The U.S has acquired reservoirs of goodwill around the globe over many years. But it is clear - from polling data and ample anecdotal evidence - that America is losing its allure in much of the world.

We should insist that governments receiving American aid live up to standards of accountability and transparency, and we should support countries that embrace market reforms, democracy, and the rule of law.

Democracy fascinates me.

A likely source for terrorists seeking to buy or steal nuclear materials is the former Soviet Union.

One half of the world's people live on less than two dollars a day. This should concern our national security policy as well as our conscience.

Events often move faster than our ability to comprehend them.

Democracy makes us articulate our views, defend them, and refine them.