

The PNAC version:

we need to strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values;
we need to promote the cause of political and economic freedom abroad;
we need to accept responsibility for America's unique role in preserving and extending an international order friendly to our security, our prosperity, and our principles.

[IrateCitizen]

3. Even if you dress a pig up in lipstick and earrings, it's still a pig!

The DLC and Will Marshall can go to hell, IMHO.