Senator John Kerry (D-MA), chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, opening statement, nomination hearing for U.S. ambassador to Syria, March 16, 2010:
“Some have pointed to our disagreements as a reason not to pursue this nomination, but I believe just the opposite is true: We need an Ambassador now because we are at such a pivotal moment. Remember: Diplomacy is not a prize, it is something we do to advance our interests—and we should not fear forceful, principled engagement.
“The real challenge is not deciding whether to engage—it will be in finding a viable path to improved relations. I believe that with confident, carefully calibrated diplomacy, we can show Damascus what it stands to gain by moderating its behavior —and what it stands to lose by going in the other direction. To succeed, we must present Damascus with a clear choice and a vision of a different future. …
“All of us should be realistic about what engagement can accomplish. A Syrian realignment won’t come quickly or easily, and let me clear: It will never come at the expense of Lebanon’s sovereignty. But if we do succeed, it could be transformative in galvanizing the Arab-Israeli peace process and dramatically improving the situation for our friends in Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, and the West Bank. In short, this presents us with an opportunity to change the strategic landscape in the Middle East that we cannot afford to ignore.”
