ANNUAL MEETING A MAJOR SUCCESS
Helps Begin Building a Bipartisan Foreign Policy

More than 200 people attended Citizens for Global Solutions Annual Meeting at the Hotel Palomar in Washington, D.C. on November 13-14. Held less than one week after the mid-term elections, the event was attended by Members of Congress, Capitol Hill staffers and representatives from the foreign policy, advocacy and business communities. They were joined by our own members from across the country to discuss the creation of an effective, bipartisan U.S. foreign policy for the 21st Century.

Representatives Jim Kolbe (R-AZ 08), Jim McGovern (D-MA 03), Jim Leach (R-IA 02) and Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), were among the guest speakers.

Rep. Kolbe noted the importance of the United States to remain committed to global issues by strengthening its relations with the international community and continuing support for the United Nations. Rep. McGovern spoke of the pivotal role of global engagement and suggested that Rep. Leach should be considered as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Sen. Sarbanes spoke about how Congress, coming out of the recent elections, should aim to form an effective foreign policy that is founded on principles such as respect and global solidarity.

Rep. Leach noted the important work of Citizens for Global Solutions, and due to Rep. McGovern’s comments the day before, his appearance was especially interesting to attendees. Rep. Leach said that he’d be willing to consider a “higher-calling” to represent the people of Iowa and our nation.

The two-day event ended with a keynote address by Harold Hongju Koh, Dean of Yale Law School and former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. He spoke not only of the lack of necessary U.S. engagement on the world stage in such areas as Iraq and torture, but also strongly noted that current policies run counter to a true, effective bipartisan U.S. foreign policy.

For more information, please visit www.globalsolutions.org.

Contributing Writer: Chris Belisle