Foreign Affairs

President Reagan won the Cold War without firing a shot.  By never wavering on missile defense, building the military, and instigating internal economic challenges in the Soviet Union, he forced Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev to back down.

President Obama has sought to appease Iran, provided terrorists with a timetable for America’s withdrawal from Iraq, and backed away from his “red line” with Syria.  In this vacuum, the crisis in Syria worsened, ISIS took over much of Iraq, and Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed portions of Ukraine.

America and the world have known peace when America was strong.  Currently, even our closest allies don’t know if they can trust America, and we are all in danger.

As Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism, I am actively engaged in efforts to rebuild trust with our allies, working to address misunderstandings regarding the NSA revelations, and seeking collaboration in the fight against radical Islamist terrorism.

America is not the “world’s policeman,” but when we stand strong for freedom, make clear our support for allies, and even more clearly enforce the “red lines” our enemies don’t dare to cross, we make the world, and our community, a safer place.

The decision to deploy our brave Armed Forces into combat should be reserved for matters of national security.  In other instances, where the cause of freedom, the dignity of basic human rights, and freedom of religion is threatened, we must appropriately use all diplomatic, economic and technological tools available, including support for allied militaries, to stand up for the powerless.

China is increasingly important to our foreign policy.  While our countries have close economic ties, we remain far apart in our views on democracy, freedom, basic human rights, and religious freedom.  Speaker of the House John Boehner appointed me to serve on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, helping to monitor human rights and religious freedom abuses in China.

During a dinner this summer at the Chinese Embassy, I spoke on economic, trade, and security issues, but also politely, yet firmly, discussed the issues of human rights, religious liberty, and freedoms of conscience.  Later, I joined my colleagues in urging the District of Columbia to name the street in front of the Chinese Embassy in honor of a political prisoner.

Pastor Saeed Abedini is an American citizen currently jailed in Iran because of his Christian faith.  Twice in the past year I have organized large bipartisan coalitions in Congress to co-sign letters I wrote urging President Obama to take action on Pastor Abedini’s behalf, resulting in President Obama speaking directly to Iranian President Rouhani about the injustice.  We cherish our Constitutionally-protected freedom of religion, and as a nation we must seek to bring that same freedom to people all over the world.                                                            

The world sees the United States as a beacon of freedom.  Our responsibility is to continue upholding the torch of liberty, dedicated to opposing the violation of human rights, assisting those who are persecuted for their religious beliefs, fighting tyranny, and defending freedom.

To whom much is given, much is required.  We are a blessed nation.  Our national interest is best served as we uphold these liberties and freedoms for people around the world.