I opposed the Iraq war from the beginning, arguing that we needed to "finish the fight with Bin Laden and Al Qaeda" in Afghanistan. I have argued that we need to do more to roll back the Al Qaeda sanctuary along the Afghan-Pakistan border, and that we cannot put all of our eggs in the Musharraf basket in Pakistan. That is why I proposed, long before the declaration of martial law in Pakistan, that we need to condition our assistance to the Pakistani government so that we encourage stronger action against Al Qaeda and a restoration of democracy.
Our goal remains not simply an ally in Pakistan -- our goal is a democratic ally, with a vibrant civil society and strong institutions.
While we will be vigilant in tracking down terrorists and taking down terrorist networks, we know that the battle against extremism is not just military. As democracies founded upon the rule of law -- and countries committed to economic opportunity -- the United States and India also know that the solution to extremism is not just military; it is also political and economic. That is why I am committed to renewing American diplomacy and restoring our commitment to human rights abroad and civil liberties at home.
As President, I will close Guantanamo, restore habeas corpus, and renounce torture without equivocation, because America needs to be a light of justice to the world.
I will make it a focus of my foreign policy to roll back the tide of hopelessness that gives rise to hate. We know where extremists thrive: In conflict zones that are incubators of resentment and anarchy; and in weak States that cannot control their borders or territory, or meet the basic needs of their people. From Africa to Ccentral Asia to the Pacific Rim -- nearly 60 countries stand on the brink of conflict or collapse.
Image: Barack Obama at a rally, February 20, at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. Photograph: Rick Gershon/Getty Images
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At the Rediff Bookshop: Should Barack Obama Be President?
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