Susan Rice spent three and a half years as national security adviser to Barack Obama, personally briefing the former president on the most pressing threats facing the country. Before that, she spent more than four years as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (and was the first African-American woman to ever hold that position). During her time in the Obama administration, Rice made a name for herself as a strong-willed presence—one whom former VP Joe Biden called "incredibly effective." Now, less than six months since she left office, Rice is speaking out against the current president and how his administration is handling national security.
"Since I left the White House, I’ve become deeply concerned that the United States is squandering one of our greatest strategic assets—America’s leadership of the world," Rice told the crowd at the Center for American Progress 2017 Ideas Conference in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday morning. "I’m here to argue for a better strategy—a progressive strategy—that will renew our global leadership."
She continued, "It seems that the current administration looks at the world and sees only threats. Immigrants. Refugees. Muslims. Mexicans. Even trade. It’s ‘America first’—and the rest of the world last."
Without mentioning him by name, Rice offered pointed criticism of Donald Trump, calling out the current administration’s dismissal of international military partnerships such as NATO, and its "excusing of Russia's outrageous behavior" (a day after The Washington Post broke the news that Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian ambassador and foreign minister during their visit to the Oval Office last week).
Saying that "bluster is for bullies" and dismissing the president's continued use of Twitter, Rice called for greater cooperation across borders and investment in diplomacy—specifically referencing the State Department—while simultaneously advocating for a military that is "smartly funded, wisely deployed, and ready to deal with any threat at a moment’s notice" and is used "judiciously," drawing from past mistakes in Vietnam and Iraq.
Rice also encouraged the current administration to dedicate resources to "smart development" and called for increased aid to developing nations to combat poverty, conflict, and disease (comments that, like her remarks on Russia, were particularly timely considering Monday's expansion of the Global Gag Rule to apply to all world health organizations). Championing one of the most prominent causes of the former White House, Rice also called for greater investment in girls’ education.
"When we educate and empower women and girls—that’s good for our security, too," she said. "So, yes, we still need to Let Girls Learn."
As a final point, Rice warned that "profound political polarization" is a threat to our national security, saying that we "need to shake off this national funk and remember that, first and foremost, we are all Americans.
"When Americans of every race, religion, and class stand together for the rights of all—for women as well as men…for our immigrant heritage…for LGBT citizens…for the belief that we are all equally God’s children…when we recall that we all love this country deeply…when we remember what America truly means, then, and only then, will we be strong at home and a still stronger leader in this complex world," Rice concluded. "The choice is ours. We can either squander our greatness or build a common future based on respect for the dignity and value of every American and all mankind."
