By Kim Chipman
April 11 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama urged global cooperation to combat threats including the economic crisis and terrorism, saying U.S. leadership alone can’t solve worldwide dilemmas.
“These are challenges that no single nation, no matter how powerful, can confront alone,” Obama said today in his weekly address on the radio and Internet. “The U.S. must lead the way, but our best chance to solve these unprecedented problems comes from acting in concert with other nations.”
Obama, speaking after an eight-day trip to Europe, Turkey and Iraq, said progress made at last week’s Group of 20 summit in London and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting in France is an example of how countries can work together. He said it’s crucial for nations to move beyond old conflicts and unite to face common challenges.
“Make no mistake: We live in a dangerous world, and we must be strong and vigilant in the face of these threats,” Obama said. “Let us not allow whatever differences we have with other nations to stop us from coming together around those solutions that are essential to our survival and success.”
Obama praised the G-20 nations, the world’s largest economies, for taking joint steps to “stimulate” growth and protect against future financial crises from happening again. He also lauded NATO allies’ support for the U.S. plan to root out terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Nuclear Weapons
“It is only by working together that we will finally defeat 21st century security threats like al Qaeda,” he said.
Obama, 47, drew attention to his call last week to work with Russia to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. He also reminded listeners about his April 6 comments in Turkey to rise above “the barriers of race, region and religion”
The Democratic president’s comments come amid the Jewish holiday of Passover and one day before the Christian observance of Easter.
“It seems fitting that we mark them both during the same week,” Obama said. “They are both moments of reflection and renewal. They are both occasions to think more deeply about the obligations we have to ourselves and the obligations we have to one another, no matter who we are, where we come from, or what faith we practice.”
Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, in today’s weekly Republican address, criticized the Democrat-controlled Congress’s budget plan, arguing that it would create “mountains of new debt” and doesn’t provide adequate tax relief for middle-class workers and small businesses.
Republican Response
“The federal government should keep a lid on taxes, control government spending and borrow less,” Pawlenty, 48, said. “‘I urge President Obama and the Democrat-led Congress to let hardworking American families keep more of what they earn by cutting taxes and reining in spending. It’s just common sense.”
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill last week approved drafts of Obama’s 2010 budget that largely adhere to the administration’s priorities.
Obama has proposed a $3.6 trillion budget blueprint for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 that calls for revamping the country’s health-care system, education policies and energy economy.
The president has said his plan would bring tax relief for most working Americans and reduce the deficit while also making the long-term investments critical to the country’s future prosperity.
The House approved a $3.55 trillion plan on April 2. The vote was 233-196 with every Republican who voted opposing the plan. The Senate passed its draft, 55-43, with no Republicans voting in favor and two Democrats, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Evan Bayh of Indiana, in opposition.
Lawmakers will try to work out their differences later this month after returning from a two-week break that began April 6.
To contact the reporter on this story: Kim Chipman in Washington at kchipman@bloomberg.net. Last Updated: April 11, 2009 06:00 EDT
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