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Kerry: Budget Impasse A Threat To Diplomacy

Secretary of State John Kerry delivers his first foreign policy speech Wednesday at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. (Steve Helber/AP)
John Kerry, the U.S. secretary of state, delivers his first foreign policy speech Wednesday at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. (Steve Helber/AP)

Secretary of State John Kerry says the greatest challenge to U.S. foreign policy is not emerging China or Middle East instability. It's Congress.

In a speech Wednesday at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, the former Massachusetts U.S. senator cited the adage that "we can't be strong in the world unless we are strong at home." He called the budget impasse a threat.

The State Department has said automatic spending cuts would jeopardize $2.6 billion in aid, security assistance and other international programs.

Kerry said legislators need to avoid "senseless cuts."

Otherwise, he said his credibility as a diplomat might be damaged.

Kerry said, "Think about it: It's hard to tell the leadership of any number of countries that they must resolve their economic issues if we don't resolve our own."

This program aired on February 20, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.

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