The issues that are important, part 2

This is the second in a series that covers the issues that Senator Hagel thinks are important to America today and for the future.
The excerpts are from a story by Peter Bodley

Must work with other countries

At the same time, the United States must be willing to work with other countries to deal with the ills of the world - poverty and hunger, pandemic health issues, climate changes, according to Hagel.

"We must work with other nations to produce common purposes and common interests," Hagel said.

This happened after World War II when organizations such as the United Nations, NATO, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the World Trade Organization were created, he said.

"If we don't engage societies and people, we isolate people," Hagel said.

Then there are consequences like 9/11, he said.

"Our challenge is to leave the world a better place for the next generation," Hagel said.

"Are we up to it? Absolutely. But it depends on how we respond to the issues."

A military response to everything is not the answer, according to Hagel.
While a strong military is important, holding the world at the end of a gun won't work, he said.

"There has to be a balance in how we address the challenges," Hagel said.

And to deal with the challenges, government in Washington has to change - the tenor of political rhetoric and the paralyzing partisanship, he said.