John Kerry Warns Congress: Think 'Long And Hard' About Government Shutdown's Global Message

BALI, Indonesia -- BALI, Indonesia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned Congress on Saturday to think "long and hard" about the negative message that the partial government shutdown is sending around the world, even as he disputed the perception that the deadlock in Washington is a sign of weakness.

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"I believe that those standing in the way (of a resolution) need to think long and hard about the message that we send to the world when we can't get our own act together," Kerry told reporters on the sidelines of the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

"End it now, end it today," he said.
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Kerry noted that security assistance to critical allies like Israel may be affected and that the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which oversees sanctions on rogue countries like Iran, may be forced to furlough nearly all its staff.