His book, your strength is not a panacea. It will not e limb nate the need of military action. Thank you. We now continue to elicit remarks. Hi. Good morning, everyone. Thanks so much to the american prospect for putting this on, including me. Its a real privilege to be a part of this event. All of the panelists and participants, some of them are very familiar. I was asked to address americas role of the middle east post iraq and afghanistan. With the goal maintaining military stability. Id say the light of reopening iraq debate in the past week, i did not plan to have to come here and kind ovp restate that one of the best ways to maintain stability in the middle east is not to start destabilizing wars. Aparentally, that needs to be repeated. How do you spell destabilizing . [ laughter ] i and others would have some criticism about the way theyve handled a number of things. This is something this administration is very, very conscious of, it seems to me. But, also, in terms of international legitimacy. What john can he remember ri referred to as the global test and guess what, he feels right. We were stronger when we interacted with him. T it was certainly supported by the american people. You know, just speaking as a progressive, i think the sense of legitimacy is possibly, you know, a defining karktsistic of the way that progressive understands Foreign Policy. Im thinking of a quote from josh marshall. We going to be able to ail chief our goals much better. And i think another keyword is prague mattism. It is not a doctrine in and of itself. Its rather a lens or a tool that we use. Now, as the United States looks to support democracy and people kind of determining their own destinies, both individually and in their communities and in their countries. I think that should be a part of American Foreign policy. I would say that those lessons, with well over a hundr hundred thousand killed, though, i dont know if its yet large enough. This is to scan. Its an appropriate baseline. It deserves to be put in the plus kol r column of the iraq war i mean, looking at iraq, its certainly counter example of how american fouler should be. I actually do think that obamas rock policy has been fairly objective. Some elements were in place during the butch administration, which i dont think is fair. Its before he came into the office. He start ed and won a pretty vigorous debate even with his own party. Specifically with iran. I think its well on his side by the end of campaign. He took officer and made clear that his goal was to reach out and try to find some new, you know, new, new, new level of a relationship. A huge bout. You and your parter ins in terms of the broader un and, also, individually, queue know, the eu and other countries, countries like china, but they are taking very important steps. I think everybody here has had criticisms of what russia is doing. The iran negotiations have not been indexed to u. S. Russian attentions over ukraine so, yeah, i can see, you know, look at this counter example on the one hand, uf another massive military operation, a druktsive war, an expenszive war. And then, on the other hand, i have the Nuclear Weapon some people could clachl that iran would use that. Its somewhat more plausible that 28d act stabilizing ways. I also think its a reason to doubt that. And then theres also the proliferation issue. So, understanding that nuclear, nonprolich ration is in the United States. That less Nuclear Weapons is more. Emp though we havent reached a goal, we are on track, i think, to achieve something pretty cig nif cant. The idea that iran can be more induced and spornszble. You know, they say in due things, kbet reason 23r kucht. This is going to act ideologically. Iran has had lots of opportunities to commit suicide and has not faken those opportunities. I think its very facial. So the question is, and this is a bet for obama, is whether those interests can be braught within a broad herb famework. And i think the jury is still out. That is one of the other questions. Put them in very close proximity and we got to know them in ways, not always good, but not always bad so, again, the jury is out on this one. And in this way, obama has enacted all of they want who have some problems for their own reasons. Some different. Some the same, who are made verier in vousz that the states might be willing to see iran and treat iran as a more rationale actor with jell lit mat goals. Gli eel just fwinish up bli noting how glad i am to be part of this show. Some of the rules that we share, im really interested. I hope to enkbaj this mornings, again, speaking as a progressive, one of my root bliefs, is a part of how we aproechl overrule all Foreign Policy. I do think were all at this point at the end of the disable. Thanks. Id also like to thank the american prospect and american conservative for organizing this out. And figuratively, did bimt in mountains. I came in on a red line from seattle. Oond thoos if reason its incoheernt. I want to talk about the pacific rich in terms of the economic side. If you take a look at whats hapd urksz you see two very disgaurnd areas. Therefrom many excellent reasons to believe this sort of greyhowers consent created 2008. Im old enough to remember when thoofs actually happening but you cant say that ochb the specific sites. On the economic side, there were a lot of fears to revisit the great depression. The moment states turn. They decided to sort of eliminate elective honor over us. It was not just because of the stock market crisis, but it was in 1931 u. And in 1933, when the economic clansed. Any about it, its www. Kd. The one thing is its hidden. There was,by his xx cam stand aushds of a coordination policy. Tlfts positions of training. Tshsd also be pointed out that the u. S. Exacted lie a surprisingly confident leader. Or the u. S. Taking a lead. Orr areforming the rules and regulations. So, in fact, the Global Economy has been resill jint. It does suggest that perhaps theres actually been more resiliency bolted into the system. Its almost like the system worked. You will on security, though, you can take a look at the broad ind sees. You know ewe ratd off South China Sea or north korea and get the point u. The u. N. Security council arksz krxz ixz oxz nxz ha bmg plit. Its not really going towork because china doesn warant to seem to want chill nieces association are very much putting mine all together. On the one hand, there was the pivot that started in the fall of 2010. It was certainly a smons. You take a more bell coach bogs. But the u. S. Has the sachl commitment even though they rem niez they dont rep niez skbrap news sovereign tee. Everyone realists when you start at r them oobt china. Thats really where the next bill kwon dpliblgt is goix to come from. And theres a good realist answer to this. Its a distribution of power and you realize very important facts. The first is is that despite a lot of per snepgs this town, the ursz still retains a significant amount of post restructuring. Pointing out the various ways in which with no, maamic kbrout for that. Are all viral of these melt riks. The u. S. Is still the mill tire superpower. Production and ownership to watch r watch the con sen suns. Ten to acknowledge at this point thoo, yeah, you wampblt leader. And so wants happened is is in the wake of sourt of. China is something different. Theyve ax which youly done everything that they where are x. Ed to do. I eemd nod goix to sa that thavs a con substantiate. So theyve been perfectly fiming for kite some time. On if other hand, i think shesz able to. And you no, you can argue about who theyre doimpk this chltz squl is this dauds pill b p by the sechl tear. And hire, her theres a lot of debates want military invumpbs. There is a way pledgings to commit to use force in case theres a con sfluxd. Is, in the case of the and so its worth asking whether or not those sortingsover actions coe co. But i do think that the more sblesing kwlasz u theres not another lot of everyday. Utility of economic con sen dants. Dhaxs. H oopg. Theres bmpb to trade shifrd. There. Its. The an shelgd sags chblgt there are two ways to do about this. In some ways, in oobd another r ongd but its also possible sill the kbra e they bled woor over these thirks. Mip many. Where war is goimpk. Whe. Simpbs the bees of west fame yet in 1 23450e678. With the piece of west seemt that. Reloyal juses dpob. Os not guilty how but who wolging orb fwob these are kwlavrj smeshl. At the yoolt of this change of four is a vie voop siep scene a crisis which is penalty. But all over the porld. Business interpraises thempl isle of o mr. Of success in the sourt jeb ren sags sitwaugs bhin bhoin o upon. Without ill thoesz casing rk wemp aaron to do that vrm this is a very profound change. And, again, to try to carry out the debate on Foreign Policy without regard to the fact that our military can no longer win, if thighre inble ri re sdirszs the fact that our military designed to fight other state cans not win against these nonstate forests. Now, when we blook at the first one, it says a war not beings firstdegree adds it where walter. Its a pretty basic rule of Foreign Policy. It doesnt meet the reserve tiff test. You dont want to fight wars with other states. The losing case wills disintegrate and with lydia. Well, surprise, guess what happened. If you go to war with another state regardless of which state wanes the war, koogle lose. Thestaid in which to greed and blow. The distinction that will drive International Relations in the remainder is not some kinder glaten responseble t. Ifs with if center. And we we do to corps with the other than stake, almost certainly, the out gl come will ghoul there u creditor and sorlgts. Furtser more, it is not just that we fail. To bring order. What charns to we have when we cor go in and create a dovt. Government. Beyond that, we are going to report the disorder here. We will import it in the form of veterans coming back who have learned how to build things such as ieds. We will report very high cost. So the first rule is dont duoto war with other states. The second is dont go to war with the nontwo is left. Theres a substantial development fwr washington puffing the dragon. We need kwhooi that nachbl rally orderly. A defeated china could very well disintegrate. It bhks an enormous pill of waterer. Whats the consequence if you do. A what we need is a change in the war. The larnl ets change in 350 wars. Specifically, we need to adan don them. The office of frand strategy, such as the cold war u where with intend to dit tate what their tempbl raises will be. Their internal arengs rimgts are on they own business. By by noorve l fochb upon. Itss worst nooilgts mare is that theres a car sbhp what wee noot involt. That he provide a lot of distax. Tans. We are going to use that disz tans. And, yes,well do everything we can to ice late ougsings from did ourt ere. It is a strong possibility that america will nots zur vooif it. The defensive grand sfrat jill sfrs woxed extrermtly well. The most powerful level. And it is the policy, the grand strategy. It is made up by a prierds ofty people who seek to be a member of the plik r accomplish. Squl so well start with a few questions. Or is it its time to cult our losses and reck nice that we dont know what were doing in iraq. We never had known. Thats how far disturb what weve growing to have, we can kis does the suggestion at ronne eyes. Smoo pef a much broter and of ration really fush vmtz it was emerging after thele r 4679 year or brfr. I think what youre doing right now is. What too manies do we have . J the idea that e koumt have came can w the same thasz we didnt believe. I think its kind of fantasti l fantastical. There r there are about 15 min you wills left in this event. You wi uh uhuh. Well eve been listening backstage how are you . Im grade. Good to see you. But it has bln all day long hoar and that live whether i group discussion, that just proceedsed us, talking about the role of woman in thework place. When you see the fortune sms. 500 you will kpaumpbs. Vmt. Its less notwithstanding 5 pnt. So what do we have to do to change our voices. Plarply the young generation. We have to realize now that the numbers are on our side more and more people are realizing that this is an issue officer everybody. I had to fiempbd that voice within myself. And it occurred during mitt after the birth of sasha barack was in shine p cloo that touchb. The first thing i tried to do was i try ds 2 mard nine nick mpltsd wu what i reelize, when you were woorking a proleshlg i dont believe. It needed to happen. They skpnt tz you to be h from;. Then we had sash arksz, and we lost our babysitter. It was probably the kors siem om my that work, family balance is so frak sis. And yu reezize it with a pling of an eye. You thol thoch in yoe hoch rk thov wronder chl. Tch tchsz. That em poiered me. Arnds who i was at the fulltime was a breastfielding moralmonth onk. Ive got a husz who a way. But youd wetter pay me and sool my family. And the guy said okay. He put me family. We have to get employ others to auns so you v yourj asfroechltz v sfwroechl sdlaptsds. Schamtz as you wikd a mother. There are a lot of people that are going to say, yeah, but, im at skising if i doo that, i miegts lose my job mplts thats why its so pornts fr wam and bhim to to do it mplt things are different now. Question lived 234 whitehouse chlts grapd ma lives up stass mplts thank really fwodment. So this isnt. The fight sblt about under the circumstances; question no how bad it is. We understand. There is no room for that ne goebuation. By the needs are greater because its echblg more dell katz. Ole noompb r noomp ploor sh are are oomp are oortsds ik ra ra are berk owe noo rk go kwvrlt looshblele the cloog oo taking your baby, bringing him in the car seat, at a child care center, coming back. Glitzs something thats going to have to be don by there summered. I no. Abstlutly. Thats why i love the tact na efsz a rrking maam p fwlics. You know, you said that you need that time, too not only did it save me gave me some sleep and peace of mind. But he connected with our girls in a way that i still see. That connection is real. We, as men are understanding that you dont miss that time because you dont get that time back. Because let me tell you, now hat malia and sasha are teenagers, they dont want to be bothered with us. So its that time that he spent rocking in the chairs and reading them stories and he was able to do that because not only did he value it, but he was in a work situation that allowed him to do that. And that was brought us closer. You know, so this is about strengthening the whole family. And i think more and more men are realizing that they cant just they just cant pass off those responsibilities and they have to fight for these changes for themselves. This isnt a womans issue by any stretch of the imagination. They realize that. And your husband really, he was things that he was saying. One thing that really touched a lot of people is when he said, yes, you are a strong woman. A strong mother. A strong wife. But that early in the marriage, to see you break down in tears because you were trying to juggle so much. And how that after all this time has still stayed with him. Did you were you in tears sometimes in trying to do everything . Oh my goodness. I mean, the minute those kids come into the world, they just rip your heart out of your chest. Thats why i tell young women, you know, and young families that, you know, we grow up as professionals, many of us, and we think we have it all figured out. We have our plan. Four years here at this university then im going to go down this path, ill earn this money and get this promotion. Im like, just have a baby. And that baby comes out and looks withdr looks you in the face and all the plans go out the window. You dont know how youre going to feel. Every child is different, you know . They add a whole new set of joy, a whole new set of worries to your life. There is nothing more important to me than my girls. Thats why when we first came in and people asked me what was my agenda when we first came in the white house, i said its making sure my kids are whole. I thought it was being honest. Some people judge me for that, but the truth of the matter was that whether im first lady and hes the president , our first job is to make sure that our kids are on point. That is the most important legacy we will ever leave. So thats why this is issue is so important because employers have to know that if a family life isnt right, you know, if theres a worry, if you dont think youre leaving your child in good care, if theyre not healthy and whole and happy, youre going to bring that worry to work and its going to eat away at what youre able i dont care what you do, you know . You wait, as works famiing fami dont you wake up every morning praying nobodys sick . Just dont be sick, my god. We all pushed them out the door a little sniffley because it was like, okay, cough again. Youre not really sick. Take it. Just, not 100. Not 100. We all sent them to school just a little youre fine. Try to get through lunch. Call me. Tell me how you feel. You know . But you send them off and all youre doing is worrying that theyre falling apart in school. These are are real emotionally draining issues. And, you know, because there are employers that have figured how to do this, you know, how to give us families the space to be good workers, but also to first and foremost be good families, if some can do it, they all can do it. Some are doing it, not all are doing it and in part why were here in washington, people want to know the role of the federal government and in some cases the state government. Is that something that should be done because there are a lot of people who are not certain of that . Well, you know, there are two ways to focus this. Youre going to see in this administration theyre going to two everything in their power administratively to make changes and lead by example. I think one of my young staffers said that she just got an email from the chief of staff who said because of the summit, you know, this administration is going to start asking a set of different questions and so on. So the first thing that the president can do is make sure that his administration is leading by example no. Now, what we need to do requires congressional action at some point in time. I heard nancy say it and heard the president say that youve got to have, you know, elected officials who believe in these issues and the changes that need to be made as passionately as we all do and thats going to require us to help them understand just how important these issues are. You know . [ applause ] but you know there are some who feel, when we talk about minimum wage, equal pay, but mainly minimum wage. I think the first time we sat down and had an interview, you brought it up. You were passionate about it then and fighting and saying how important in knowing the importance of that. When there are people that are there who are saying, its going to cause jobs to be lost, its such a political debate. What can w