Let me say parenthetically that Edwards' website is not the best organized website I've been to. Also they should post more of his speechs. Let the candidate stand or fall on his own words, not on the words of some website flunky (unless Senator Edwards actually does the website himself, which would answer both of my complaints.
Also these comments are from before the war in Iraq, and are more than a year old (October 7, 2002 to be precises).
. . . the first responsibility of any government is the safety and security of its citizens. I believe that, today, that responsibility imposes three challenges above all others: first, to eliminate the threat of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons; second, to win the war on terrorism; and third, to promote democracy and freedom around the world, especially the Middle East.
I believe that the successful pursuit of these goals can only come through American leadership of the world - not American disregard for it. Leadership is one of those words that is used so often it sometimes loses its meaning. But sometime soon, if our men and women in uniform are sent into battle into Iraq, we will see very clearly what leadership means. Because if we lead properly, others will join us, adding moral and military strength to our cause, sharing the dangers of war and the burdens of peace that will follow. But if we fail to lead, we will bear those risks and costs alone.
American leadership is about more than our ability to dominate others. It is about convincing others that our power serves their interests as well as our own. We inspire others to stand with us when we show that we are willing to stand with them, to listen to them, to take their views and contributions into account instead of taking them for granted. Too often, this administration seems to confuse leadership with going it alone and engagement with the compromise of principle - but real leadership is about setting principles and rallying others around them.
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