Kaptur statement on the passing of Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski

Cleveland -- Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) today released the following statement after news Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski had passed away:

"Words cannot fully express to the family and friends of Dr. Zbigniew K. Brzezinski the deepest sympathy and abiding gratitude for his life that I extend to them, on behalf of the people of our state. America and our world have lost an extraordinary visionary, strategic thinker and accomplished diplomat. There is no doubt in my mind that our nation and liberty's cause have profoundly benefited for over half a century by his erudite, clear-headed and incisive counsel to our Presidents, Members of Congress, including myself, diplomatic colleagues and decision-makers across our world.

"Dr. Brzezinski moved history toward liberty. Countless citizens across many nations oriented their world view through his perspectives. His achievements literally extended the hope of freedom and its institutions to people in regions heretofore subjugated. His persistence and hard-won accomplishments shook the tectonic plates of world politics.

"He advised every modern President including John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. As National Security Advisor to President Carter, the astounding breakthrough for peace in the Middle East occurred with the signing of the Camp David Israeli-Egypt Peace Accord in 1979.

"Further, he drove normalization of relations with China, the SALT II Arms Limitation Agreement, and victory in the Cold War over the Soviet Union. His clear-headedness on countering Soviet aggression grew out of his piercing knowledge of what had occurred under Communism in his beloved homeland of Poland. This provided him a realistic orientation toward defeating Communism as solidarity demonstrations in Poland and the eventual the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 ushered in an era of hope for millions that freedom could flourish.

"He played an integral role in the eventual expansion of NATO to protect formerly captive nations of Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary and others. Though judicious in using force, he fully understood its necessity.

"Truly an extraordinary diplomat, strategic advisor, and accomplished scholar, he never stopped researching nor teaching‎. His classroom extended to the entire globe. May the angels carry his soul to a peaceful place where freedom reigns eternal. Words from the national anthems of America and Poland seem especially fitting -- let his brilliant spirit 'catch the gleam of the morning's first beam' -- 'Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła, póki my żyjemy.'"

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