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With poor showings from the Iowa Democratic caucus, Senators Joe Biden and Chris Dodd announced the withdrawal of their presidential candidacies last night. It only seems appropriate to say thank you to these two senators for injecting into our national debate thoughtful arguments for an American foreign policy predicated on engaging the world through multilateral platforms.
In their long careers in the Senate, both lawmakers have steadfastly articulated a foreign policy vision which holds that the United States is strongest when it is goals and values are shared by an ever increasing number of allies around the world. That vision has translated itself into strong support for international institutions like the United Nations. As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Biden has been one of the more robust defenders of the United Nations. This year, he even helped forge legislation that would allow the United States to pay its fair share of dues to the United Nations and to United Nations Peacekeeping. For his part, Dodd -- also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- is one of the more sophisticated foreign policy thinkers in the Senate. Like Biden, he is a longtime champion of international law, international justice, and a world order based on rule of law. The International Criminal Court, for example, has no stronger friend in the United States senate than Chris Dodd.
Both Senators will be missed on the campaign trail, but thankfully they can return to the Senate and continue to be forceful advocates for a more enlightened American foreign policy.
