On Tuesday, January 28, Foreign Policy for America hosted their first annual conference. Sarah Streyder, our Director, gave remarks introducing the Secure Families Initiative mission to those in attendance.
Secure Families Initiative at Foreign Policy for America Conference
Secure Families Initiative was thrilled to share our mission with the audience at the Foreign Policy for America Conference. Director Sarah Streyder spoke for ten minutes about the motivation to create Secure Families Initiative, our mission and what we hope to accomplish in 2020.
Read an excerpt of Sarah’s remarks:
[T]oo often, when military service is leveraged on the political stage, it’s done to push for aggressive, hawkish foreign policies that make it harder to end wars and take us closer to starting new ones. So even though most voters care about supporting military families, many end up supporting policies that make us less safe not more.
Our country should and does have a strong military. But the armed forces should not be the only arrow our country has in its foreign policy quiver. Our country needs a robust corps of diplomats to pave the way for positive international relations whenever possible — and in doing so, shield our armed forces from unnecessary danger.
Additionally, the process of Authorizing the Use of Military Force should be maximally deliberative and transparent. If our loved ones are called upon to demonstrate the ultimate bounds of their service, we want to feel confident in the necessity and justness of that decision.
That is why it is so important for the Secure Families Initiative to exist. We are creating a home for military spouses – who agree that U.S. foreign policy needs a new direction – to stand up and tell their stories.
It was truly an honor to share Secure Families Initiative with an esteemed gathering of foreign policy experts.
Revitalizing American Diplomacy
The theme of the conference was “Revitalizing American Diplomacy” and it boasted an agenda packed with area experts. The day kicked off with a discussion between FP4A’s Executive Director Andrew Albertson and Representative Andy Kim (NJ 3). Congressman Kim said, “Foreign policy isn’t just something that happens abroad, it impacts our communities at home. When we strengthen our diplomatic efforts, we strengthen our communities.”
The first panel discussed “The Power of Inclusion: Diversity and Foreign Policy Decision Making.” Moderated by Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, the panel included Jamal Abdi (President, National Iranian American Council; Executive Director, NIAC Action), Wardah Khalid (Policy analyst and activist on US foreign policy in the Middle East, refugees/immigrants and Islam in America) and Lauren Herzer Risi (Project Director of Environmental Change and Security Program at the Wilson Center).
Next, Senator Chris Murphy (CT), a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, gave keynote remarks. Sen. Murphy said, “No more use of the military to try and solve political problems overseas.” He also urged diplomacy first advocates to not be only effective critics, “but also effective actors to right the ship.”
The second panel was a valuable discussion about “Rebuilding the State Department” featuring General Barry R. McCaffrey (USA Ret.), Ambassador Nancy McEldowney (Director, Master of Science in Foreign Service program at Georgetown University; former Director of the Foreign Service Institute; former Ambassador to Bulgaria), and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (Senior Vice President at Albright Stonebridge Group and former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs). The conversation was moderated by Sarah Margon (Director, U.S. Foreign Policy, Open Society Foundations).
Keynote Conversation with Ambassador Susan Rice
And last, but certainly not least, Ambassador Susan Rice (Former National Security Advisory) spoke in a candid conversation moderated by Heather Hurlburt (Director, New Models of Policy Change, New America). Ambassador Rice told stories included in her book Tough Love and reflected on the intersection of family, race and foreign policy. She concluded with thoughts on restoring American values in foreign policy. “Our strength flows from lifting others up… I believe in our founding ideals… and I believe when we lead grounded in those ideals we are more powerful, attractive and effective.”
All photos courtesy Alexandra (Sasha) Milentey for Foreign Policy for America