A RECORD OF LEADERSHIP

"Because of American leadership, more people than ever before live free and at peace. And Americans have known 50 years of prosperity and security... All over the world, even after the Cold War, people still look to us and trust us to help them seek the blessings of peace and freedom. But as the Cold War fades into memory, voices of isolation say America should retreat from its responsibilities.
Of course, we can't be everywhere ...we can't do everything. But where our interests and our values are at stake, and where we can make a difference, America must lead. We must not be isolationist."

President Clinton
January 23, 1996, State of the Union

President Clinton's leadership is making a difference around the world. Children from Belfast to Jerusalem to Sarajevo can now look with hope to a future of peace rather than live with the horrors of war.

A RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT:

• Making Every American safer by reducing the nuclear threat. Russian nuclear missiles are no longer pointed at our children. Secured bipartisan U.S. ratification of START II. When ratified by Russia, START II will reduce nuclear stockpiles by another 25 percent.

• Persuaded Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to give up the nuclear weapons left on their territory after the dissolution of the Former Soviet Union.

• Convinced North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program.

• Curbing access to weapons of destruction by terrorists, international criminals and rogue states through tougher enforcement, monitoring and international cooperation.

• Standing firm in Bosnia. Because of decisive American leadership, ethnic cleansing, terror and war have been replaced by peace in Bosnia. President Clinton led the effort to conclude a comprehensive peace, negotiated in Dayton, for war-ravaged Bosnia. Now, continued American leadership is ending the destruction, death and suffering there while securing our interests for the future.

• Restoring democracy to Haiti. The Haitian people no longer fear walking the streets of Port au Prince, and the dangerous flow of refugees to U.S. shores has been stopped. The U.S. gave Haiti another chance at democracy and the result has been the first transfer of power from one democratically-elected president to another in Haitian history.

• Working for peace in the Middle East. Championed peace efforts in the Middle East by negotiating the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty and helping Israelis and Palestinians conclude and fulfill their first-ever peace agreement. Organized historic March 1996 Summit of the Peacemakers in Egypt with 29 world and regional leaders to support the Middle East peace process and to counter terrorism. Negotiated written agreement between Israel and Syria to end Hezbollah attacks on Israel and provide for restoration of calm and protection of civilians on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border.

• Working for peace in Northern Ireland. President Clinton became the first American President to visit Northern Ireland in the pursuit of a real, just and lasting peace.

• Working towards democracy in Cuba. Imposed the toughest sanctions ever on Castro's Cuba following the brutal killing of U.S. nationals over international water.

• Opening markets. Opening more foreign markets to U.S. goods than all previous Administrations, with stronger and successful trade agreements, important for U.S. workers and business. Our exports to Japan support over 800,000 U.S. jobs. As a whole, total exports have grown 31%, creating 1 million high-quality, high wage jobs. And for the second year in a row, the U.S. was named the most competitive economy in the world.

• Building an undivided, democratic Europe. America is helping to secure the peace we fought so hard to win. Through our leadership, NATO has agreed to a process to admit new members, while modernizing and strengthening itself. We are establishing a Trans-Atlantic Partnership for Peace, working with Russia, and helping to reform the former Soviet economies.

• Supporting democracy in Central Europe. Because America is helping the newly free nations of Central Europe develop democratic societies, they seek to rejoin the West with hope, rather than having to look to the East with fear.

• Strong U.S. military. Ensuring America’s military remains the best-equipped, best-trained and best-prepared fighting force in the world to meet the post Cold War challenges to peace.

• Fighting terrorism to make Americans safer. Waging a tough counter-terrorism campaign with stronger laws and more training for law enforcement. In April l996, President Clinton signed antiterrorism legislation giving our law enforcement officials tough new tools to stop terrorists before they strike, and to bring them to justice if they do.

• Further isolating Iraqi threat. The people of the Gulf are safer because President Clinton sent American planes, ships and troops to turn back a new Iraqi threat in the Persian Gulf and to respond to a threat on the life of visiting former President George Bush.

CHALLENGES AHEAD:

President Clinton will continue to stand up for American values abroad. By supporting those who are taking risks for peace, we are living up to our promise of American leadership and helping secure a future of peace and prosperity for all. Toward these goals, over the coming months and years, the President is challenging Congress and other countries to:

• Intensify the fight against terrorism and organized crime at home and abroad by working for tougher enforcement and more cross-border cooperation.

• Secure a truly comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

• Outlaw poison gas forever by getting the Chemical Weapons Convention ratified.

• Aggressively combat international drug-trafficking by working closely with other countries, providing military support and initiating anti-corruption efforts to stem the flow of drugs.

• Admit first new NATO members since the end of the Cold War and maintain partnership with Russia.

  Last Update: May 1, 1996