Re-Capping President Obama's UN Speech

This morning, President Obama offered his first speech to the delegates of the General Assembly of the United Nations. All eyes were certainly on our President, and he delivered a speech with was worthy of the occasion as well as the forum.

Quite surprisingly to those in attendance, the President offered an apology of sorts for the actions of the last administration -- firmly stating that the United States would not engage in torture while he was President.

In addition to these comments, President Obama also challenged other states to rise from a pattern of inaction due to American unilateralism and to do their part to handle international issues on their own.

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President Obama in his speech also stated that the United States was committed to Afghanistan and defeating Al-Qaeda forces there:

"We have set a clear and focused goal: to work with all members of this body to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies - a network that has killed thousands of people of many faiths and nations, and that plotted to blow up this very building. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, we - and many nations here - are helping those governments develop the capacity to take the lead in this effort, while working to advance opportunity and security for their people."

He also noted that the United States was also executing a responsible withdrawal from Iraq:

"In Iraq, we are responsibly ending a war. We have removed American combat brigades from Iraqi cities, and set a deadline of next August to remove all of our combat brigades from Iraqi territory. And I have made clear that we will help Iraqis transition to full responsibility for their future, and keep our commitment to remove all American troops by the end of 2011."

You can read the full text of President Obama's speech here.

Also included in his remarks are strong statements concerning nuclear armaments, global health security, climate change and the rejection of treating international relations as a zero-sum game.

New to his speech, was President Obama's four pillars for international relations, which include: stopping the spread of nuclear weapons, and removing those that are present; the pursuit of peace; peace is contingent on securing our planet's safety; and a globalized economy that advances the interests of all people.

Some of the President's most powerful statements to the General Assembly come at the end of his speech:

"Democracy cannot be imposed on any nation from the outside. Each society must search for its own path, and no path is perfect. Each country will pursue a path rooted in the culture of its people, and - in the past - America has too often been selective in its promotion of democracy. But that does not weaken our commitment, it only reinforces it. There are basic principles that are universal; there are certain truths which are self evident - and the United States of America will never waiver in our efforts to stand up for the right of people everywhere to determine their own destiny . . .

We have reached a pivotal moment. The United States stands ready to begin a new chapter of international cooperation - one that recognizes the rights and responsibilities of all nations. With confidence in our cause, and with a commitment to our values, we call on all nations to join us in building the future that our people deserve."

Today, President Obama gave his first major international relations speech to the international community -- and in doing so, he has set our course with all states of the international community. No longer are we standing alone among our peers.