Bush expresses concern about isolationism
President Bush expressed concern Thursday about the United States turning "isolationist and nervous," saying America should never hesitate to confront world problems.
Bush said the U.S. has a big stake in being engaged around the world in trouble spots like Africa, Colombia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It”s in America”s vital interest to help all these nations combat ideologies of hate," the president said. "It”s in our security interest to eliminate safe havens for terrorists and extremists. It”s in our national interest to develop institutions that allow them to govern their territories effectively and improve their lives."
The president spoke at the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new headquarters of the U.S. Institute of Peace, financed in part by $100 million that was quietly slipped into a spending bill almost four years ago by former Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska.
While Bush has led a crusade against lawmakers” pet projects known in congressional parlance as "earmarks," he paid tribute to Stevens "for helping to secure the funding for this important site." White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush "doesn”t think that every project that”s funded through an earmark isn”t worth merit; he just objects to the process."
Bush said the U.S. Institute of Peace and other non-governmental agencies are important partners in helping to promote democracy.
"The work of democratic development is the great cause of our time, and we shouldn”t shy away from it," Bush said. "And we must be confident in our ability to help others realize the blessings of freedom. My big concern is that the United States becomes isolationist and nervous; we don”t support those values that have stood the test of time. The Institute of Peace, I hope, will make sure that never happens."
The institute is an independent, nonpartisan institution established by Congress in 1984 to help prevent and resolve violent international conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and increase peacebuilding capacity. It”s new headquarters will face the Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials on the National Mall.