"The next President will have a moment of opportunity to restore America’s global standing and convince the world that America can lead once again. As President, I will seize that opportunity by reintroducing ourselves to the world.  I believe this should be a moment of renewed global engagement, as there are so many problems requiring renewed American attention. I will ensure that the United States is committed to building a world we want, rather than simply defending against a world we fear.

At a moment in history when the world’s most pressing problems require unprecedented cooperation, the tragedy of the last six years is that the Bush administration has squandered the respect, trust, and confidence of even our closest allies and friends.  

I believe the world still looks to the United States for leadership. We should aim to lead our friends and allies in building a world of security and opportunity. America has long been the land of opportunity. But as we know at home and as we see today in Iraq and Afghanistan, opportunity cannot flourish without basic security. We must build a world in which security and opportunity go hand in hand, a world that will be safer, more prosperous, and more just."