Finally, I would like to thank Senator Biden for a friendship I have treasured for more than ten years. Without him, I would not be here. As a former member of Senator Biden's staff, I understand and appreciate the important work of this committee. I look forward to working with you if I am confirmed. Mr. Chairman, public communication, debate and persuasion are increasingly vital to our exercise of foreign policy.
Traditional diplomacy wears an increasingly public face.
In the world of the Internet and satellite television, policy-makers are less and less able to make decisions behind closed doors. World leadership relies more and more on the ability to explain our actions, our motives and our American values to a watching world. In this information age, our State Department is challenged to keep pace with economic globalization. I believe that public diplomacy, practiced in harmony with traditional diplomacy, will enable us to advance our interests, to protect our security and to continue to provide the moral basis for our leadership in the world. To strengthen public diplomacy, President Clinton, Secretary Albright and Congress are closing the gap between communications and policy development by merging the United States Information Agency with the Department of State.