Peace and Stability for Middle East & South Asia in 10 years

The most critical challenge of first 30 years of the 21st century, is the peace and stability of the Middle East and South Asia.  Energy remains the most important issue in this election, as I highlighted in my announcement at the General Motors Janesville Assembly Plant, two and one-half weeks ago.  At that time, I proposed problem-solving legislation on a whole range of energy issues.  However, energy is only part of our security problem.

While we were only worrying about the “millennium bug” on midnight, January 1st 2000, evil was coiling to strike. 

Ignored by a distracted President during the 1990s, this evil was growing explosively and learning.  Trial and error, and the testing of United States resolve had taught this new world menace that it could attack us with a devastating blow.  It had come to believe that America was weak and would respond weakly.

 On September 11, seven years ago today, this country was attacked with airliners turned into “missiles”, killing more Americans than either the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor or the American invasion of Europe on D-Day.  Our President concluded, correctly, that we are in a state of war with radical Islamic terrorists and that they constitute a real threat to the world.

For far too long we have failed to craft a foreign policy in that region that can lead to peace and stability.  While the problems are complex, the lack of long-term solutions hatched a nest of vipers that:

• Threatens the US with more attacks,
• Creates the real prospect of the development and use of WMDs,
• Risks a massive disruption of oil supplies crippling Western economies and sinking our economy into a deep recession or even a depression,
• Emboldens Russia, with its former KGB leadership, to invade the neighboring county of Georgia,
• Emboldens Iran to believe that it can defy the world and become a nuclear power,
• Destabilizes Pakistan, with its nuclear weapons prize, and
• Threatens a regional meltdown that could lead to general war.

As your Congressional Representative, I want to be a problem-solver.  I will work to find real solutions rather those politically expedient ideas that sound good but change nothing or make problems worse.  As such, I present tonight my ideas on this vital foreign policy challenge.

I believe it is possible to achieve peace and stability for Middle East & South Asia within 10 years – if we are diligent – and that it should be our national goal.  I will outline my problem-solving ideas on how we can achieve peace rather than suffer century of strife.

1. AMERICAN ENERGY SELF-SUFFICIENCY

During my announcement on August 23, I named energy as the top issue in this election.  Energy self-sufficiency is part of the solution to our problems in the Middle East and South Asia.  During my remarks and on my website, I outlined the steps I would advocate to lead America to energy sufficiency.  They can be summarized as

Drill here, drill now, split the atom, and encourage research.

These steps will change energy markets and drive down costs.  The results will have a profound impact on the entire South Asia region in these ways:

Reduced energy imports will shield the United States from oil blackmail, protect our economy, and lessen the spread of war,

• This reduction will deny terrorists their key trump card and cut off much of the money that finances terrorism,
• It will flood the markets with oil, dropping prices,
• It will remove leverage over other nations that Russia now possesses,
• It will reduce the power of the oil cartel. 

Oil is a commodity that is a vital economic product for most nations who possess reserves.  By reducing their income, they will be less able to finance terrorism.  As Golda Meier, former Israeli Prime Minister said, when she was asked about potential length of the 1973 oil embargo “What are they going to do with it, drink it?”.  Oil producing nations NEED Western markets.

A strong energy policy, by itself, will make the US stronger and the world safer.

2. WIN THE WAR ON TERRORISM

A great evil force has sworn to destroy us and has wantonly attacked us.  They methodically developed a philosophy of religious-based hatred, developed military plans using infiltration and terrorism, built a movement of radical followers, and engaged in a battle against us that nearly won in Iraq, if Democrats had been allowed to withdraw American forces.  These terrorists are determined to destroy us and the way of life that we represent.

Can they do it?  They have been searching for weapons of mass destruction.  Those could do it!  Image them destroying several oil pipelines.  When the economy plummets, that could do it!  Image them destroying a number of electrical trunk transmission lines.  That could do it!  Image major disruption of European economies brought about by similar events or oil blackmail.  How many of those nations would be willing stand against them?  A determined enemy willing to die for their cause can be nearly unstoppable.

After the events of September 11, 2001, we were right and justified in attacking and defeating the Taliban that controlled Afghanistan. 

When all of the intelligence services of the world including those of Russia, Israel, Britain, and the USA determined that Iraq had WMDs, as well as the means to produce and distribute them to terrorists, we were right to attack and defeat them.  Iraq was an open wound that had failed to comply with the cease-fire terms from the Persian Gulf War.  And Iraq, the only country to use a WMD since World War II, had the will and the means to use or distribute them.

There cannot be peace in the Middle East or in much of South Asia until terrorism is destroyed.  Therefore that is what we must do.  The steps we must take are as follows:

• First, win the war in Iraq and then support their democracy
• Plans to reduce American armed forces in concert with Iraqi government agreements are sound,
• The expectation that some forces will be left behind in reserve roles (as in Germany, South Korea, Japan and other foreign bases) is appropriate – moderate levels of US forces remaining in the region is the cheapest PEACE insurance we can buy as a nation,
• Support political reconciliation of peoples inside Iraq (except some former members of the old regime) and the growth of democracy will secure internal peace, and
• Assist Iraq in building a strong, diversified economy that provides opportunity for all its people and reduces the poverty which feeds the ranks of terrorism
• Second, win the war in Afghanistan and set up a democracy
• Increasing US Military involvement to defeat the terrorist elements similar to the Iraqi surge, while forces are being reduced in Iraq,
• We must apply the lessons learned in Iraq including how to win over the people to the cause of national unity and democracy,
• America and the World must help Afghanistan build a new economy – Economy Afghanistan – one that does not rely on opium and can provide opportunities for all its citizens – there will be no peace until this is done.
• Third, help Pakistan defeat terrorism
• Support moderate Pakistani political elements in their effort to build a true democracy and responsible nation within the world community,
• Seek the support of World allies to aid Pakistan build its economy and a moderate democracy,
• Insist that Pakistan defeat terrorism and its safe havens
• Fourth, continue to back Israel
• Israel is our friend and one of our very strongest democratic partners in the world.  We must maintain our strong national and military ties.
• Fifth, prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear state
• The US must continue build a large coalition of willing nations opposed Iran’s unstable and dangerous government
• It must be made clear by the US and the World Community that Iran will not possess nuclear weapons and all means are on the table to prevent it,
• We must help the majority moderate elements of Iranian society to gain control of their government and defeat the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, a terrorist organization
• All means must be deployed including restricting the flow of refined petroleum products into Iran, financial sanctions, and world divestment of Iranian investments
• Sixth, hold Syria responsible for supporting terrorism
• Syria is a headquarters of terrorism and that must end,
• It must be isolated from the world community and world economy,
• Its control over Lebanon must end.

Finally, Terrorism must be destroyed wherever it lurks – period.

3. DEMOCRACY  DOCTRINE

During the conduct of the War on Terror the President has established Democracy as the long-term solution to terrorism.  It is the right doctrine for world peace.   

Democracy invests sovereignty in the people and strips it from government and religious organizations.  When people have freedom, along with a free economy, they will reform their lands establishing and defending the rule of law and creating opportunity for everyone.  Each Democracy will look a little different but when the people rule, there is little room for terrorism. 

It has been popular in America, since World War I, to say that people can govern themselves anyway they want and that democracy doesn’t fit every situation.  It’s simply not true!  Where there is no democracy only dictators and despots have flourished.  Government must be the instrument of all the people not just the strong or wealthy or religiously powerful or the most heavily armed.

4. RUSSIAN AGGRESSION

Russian aggression must be opposed. Their recent invasion of the Republic of Georgia, a country half the size of Wisconsin with about the same population, was wrong.  The World Community, especially the Western democracies must be unified and tell Russia it cannot conduct itself as a rogue state or it will be isolated.  Russia must not be a destabilizing influence in South Asia, fostering terrorism by dealing with terrorist states, and settling disputes by military might.  

US actions in the War on Terrorism resulted from our being attacked and the threat of additional attacks against our homeland and against the economic structure of the world.  Not from the desire for territory. 

With unified world action, the US and others must work to bring Russia into the community of nations as reliable partner.  We do not want another cold war but cannot tolerate another Soviet Empire either.  A responsible Russia will help encourage stability and peace.  A vigilant and strong US with a broad coalition of allies that oppose Russian aggression can help bring about stability none-the-less.

5. CHINA

China is still a communist nation but it is one with an evolving “market based economy”.  Like the former Soviet Union, it is held together by political and military force.  And like the former Soviet Union, that will come unglued at some point as nations like Tibet break free.  And like the former Soviet Union and the current Russia, it is looking to become a superpower and dominate its own economic sphere.  The United States is not yet taking their rising power seriously and we must.  China is the new “bear” of Asia, albeit a Panda Bear, replacing the old Soviet Bear.

This situation has the potential of becoming a future military threat; America and the West cannot be caught napping.  We must increase our military capability to meet these challenges, something I will address momentarily.  Sufficient US military will be able to keep Chinese adventurism to a minimum.

Also important is a stronger US economy and a far leaner US government.  We cannot face the coming Chinese mega-economy successfully if we are not strong economically.  In addition, the US budget is out of control and that weakens us.  We must develop solutions to the looming problems of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid or the federal budget will spin out of control and diminish the lives of the younger adults and children of today.  I will speak to that problem in the next few days.

China is important to peace and stability in South Asia.  They can ship weapons, take sides, or even intervene.  Positive but firm US-Sino relations will create an environment were China contributes to overall stability even if they are not thrilled with the growth of democracies in the region.

6. US MILITARY CAPABILITY

The United States must increase its military capability. The “peace dividend” declared at the end of the Cold War was a mistake.  The United States drew down its forces too far and changed its forces-formula from a two-front war capability to a single front capability and reserves.  The result is that we had too few forces for the invasion of Iraq.  Had the Iraqis opposed us completely instead of whole divisions laying down their weapons and going home, we would have had a bloody campaign.  Insufficient forces prevented us from sealing off the country and collecting the arms and ammunition.  The result has been the five-year war from which we are only now emerging.  We have taken far too many causalities and risked losing the war if we had withdrawn like many Democrats wanted to do.  This must change.  To accomplish this I support the following:

• Increase the active Army by two combat divisions;
• Increase the Air Force by two fighter wings;
• Increase the Navy by one carrier fleet;
• Develop a new generation of attack helicopters that are extremely difficult to down by ground fire; and
• Develop modified vehicle designs that will withstand IEDs. 

Defeating Terrorism and a  Peaceful South Asia is Possible

We need a long-term vision for South Asia that brings about peace, stability, strong economy, democracy, and opportunities for all people.  We need solutions that solve the imbedded problems even ancient ones.  American energy self-sufficiency will drain the economic blood from terrorists and Russian adventurers.  Defeating terrorism will lift the oppression of evil that has kept the people of that region ignorant and impoverished.  Supporting democracy will put people in charge of their own lives and allow them to enter the world community as friends and partners.  Containing Russia and maintaining strength in the face of an emerging China will quiet the threats to their small neighbors in the south.  And increasing American combat power will assure that we can meet military challenges successfully.  Developing Peace Administration units will help us win the peace and provide for democracy and a prosperous future.  The incumbent in this district has shown little interest in solving problems.  I will be different.  I will be a problem-solver.  I want to earn your vote in the election in November.