Barack Obama, who was officially nominated as the US Democratic Presidential candidate, received strong backing from former President Bill Clinton
WASHINGTON Barack Obama, who was officially nominated as the US Democratic Presidential candidate, received strong backing from former President Bill Clinton, who said he expects him to undo the damage done to America on the domestic and the foreign policy fronts.
In a stirring speech at the ongoing National Democratic Convention at Denver, Colorado, Clinton said, "our nation is in trouble on two fronts. The American dream is under siege at home and America's leadership in the world has been weakened."
The former President said that US position in the world had been weakened by too much unilateralism and too little cooperation, by a perilous dependence on imported oil, by refusal to lead on global warming, by a severely burdened military and backsliding on global non-proliferation and arms control agreements.
Backing Senator Obama, the former President said he (Obama) will first use diplomacy in foreign affairs and resort to force as a last resort -- a classic reference to the foreign policy of the Bush administration, which he said over-relied on unilateralism.
"From the Middle east to Africa to Latin America to central and eastern Europe, the US administration had failed to use the power of diplomacy.
"Clearly, the job of the next president is to rebuild the American dream and to restore American leadership in the world," Clinton said making the point that President Obama will choose diplomacy first and military force as a last resort," Clinton told cheering delegates and guests at the Convention Centre.
Clinton said Obama's grasp on "foreign policy affairs" and his "diverse background" made him the right man for America's top job.
"Everything I learned in my eight years as president, and in the work I have done has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job. He has shown -- a clear grasp of foreign policy and national security challenges," said Clinton.
"His family heritage and his life experiences have given him a unique capacity to lead our increasingly diverse nation in an ever more interdependent world," he added.
Supporting Obama's choice of Senator Joseph Biden as his running mate, Clinton said, "With Joe Biden's experience and wisdom, supporting Barack Obama's proven understanding, instincts, and insight, America will have the national security leadership we need."
Clinton expressed hope that Obama will usher in an era, where America will have "more partners and fewer adversaries".
"He will rebuild our frayed alliances and revitalize the international institutions which helped to share the cost of the world's problems and to leverage the power of our influence," he said.
"He will put us back in the forefront of the world's fight against global warming and the fight to reduce nuclear, chemical and biological weapons" the 42nd President of the US, whose wife Hillary, lost out on the Democratic Presidential nomination race.
"...let's send them a message that will echo from the Rockies all across America, a simple message: Thanks, but no thanks. In this case, the third time is not the charm," Clinton said referring to Republican nominee John McCain's camp.
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