WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement regarding President Obama’s upcoming meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro at the Summit of the Americas.

“President Obama is truly writing new chapters in American foreign policy. Unfortunately, these latest chapters are ones of America and the values we stand for – human rights, freedom, and democracy – in retreat and decline.

“President Obama’s foreign policy has been one appeasement toward autocratic dictators, thugs, and adversaries after another. Is it any wonder that on President Obama’s watch our enemies are emboldened and our friends demoralized?

“This week we saw this in action as Cuban government-backed thugs attacked peaceful Cuban pro-democracy advocates in Panama. The Summit of the Americas presents President Obama with a historic opportunity to stand with those independent members of Cuban civil society who are promoting the universal ideals of freedom and liberty, and instead he will use his time to meet with an entrenched dictator Raul Castro. President Obama should take the effort to publically condemn the attacks and meet with these freedom fighters.

“There can be no doubt that President Obama’s failing foreign policy has greatly diminished America’s influence in the world.”

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