Talking Points

Two sets of sample talking points are provided. Only by speaking out and explaining our concerns will we insure that elected officials know there is a constituency that wants U.S. engagement abroad and a strong Foreign Service.

Sample One
"America's Engagement in the World: It's Our National Interest - It Can't Be Done on the Cheap"

• The American people, in the post-Cold War world, are confronted with new and dangerous challenges. (Regional conflicts, migration, nuclear weapons proliferation, environmental degradation, international crime, terrorism, etc.)

• Diplomacy is the most cost-effective method to engage in and influence the world. Among the tools available to meet these new challenges, diplomacy is a front-end investment that, with the proper resources, can prevent the use of the more costly tools of covert intelligence operations or military engagement.

• The United States is retreating from its position of leadership in the world. Decreasing resources for foreign affairs has reduced U.S. diplomatic readiness and influence on world policy. In the past decade, spending for foreign affairs has been cut 50 percent in real terms.
  • Among the 21 wealthiest industrialized nations, the U.S. ranks dead last in percentage of GNP spent on foreign aid. Clearly, the rest of the developed world sees the value in international engagement. If the U.S. continues to retreat from engagement, it may find its objectives jeopardized by the influence of our more engaged competitors.

  
  
  • Since 1992, 36 diplomatic or consular posts, 10 USIA posts, and 28 USAID posts have been closed. More closings are planned. Americans are receiving less service and protection than ever before.

  • In a complex multipolar world, demand for skilled FS professionals has increased. But because of decreasing resources, fewer FS personnel are available to meet the expanding workload, and less well-trained personnel because training or time for training is not available.
    
    

• It is in the U.S. interest to lead in the world, not disengage from it. But we need sufficient resources to get the job done. It can't be done on the cheap.

Sample Two
"Active Diplomacy - A Sound Investment in America's Economic Life"

• America's future economic strength depends on continued foreign engagement.
  
  
  • America's economy depends on exports as never before. Exports now account for almost one third of real U.S. economic growth. The recent surge in exports has created more than 1 million new jobs.
  
  
  • Developing countries, with market growth rates 10 times those of our traditional trade partners in Japan and Europe, account for nearly $200 billion in U.S. exports. The Commerce Department estimates that every billion dollars of new exports creates 20,000 American jobs. But these countries need stability in which to grow, and we need stable and equitable trade relationships to prosper.
    

• Americans have enormous misperceptions about and don't realize the strength of an investment in foreign affairs.
  • A University of Maryland poll shows that on average Americans believe we are spending 18% of the federal budget on foreign aid. In actuality, foreign aid accounts for .8% of the federal budget. Total foreign affairs spending has been reduced in real terms over 50% in the past decade. Currently 1.2% of the total budget.
    
    

• Only well-trained professional Foreign Service personnel with up-to-date technology can secure our objectives abroad:
  • Asia - embassy helped break a traditional foreign monopoly on the sale of power generation equipment and win a multimillion-dollar contract for U.S. business.

  
  
  • Latin America - embassy played a critical role in opening oil sector to foreign investment.

  • Every embassy is involved in working to promote U.S. commercial interests.
    
    

• We can not reduce our foreign affairs resources any further. Further cuts in spending will result in irreparable losses to the American economy and the needless sacrifice of a costly Cold War victory.