Clinton says U.S. must lead in world affairs

[Reuters]

CHICAGO (Reuter) - President Clinton said Thursday the
United States could not be the world's policeman but there were
times when it must act abroad to protect its interests and
values.
In a speech accepting the Democratic nomination for a second
term as president, Clinton said:
``There are times when only America can make the difference
between war and peace, freedom and repression, life and death.
``We cannot save all the world's children -- but we can save
many. We cannot be the world's policeman -- but where our
values, and our interests are at stake, America must act -- and
America must lead.''
Clinton devoted only a few moments of his hour-long speech
to foreign policy. Following are some of his comments:
-- Cuba must join the ``family of Democracies.''
-- The United States would continue its strong partnership
with a democratic Russia.
-- Some of Europe's new democracies (in eastern Europe)
would be brought into NATO, ``so their freedom is never in doubt
again.''
-- Measures to further reduce nuclear arsenals, banish
poison gas, and ban nuclear tests must be enforced and ratified.
-- Funding for modernizing U.S. weapons would be increased
by 40 percent by the year 2000 to keep the U.S. armed forces
''the best-trained and best-equipped'' in the world.
-- The United States would develop ``sensible'' defenses
against missile attack. But in reference to ambitious proposals
by his Republican opponent Bob Dole, Clinton said: ``We must
not -- now or by the year 2000 -- squander $60 billion on an
unproved, ineffective ``Star Wars'' program that could be
obsolete tomorrow.''