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As Congress Bickers -- Will the World Burn?


The U.S. budget remains at an impasse, as Members of Congress debate how deeply it needs to be cut. But whether it's a deft surgeon's touch like many Democrats recommend or a heavy ax blow wielded by new Tea Party members, the national budget has fixated Congress at a time when global matters need serious attention.

The international budget being discussed in Congress represents less than 1 percent of the entire federal budget. With a cutting frenzy mentality touted by new Tea Party members, will the U.S. bicker while the world burns?

With North Africa and emerging democracies such as Egypt and Tunisia in turmoil, this is not the time to abdicate global leadership. Rather, it is critically important for Congress to articulate that the U.S. is ready to lead and lead well by prioritizing international policy.

Throughout U.S. history, Republican and Democratic administrations and Congress have always understood that foreign assistance is vital to safeguarding both U.S. interests and our national ideals and values. Now, as chaos reigns through many parts of the world, it is crucial for the U.S. to send a clear, loud message: The United States is a global leader with ideas and support for those ideas.

Unfortunately, the current debate in the House, particularly spurred on by Tea Party members, reflects a complete lack of understanding of this vital arm of foreign policy and a catastrophic retreat from our global leadership. Most importantly, this approach will undermine our larger policy goals of stability and democracy promotion and completely abandons the world's most vulnerable - the poor and disenfranchised.

Opportunities abound for the U.S. to send a strong message that we want to be help support these nascent efforts in emerging governments leaning towards democracy. At the same time, there needs to be a balancing act. Continued American influence is critical to the Middle East, especially since this region harbors so much of the world's oil.

When comparing the small international U.S. budget - 1 percent of the total U.S. budget - to the benefits and security offered with our continued international support, it's obvious we need to continue and perhaps increase our aid packages to these Middle Eastern countries.

Egypt, for example, has long been a pillar of American's security strategy in the Middle East. The uncertainty of the post-Mubarak era means that America's annual $1.6 billion aid package to Egypt should continue and perhaps even increase, because it gives Washington some influence over the institution that will have a major say in the country's future - the Egyptian army.
The world is not only burning but it is watching. Doing more with less is a sound plan for the U.S. budget. But cutting corners in international aid funding would be disastrous.

Cuts to this portion of the U.S. budget would only harbor more resentment, more turmoil and more terrorism from Middle Eastern nations. The impact of such cuts would have long lasting repercussions for the large majority of everyday citizens in the Middle East: those who are most vulnerable.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright recently said, "We have good reason to be concerned about the federal budget deficit." And, she added, Congress should keep in mind that "the best route to fiscal stability is to prevent war."

Social media and smart phones have spurned revolutions which may lead to new democracies and a stronger base of world allies for the U.S. Now, it's time for American smart power. Investing wisely now may avert not only another costly war, but also another generation of terrorists.


Sally Painter
Blue Star Strategies

(+1) 202-833-1268 direct
(+1) 202-822-9088 fax
sally.painter@bluestarstrategies.com

888 17th Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006

www.bluestarstrategies.com

The information in this transmittal is privileged and confidential and is intended only for the recipient(s) listed above. If you are not the intended recipient(s) for the delivery of this transmittal, you are hereby notified that any unauthorized distribution or copying of this transmittal is prohibited. If you have received this transmittal in error, please notify me at (+1) 202-833-1281


-----Original Message-----
From: Hunter Biden [mailto:hbiden@rosemontseneca.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7:05 PM
To: Sally Painter
Subject: Re: RE:

S- can you send in different format or just cut and paste into email- I can't open on iPad or phone and I don't have lap top with me.

R. Hunter Biden
Rosemont Seneca Partners
202-333-1880

On Mar 21, 2011, at 4:10 PM, "Sally Painter" <Sally.Painter@bluestarstrategies.com> wrote:

> Sure -- I think I am almost done with our college hunt -- and we survived
>
> safe travels,
> sally
>
>
> Sally Painter
> Blue Star Strategies
>
> (+1) 202-833-1268 direct
> (+1) 202-822-9088 fax
> sally.painter@bluestarstrategies.com
>
> 888 17th Street NW, Suite 800
> Washington, DC 20006
>
> www.bluestarstrategies.com
>
> The information in this transmittal is privileged and confidential and is intended only for the recipient(s) listed above. If you are not the intended recipient(s) for the delivery of this transmittal, you are hereby notified that any unauthorized distribution or copying of this transmittal is prohibited. If you have received this transmittal in error, please notify me at (+1) 202-833-1281
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hunter Biden [mailto:hbiden@rosemontseneca.com]
> Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 3:56 PM
> To: Sally Painter
> Subject: Re:
>
> Sally- I'll read tonight and get back to you ASAP. I am on college tour with my daughter and will be back in DC tomorrow night. Let's touch base Wed.
>
> R. Hunter Biden
> Rosemont Seneca Partners
> 202-333-1880
>
> On Mar 21, 2011, at 3:41 PM, "Sally Painter" <Sally.Painter@bluestarstrategies.com> wrote:
>
>> Dear Hunter,
>>
>>
>>
>> Attached is an op-ed on the international budget. We talked about
>> submitting it together. Let me know if you are still interested. Edits
>> most welcome. I will do it under my other board - Partners for
>> Democratioc Change - I thought you might do it under your food Board.
>>
>>
>>
>> Please advise.
>>
>>
>>
>> Many thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>> sally
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sally Painter
>>
>> Blue Star Strategies
>>
>>
>>
>> (+1) 202-833-1268 direct
>>
>> (+1) 202-822-9088 fax
>>
>> sally.painter@bluestarstrategies.com
>> <mailto:patrick.boland@bluestarstrategies.com>
>>
>>
>>
>> 888 17th Street NW, Suite 800
>>
>> Washington, DC 20006
>>
>>
>>
>> www.bluestarstrategies.com <http://www.bluestarstrategies.com>
>>
>> The information in this transmittal is privileged and confidential and
>> is intended only for the recipient(s) listed above. If you are not the
>> intended recipient(s) for the delivery of this transmittal, you are
>> hereby notified that any unauthorized distribution or copying of this
>> transmittal is prohibited. If you have received this transmittal in
>> error, please notify me at (+1) 202-833-1281
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> <winmail.dat