Nevada and National Leaders Challenge Presidential Candidates to Strengthen America's...

Nevada and National Leaders Challenge Presidential Candidates to Strengthen
America's Global Leadership

Local Leaders Join Former Homeland Security Secretary and Governor Tom Ridge,
Andrea Koppel, Former Senator Richard Bryan and Starbucks Senior Vice
President Sandra Taylor

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Center for U.S. Global
Engagement and its state partners, the Nevada Committee on Foreign Relations
and World Market Center, joined more than 400 Nevada business, civic,
political, academic and faith leaders today in the countdown to the Nevada
caucuses to launch Impact '08 in Nevada: Building a Better, Safer World, a
campaign urging the Presidential candidates to elevate and strengthen
America's non-military tools for global engagement.

This bipartisan group of Nevada leaders joins a growing campaign of leaders in
other early voting states and nationally who are calling on the Presidential
candidates to chart a new path for America's role in the world, with greater
investments in global development, health and diplomacy to promote America's
national security, economic prosperity, and moral leadership.

The impressive and unusually diverse group of Nevada leaders launching the
Impact '08 in Nevada campaign include: Governor Jim Gibbons; Lt. Governor
Brian K. Krolicki; U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; U.S. Rep. Shelley
Berkley; Dina Titus, Minority Leader of the Nevada State Senate; former
Governor and U.S. Senator Richard Bryan; William P. Weidner, President and COO
of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation; Milton D. Glick, President of the
University of Nevada, Reno; Dr. Carol Harter, President Emerita of the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Dr. Yvonne Stedman, President of the Nevada
World Trade Council; Hon. Ruben Kihuen, Nevada State Assembly Member; and
Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn.

"With our nation's security and our economy at stake, the next President must
not only strengthen our military capabilities, but also our non-military
capacity to address global political, economic, and humanitarian challenges,"
said Governor Ridge.

"Investing in a more secure, prosperous world through foreign assistance means
a better, safer Nevada," said Senator Bryan, who served as Vice Chairman of
the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Lt. Governor Krolicki said, "The United States should not sit back and
tolerate suffering anywhere in the world, just as we should not tolerate it
here at home. As part of a global society, Nevadans believe America can and
should play a leadership role in helping promote economic development and
advancement. Assisting developing countries in ways that focus on improving
humankind, economics and security will positively impact future generations in
impoverished countries that need our help."

"Nevada depends on international tourism. Utilizing development to project a
positive image of America to the world is important to us remaining the
world's 'favorite playground,'" said Las Vegas Sands President and COO
Weidner.

"Nevadans care about helping the world's poorest citizens. By greater
investment in foreign assistance, we can save lives and reinvigorate our moral
leadership in the world," said Nevada Senate Minority Leader Titus.

"Foreign assistance and trade promotion programs help Americans by growing the
world's economy, creating jobs for Americans, and also helping coffee farmers
in poor regions of the world attain fair prices to improve the quality of
their lives," said Taylor, who as Starbucks' Senior Vice President oversees
the company's global partnerships in corporate social responsibility.

The Center for U.S. Global Engagement unites business, civic, political,
military and faith leaders in Nevada and around the country in support of
greater investments in development and diplomacy to strengthen America's role
in the world. Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Reagan Defense
Secretary Frank Carlucci are co-chairing the national Impact '08 effort, with
support from more than 30 former Cabinet officials, Congressional leaders and
other foreign policy and national security experts. The Center is tracking
statements and positions by the presidential candidates on various foreign
policy topics. To view quotes by candidates, and for more information on the
Center, the Impact '08 campaign and its supporters, go to
www.usglobalengagement.org.

The Nevada Committee on Foreign Relations was established in 2001 and is a
nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public dialogue on foreign
relations. See www.ncfr.us/

World Market Center in Las Vegas is set to be the largest and most
comprehensive home and hospitality furnishings complex in the world. See
www.lasvegasmarket.com

SOURCE Center for U.S. Global Engagement

John Brennan of Center for U.S. Global Engagement, +1-202-730-4163 (office),
+1-202-280-8487 (cell), or Rachel Wilkinson , +1-702-796-1773 (office),
+1-702-279-0002 (cell), for the Center for U.S. Global Engagement