Yesterday afternoon in Manchester, NH, Gov. Tom Ridge came to speak with a group of veterans on behalf of Sen. McCain. He talked about the importance of American global leadership and re-engaging with the world, to help keep us safe at home – noting “diplomacy, and the importance of foreign aid” as key components of US foreign policy.

I was able to briefly speak with Gov. Ridge after his speech. I explained ONE to him and recalled our conversation last winter at the Barley House in Concord. I told him about PEPFAR passing in the Senate on Wednesday and he told me just how important it was to engage in humanitarian efforts in poor communities all around the world. We even talked about Def. Sec. Gates call for better and more State Department funding for humanitarian programs.

We also discussed the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which partners responsible but impoverished countries with US funds for healthcare and infrastructure. We discussed how it not only makes us safer at home, but how America’s image and popularity in Africa has risen over the past few years due to these life saving programs.

He told me that Africa is incredibly strategic in terms of US and global interests and said it was important to continue our efforts on the ground.

-Matthew Bartlett