"We must be the great arsenal of democracy."- Franklin D. Roosevelt 5

This has been the backbone of U.S. foreign policy for the better part of 60 years. Since the end of World War II, the global role of the United States has rapidly expanded. It's hard for us to imagine today that just 70 years ago we were content to just mind our own business while Adolf Hitler set out on his mission to control all of Europe. Our foreign policy since the start of the Cold War has been one of proactivity, rather than the pre-World War II policy of reactivity. All throughout the Cold War, the United States sought to serve as the great arsenal of democracy. In a struggle for influence against the Soviet Union, we provided developing and vulnerable nations with billions of dollars in aid and in many cases, U.S. soldiers. Now, in an age where terrorism threatens to shake and possibly destroy the very foundations of democracy, we must continue to be the great arsenal of democracy as Franklin Roosevelt envisioned. Only by defending democracy and freedom around the world will we be able to ensure its vitality here at home.