US Presidency
2012

As the tide of war recedes, a wave of change has washed across the Middle East and North Africa, from Tunis to Cairo; from follows; It to Tripoli. A year ago, Qaddafi was one of the world's longest-serving dictators - â€“ a murderer with American blood on his hands. Today, he is gone. And in Syria, I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change can not be reversed, and that human dignity can not be denied. How this incredible transformation will end remains uncertain. But we have a huge stake in the outcome. And while it's ultimately up to the people of the region to decide their fate, we will advocate for those values that have served our own country so well. We will stand against violence and intimidation. We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings â€“ - men and women; Christians, Muslims and Jews. We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty.