CQ Roll Call: Democratic Coalition Unveils New National Security Principles
The New Democrat Coalition released National Security Principles for a tough and smart national security strategy that secures our homeland and protects our values. Ryan Lucas, intelligence and national security reporter for CQ Roll Call, gives a first look at the principles. Read more below:
Democratic Coalition Unveils New National Security Principles
By Ryan Lucas, CQ Roll Call
The New Democrat Coalition released on Monday a set of national security principles that call for a greater emphasis on diplomacy and development to complement the United States’ military strength.
The strategy hews closely to the traditional, centrist U.S. foreign policy playbook, but it also offers basic guidelines on emerging challenges and threats, such as cybersecurity.
The 52 member coalition include some of the most respected national security lawmakers within the broader Democratic caucus in the House, including Adam B. Schiff and Adam Smith, who serve as ranking member of the House intelligence and defense committees, respectively.
In its two page outline of the principles, the coalition advocates the defeat of terrorist groups abroad, in part by fully funding the diplomatic work and development initiatives that it says promote good governance, political accountability and economic progress.
“We cannot ignore the indispensable role diplomacy and development play in meeting our most pressing security challenges and demonstrating American leadership in global affairs,” the so called New Dems said in a statement.
The coalition also advocates the promotion of American values, including human rights and equality. And, in what could be perceived as a swipe at some of the incendiary rhetoric of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, it called for the rejection of “incendiary, divisive rhetoric that empowers terrorist recruitment at home and abroad.”
On the military front, the New Dems argue for an overhaul of the acquisition process, an end to sequestration and a fresh commitment to NATO in the face of what it calls Russian aggression and other international threats.
It also calls for the U.S. to strengthen its relationship with Israel, Egypt and other Middle East partners to help forge a framework for longterm political stability in the region.
It does not, however, spell out how to do so without compromising the core values, such as human rights, that the New Dems promote but that rights groups say are being severely violated by U.S. allies in the region, including Abdel Fattah el Sisi’s government in Egypt.
Turning to cyber security, the coalition says it wants the United States to help create international rules of the road in the cyber world. It also supports greater investment in efforts to protect U.S. government networks and data.
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