[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 172 (Thursday, December 1, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1566-E1567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     REMARKS BY FORMER NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2016

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the text of a speech 
delivered by former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen, 
who is a dear friend and former Prime Minister of our ally Denmark. He 
spoke at the ``Celebration of Democracy'' dinner hosted jointly by the 
National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute, 
and his remarks testify to the strong bonds between our nation and its 
NATO allies. He also reaffirms a core component of our foreign policy: 
that the world needs strong American leadership in the years ahead, 
just as it benefitted from our leadership in the twentieth century.

       I'm extremely pleased to see the International Republican 
     Institute and the National Democratic Institute work so 
     closely together in a bi-partisan manner to promote freedom 
     and democracy.
       During the last 70 years, we've got used to a world where 
     protectionism was replaced by free trade, closed societies 
     were replaced by open societies, and dictatorship was 
     replaced by democracy. During these 70 years the world has 
     experienced an unprecedented era of peace, prosperity and 
     progress.
       Now, we are living in an era where the fear of the 
     consequences of globalization has led to stronger support for 
     protectionism, fear over the influx of immigrants and 
     refugees has led to stronger support for closed borders, the 
     fear of chaos and weak leadership in democracies has led to 
     stronger support for tough men and autocracy.
       Under these circumstances, there is a strong need for good 
     men and women who will stand up for the basic ideas upon 
     which we so successfully have built and developed our free 
     societies.
       Secretary Albright and Senator McCain are such solid 
     people.
       As American ambassador to the United Nations and as 
     Secretary of State you, Madeleine Albright, was a staunch 
     proponent of American engagement in the Balkans to stop the 
     bloodshed. And it wasn't until the United States took 
     leadership that a lasting peace was created.
       As Secretary General of NATO, I asked you to lead the 
     preparations for a new strategic concept. You and your group 
     of experts did an outstanding job, and in 2010, we adopted a 
     new strategic concept for NATO.
       Madeleine, you have always been a steadfast fighter for 
     freedom and democracy. And your mood can always be read in 
     the pins you're wearing. In the book, ``Read My Pins'', you 
     said: ``I had this wonderful antique snake pin. So when we 
     were dealing with Iraq, I wore the snake pin''. You had 
     balloons, butterflies and flowers to signify optimism and, 
     when diplomatic talks were going slowly, crabs and turtles to 
     indicate frustration.
       John, I'm so happy to also be with you tonight. First of 
     all, congratulations on your re-election as US senator. 
     Recently you turned eighty, but if we didn't know, we 
     wouldn't believe it. You are still going strong, and you are 
     setting an example for all of us to continue working as long 
     as we can.
       We have met on several occasions in Europe. You have been a 
     frequent guest at the Munich Security Conference, as leader 
     of the US delegation and as a highly valued speaker. We have 
     never doubted your position as one of the strongest American 
     voices in favor of American global leadership and continued 
     engagement in Europe.
       You were disappointed that NATO did not engage more in 
     Syria. You also criticized me. Tonight I can tell you, I 
     agreed with you. But I couldn't get the allies to support 
     even prudent planning for an operation.
       John, you have always remembered America's friends and 
     allies. I still recall how warmly you thanked me for my 
     personal support for the United States and my country's 
     contribution to international military operations all over 
     the world.
       John, we owe you great respect. And I would like to use 
     this occasion to express my admiration and my gratitude for 
     your service to the United States and to the world.
       We all know that Secretary Albright and Senator McCain 
     belong to different political parties. But they are united in 
     their desire to see freedom and democracy flourish in the 
     world. Madeleine and John, you represent the very best in the 
     American democracy: the bi-partisan support for American 
     global leadership.
       Let me put it directly: the world needs a policeman. The 
     only capable, reliable and desirable candidate for that 
     position is the United States. We need determined American 
     global leadership.
       The world is on fire. The Middle East is being torn up by 
     war, terrorism and humanitarian catastrophes that have forced 
     millions of people to flee. Europe is almost sinking under 
     the refugee burden and internal political division. In North 
     Africa, Libya has collapsed and become a breeding ground for 
     terrorists who are spreading instability throughout the 
     region. In Eastern Europe, a resurgent Russia has brutally 
     attacked and grabbed land by force from Ukraine. China is 
     flexing its muscle against its neighbors around the South 
     China Sea. North Korea is a rogue state that threatens its 
     neighbors and the United States with a nuclear attack.
       There is a link between the American reluctance to use hard 
     power and this outbreak of fire. If the US retrenches and 
     retreats or even if the world thinks that the US retreats, it 
     leaves behind a vacuum that will be filled by the bad guys.
       If the United States withdraws to concentrate on ``nation 
     building at home'', the forces fighting against liberal 
     democracy and our way of life will gain ground. The US will 
     be faced with stronger foes, weaker friends and a more 
     insecure world. That would definitely not make America great.
       Appeasement doesn't lead to peace. It just incites tyrants. 
     Any failure to counter oppression will only invite further 
     oppression. That is the lesson of the twentieth century--a 
     lesson we must never forget.
       That's why President Truman established a new, rules-based 
     world order, centered around a series of international 
     institutions and economic programs. He created an American 
     led world order that set the stage for the Cold War. Truman 
     elevated engagement to moral choice directly affecting every 
     single American citizen, because it was based on American 
     values. He said: ``I believe that we must assist free peoples 
     to work out their own destinies in their own way.''
       In 1961, President Kennedy expressed what is probably the 
     strongest commitment to American global leadership ever given 
     by a president of the United States: ``Let every nation know, 
     whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any 
     price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any 
     friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the 
     success of liberty.''
       And President Reagan ended the Cold War peacefully due to 
     his firm conviction that capitalism is superior to communism. 
     He said: ``America's economic success is freedom's success; 
     it can be repeated a hundred times in a hundred nations''. He 
     was firmly convinced that peace does not come from weakness 
     or retreat. It comes from economic and military superiority. 
     Peace through strength.
       President Truman showed strong leadership and effective 
     conduct by establishing the world order that for seven 
     decades secured an unprecedented peace, development and 
     wealth. President Kennedy came to stand as a beacon for the 
     free world with his energetic and eloquent communication. And 
     President Reagan led the United States and the world to the 
     victory over Communism and oppression by his firm conviction 
     of American exceptionalism.
       Hopefully, future US presidents will combine President 
     Truman's effective conduct, President Kennedy's inspiring 
     communication and President Reagan's firm conviction. This 
     would prepare the ground for strong American global 
     leadership and a better and safer world. And make America 
     great again.
       The United States is indispensable in its ability to 
     protect and promote freedom and to prevent conflicts, to 
     resolve conflicts and to help with post-conflict 
     reconstruction. However, the United States should not be left 
     to carry out that job alone: Smart American leadership should 
     strive for alliance-building.
       There is a need to create an overwhelming, credible, and 
     strong democratic supremacy in order to counterbalance the 
     rising and assertive autocracies.
       To create a stronger global democratic community, the 
     American president should use his convening power to assemble 
     the

[[Page E1567]]

     world's true democracies in a strong ``Alliance for 
     Democracy''. It would be a community of shared values, 
     individual liberty, economic freedom, democracy, and the rule 
     of law; a community that would bolster the identity and 
     potency of democracy in a world where the forces of 
     oppression are trying to regain ground.
       The Alliance for Democracy could help confront common 
     security challenges, including terrorism. It could work to 
     make the liberal capitalist democracies more prosperous, 
     competitive, and attractive by promoting commerce, economic 
     growth and job creation. It could help promote democracy 
     directly through advice, support, and assistance. It could be 
     a forum for the coordination of policies in other 
     international organizations, including push for reforms to 
     make the United Nations more effective. And the Alliance for 
     Democracy could also be used for joint action, particularly 
     humanitarian interventions.
       Many of us are inclined to believe that the community of 
     values with the best story will win, that the West won the 
     Cold War because the better world view triumphed, and the 
     progress is inevitable.
       However, the rise of autocratic powers and Islamic 
     radicalism reminds us that the victory of democratic powers 
     over oppression is not inevitable and it needs not be 
     lasting. History has taught us that we cannot be complacent.
       Thomas Jefferson reminded us that ``the price of liberty is 
     eternal vigilance''. I will continue dreaming of the 
     predominance of capitalism and liberal democracy. I will not 
     accept the argument that certain people are not well suited 
     for democracy.
       In a world that grows in freedom and democracy, people will 
     have a chance to raise their families and live in peace and 
     build a better future. The terrorists will lose their 
     recruits and lose their sponsors and lose safe havens from 
     which to launch new attacks, and there will be less room for 
     tyranny and terror.
       But to ensure the progress of freedom and democracy, we 
     must ensure an invincible global balance in favor of the 
     forces of freedom and democracy.
       You have just had presidential elections. I don't think the 
     American people have mandated retreat. On the contrary, I 
     believe that the outcome of the elections was a reaction to 
     the receding freedom and democracy and the growing terrorism 
     and autocracy that you have witnessed during recent years.
       I trust America and American leadership. Of course, also 
     America makes mistakes. But who else should be the leader of 
     the free world? I'm tempted to quote Winston Churchill who 
     once said that the Americans will always do the right thing--
     after having tried everything else.
       Ladies and gentlemen, the world's democracies must rise to 
     the challenge. America must exercise determined global 
     leadership.

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