Partnership for a Secure America

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The Partnership for a Secure America (PSA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recreating the bipartisan center in American national security and foreign policy.

PSA was launched in 2005 by its co-chairs, former Senator Warren Rudman (R-NH) and former Congressman Lee Hamilton (D-IN). PSA's blue-ribbon Advisory Board is united by the belief that the United States is being ill-served by the growing partisan divide surrounding its national security and foreign policy, and that although partisan rancor has traditionally stopped “at the water’s edge,” PSA feels this tradition of bipartisan cooperation has eroded significantly in recent years in negative and harmful ways.

It is PSA's position that policy differences must always be debated, but growing partisan bitterness dangerously interferes with substantive discussion of our national security and foreign policy. PSA was created to address this problem and help foster bipartisan, consensus driven, national solutions to the major national security and foreign policy challenges facing our country.

Contents

[edit] Goals

  • To heighten public awareness of and support for a bipartisan national security and foreign policy
  • To bring leading Democrats and Republicans together to seek common ground in national security and foreign policy
  • To engage both the American people and our political leaders by using the most effective tools of modern communications

[edit] Strategies

  • Develop policy statements reflecting bipartisan consensus on key national security and foreign policy challenges
  • Build bipartisan coalitions to support centrist foreign and security policies
  • Conduct nationwide publicity campaigns in traditional and new media
  • Organize events to highlight bipartisan cooperation on national security and foreign policy among distinguished leaders on both sides of the aisle

[edit] Resources

The PSA Advisory Board, chaired by former Senator Warren Rudman and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, is the mouthpiece of PSA. The Board consists of 24 foreign policy officials from previous administrations, including six former Senators, four former National Security Advisors, former Secretaries of State and Defense, three former UN Ambassadors, and a former Governor.

Drawing on the endorsement of this group, and by using the most sophisticated political communications strategies, PSA has succeeded in carving out a bipartisan “safe space” on critical national security and foreign policy challenges. Public awareness that these Democrats and Republicans can agree on important foreign policy issues helps the American people recognize that our present, divided government can do better.

PSA believes that while special interest groups proliferate in Washington, D.C., none are dedicated solely to consensus and bipartisanship in national security and foreign policy. Most interest groups congregate around the polar extremes of policy issues, leaving a void in the middle of the political spectrum. PSA’s single-minded mission—to identify, expand and promote bipartisan consensus—is unique.

[edit] History

On August 3, 2005, Senator Rudman and Congressman Hamilton launched PSA in an event at the National Press Club. In conjunction with this event PSA issued its first public statement—also printed as a full page ad in the national edition of the New York Times—which outlined a series of principles underlying a bipartisan foreign policy.

In September 2005 PSA co-sponsored a major foreign policy conference in Washington, D.C. titled, “Terrorism, Security and America's Purpose: Towards a More Comprehensive Strategy.” This conference, attended by over 1,000 people in the foreign policy field, examined centrist approaches to combating terrorism at home and abroad. During the conference, PSA released its second statement, which set forth bipartisan principles to guide the struggle against terrorism.

Since that time, PSA has issued five additional bipartisan statements on the most pressing issues in national security and foreign policy, including cruel treatment of detainees, weapons of mass destruction, United Nations reform, the crisis in Darfur, and energy and climate change. Each of these statements has been widely reported on and published in the press, on the Internet, and by word-of-mouth among opinion leaders. Each has been accompanied by a sophisticated publicity campaign. The statements can be viewed at PSA’s website, http://www.PSAonline.org.

In June 2006, PSA launched its blog, Across the Aisle, as a public forum for discussion of foreign policy and national security issues in a bipartisan context. Across the Aisle has succeeded generating thoughtful, provocative arguments on these important issues, while identifying common ground between Democrats and Republicans. Its regular contributors include senior think tank fellows, professors, and former government officials, whose views span the political spectrum.

[edit] The future

As the 2008 elections approach, PSA is focused on identifying the most pressing national security and foreign policy challenges our next President will face. PSA will seek to inform the American electorate about the importance of a moderate, bipartisan approach to these challenges, and help voters demand that candidates commit to restore this country’s proud tradition of leaving partisan rancor “at the water’s edge.”

[edit] PSA Advisory Board

Howard Baker US Senator (R-TN) 1967-85

Nancy Kassebaum Baker US Senator (R-KS) 1978-97

Samuel Berger National Security Advisor 1997-2001

Zbigniew Brzezinski National Security Advisor 1977-81

Warren Christopher Secretary of State 1993-97

Slade Gorton Senator (R-WA) 1981-87, 1989-2001

Lee Hamilton US Congressman (D-IN) 1965-99

Gary Hart US Senator (D-CO) 1975-87

Rita Hauser Chair, International Peace Academy 1992-present

Carla Hills US Trade Representative 1989-93

Richard Holbrooke Ambassador to UN, 1999-2001

Thomas Kean Governor New Jersey 1982-1990

Anthony Lake National Security Advisor 1993-97

John Lehman Secretary of the Navy 1981-87

Richard C. Leone President, The Century Foundation 1989-present

Robert McFarlane National Security Advisor 1983-85

Donald McHenry Ambassador to UN 1979-81

Sam Nunn Senator (D-GA) 1972-96

William Perry Secretary of Defense 1994-97

Thomas Pickering Undersecretary of State 1997-2000

Warren Rudman US Senator (R-NH) 1980-92

Ted Sorenson White House Special Counsel 1961-63

John C. Whitehead Deputy Secretary of State 1985-88

Frank G. Wisner Undersecretary of State 1992-93