2009 Foreign Policy Initiative Forum on Advancing and Defending Democracy

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September 28, 2009

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2009 Foreign Policy Initiative Forum on Advancing and Defending Democracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On September 21 and 22, the Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI) held its 2009 FPI Forum on Advancing and Defending Democracy. The event took place at the W Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. and featured conversations with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Governor Mitt Romney, Senator Jon Kyl, and Senator John McCain. Experts and dissidents participated in panel discussions on democracy and human rights, Iran, Russia, Iraq, and the political and military dimensions of the war in Afghanistan. Summaries, transcripts, and full video coverage of panels and discussions have been made available at: http://foreignpolicyi.org/event/advancing-and-defending-democracy-summary.

Afghanistan

In the final session of the conference, Senator McCain said of the Obama administration’s desire that General McChrystal delay his request for additional troops in Afghanistan, that he has “never seen a disconnect like this” between the military and an administration on an issue. He added, “Every day that goes by if you are not pursuing a strategy for success and implementing it as quickly as possible it puts young Americans' lives in more danger.” Governor Romney sounded a similar note to Senator McCain’s: “This is not the time for Hamlet in the White House...How in the world can he at this stage be saying what he is saying?”

Some participants were less critical of the President’s policy. Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution defended President Obama’s right to “at least for a few weeks of deliberation and indecision. If he is still in November where he is today, I will not be defending him. But I think where he is at this moment is understandable.”

Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad spoke on the need for a renewed American commitment: “I think we haven’t fought this war with full capacity or anywhere near full capacity, and the time has come to adjust. And I think it will only happen and will rally the country if the President takes the lead in defining not only the importance of the success here, but also of a strategy that is resourced, that can convince the people that there is a reasonable relationship between the ends that we seek and the means that we are devoting to achieve those goals.”

Lt. Gen. Mark Kimmitt added, “The real war in Washington must be to achieve and maintain the will of the American people, because without that, the capabilities are sure to prove insufficient, and strategic patience is sure to wane.”

Russia

Speakers addressed the Obama administration’s recent decision to shelve plans to deploy a ground based missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Senator Kyl remarked, “It’s hard to imagine any Russian quid pro quo that would be worth compromising the principle that we can support our NATO allies, even in Eastern Europe. It’s even harder to justify our ‘turn about’ if the Obama administration did not negotiate a quid pro quo from the Russians. It’s not apparent that was done.”

Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman said, “My fear is that what we will see is an encouragement of Russia to push harder and demand more in the post‑START negotiations with the United States, in particular linking offensive reductions in nuclear arms to missile defense, putting more constraints on our long‑range, precision, conventional strike capabilities, including trying to capture any future U.S. bomber.”

U.S. Foreign Policy

Governor Mitt Romney, citing the administration’s missile defense policy as well as policies on Israel and Honduras, noted, "Our friends around the world are asking: is it better to be a friend of the U.S., or a foe?" In the same vein, Newt Gingrich commented, “The Obama administration's policy on Honduras is waging war against democracy.”

Iran

In talking about the political situation in Iran, former Obama State Department Advisor Ray Takeyh said that there was a “perceptible deflation of hope” within the Obama administration after the “cataclysmic moment” of Iran’s June 12 election. Reuel Marc Gerecht of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies declared that “engagement is toast.”

Democracy Promotion

On the Obama administration’s approach to democracy promotion, former Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams said, “When you go to Cairo and meet all smiles with Mubarak, and give a Cairo speech that actually plays down democracy, I think that's creating an enabling environment for Mubarak to continue what he has continued now for decades.” National Democratic Institute President Kenneth Wollack criticized President Bush, saying he “unfortunately created the impression that democracy was a club to be used against regimes, autocratic regimes unfriendly to the U.S. but not against those regimes with autocratic tendencies who were friendly.”

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Jeffrey Gedmin moderated a discussion with prominent Middle East dissidents Ali Afshari and Saad Eddin Ibrahim. When asked what assistance the American administration should give democracy activists abroad, Mr. Ibrahaim said, “I need moral support, first of all.” Mr. Afsharai noted that “the militaristic approach was unsuccessful [for] the last administration, but the current administration, I believe that the current policy that they don't mention to human rights and they just want to follow – deal with the Iranian regime about the nuclear issues and stability or security issues, I think similarly it goes in the wrong direction.”

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FPI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, intending to qualify as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. FPI seeks to promote an active U.S. foreign policy committed to robust support for democratic allies, human rights, a strong American military equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and strengthening America's global economic competitiveness. The organization is led by Executive Director Jamie Fly. FPI was founded by Robert Kagan, William Kristol, and Dan Senor.