Peace Corps News

Colin Powell talks about the greatest threat facing us now

Colin Powell talks about the greatest threat facing us now
What is the greatest threat facing us now? People will say it’s terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing?

I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there—ones that we can take advantage of? It should not be just about creating alliances to deal with a guy in a cave in Pakistan. It should be about how do we create institutions that keep the world moving down a path of wealth creation, of increasing respect for human rights, creating democratic institutions, and increasing the efficiency and power of market economies? This is perhaps the most effective way to go after terrorists.

This doesn’t mean there isn’t a terrorist threat. There is a threat. And we should send in military forces when we have a target to deal with. We should also secure our airports, if that makes us safer. But let’s welcome every foreign student we can get our hands on. Let’s make sure that foreigners come to the Mayo Clinic here, and not the Mayo facility in Dubai or somewhere else. Let’s make sure people come to Disney World and not throw them up against the wall in Orlando simply because they have a Muslim name. Let’s also remember that this country was created by immigrants and thrives as a result of immigration, and we need a sound immigration policy.

Let’s show the world a face of openness and what a democratic system can do. That’s why I want to see Guantánamo closed. It’s so harmful to what we stand for. We literally bang ourselves in the head by having that place. What are we doing this to ourselves for? Because we’re worried about the 380 guys there? Bring them here! Give them lawyers and habeas corpus. We can deal with them. We are paying a price when the rest of the world sees an America that seems to be afraid and is not the America they remember.

You can drive up the road from here and come to a spot where there is a megachurch over here, a little Episcopal church over there, a Catholic church around the corner that’s almost cathedral-size, and between them is a huge Hindu temple. There are no police needed to guard any of this. There are not many places in the world where you would see that. Yes, there are a few dangerous nuts in Brooklyn and New Jersey who want to blow up Kennedy Airport and Fort Dix. These are dangerous criminals, and we must deal with them. But come on, this is not a threat to our survival! The only thing that can really destroy us is us. We shouldn’t do it to ourselves, and we shouldn’t use fear for political purposes—scaring people to death so they will vote for you, or scaring people to death so that we create a terror-industrial complex.  Read more.

RPCV Congressman Tom Petri says US needs to consider Partition of Iraq

RPCV Congressman Tom Petri says US needs to consider Partition of Iraq
Republican Congressman Tom Petri voted for the resolution which expressed disapproval of President Bush's troop surge in Iraq, but he said that "Just saying 'no' is simple obstructionism. What we need is a new way forward to replace the old way that isn't getting us anywhere. " He said that the different groups in Iraq lack the trust in each other to support democratic government in a unified nation.

"We should seriously consider that we have two basic options: First, choose a faction to stabilize and rule the country through force, much as all of Iraq's previous regimes did - and that's hardly an attractive option; or, second, bring about a partition of the country to form a loose federation where the Shias, the Sunnis and the Kurds can each govern themselves while leaving the others alone," Petri said. "Our enterprise in Iraq has been carried out with the best of intentions, and our men and women in the armed forces have performed with great heroism, skill and honor - but we have to accept reality," he said.

"We have a responsibility to help stabilize the situation, and doing so is in our national interest. But I don't think it's fair to ask our sons and daughters to be policemen in a civil war. Sadly, it seems that most Iraqis do not embrace democratic government unless it is dominated exclusively by their own individual groups. The Sunni, the Shia and the Kurds are willing and able to establish law and order within their own ethnically homogeneous areas. The efforts to push out other groups currently underway in Iraq are deplorable, but it's surely not unexpected given Iraq's history and desperate situation. The sectarian militias have popular support because they have easily-understood plans to establish security within their spheres for their own people. Instead of fighting the militias, we need to co-opt them. We need to help acceptable local tribal leaders, government leaders and religious authorities establish authority over their areas. We also need to seek the positive involvement of Iraq's neighbors. Some of them may be meddling, or may be tempted to meddle, but at the end of the day, instability in Iraq means instability for everybody in the region. Let us set about the task of helping Iraq's three main groups to regroup and stabilize their own territories so that we can withdraw to our bases and ultimately get out altogether." Read more.

Petri votes against troop surge
Rep. Tom Petri has joined a small but growing number of Republican lawmakers who have broken ranks with the Bush administration by showing disapproval to escalate troop levels in Iraq. Petri’s announcement in a floor speech came with the caveat that he didn’t think the nonbonding House resolution addresses the need for a new policy. Petri suggested the United States should support the partition of the country into a confederation of regions each dominated by Shiites, Sunnis or Kurds who "can each govern themselves while leaving the others alone."

Congressman Tom Petri of Wisconsin served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Somalia in the 1960's. Read more about Congressman Thomas Petri.

A record-breaking 162 Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle urges President George W. Bush to make a greater investment in America's diplomatic and development programs as the Administration prepares its FY 2008 Federal Budget Request

A record-breaking 162 Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle urges President George W. Bush to make a greater investment in America's diplomatic and development programs as the Administration prepares its FY 2008 Federal Budget Request
Despite a packed legislative agenda and with the end of the Congressional session quickly approaching, this outstanding effort was spearheaded in the Senate by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Norm Coleman (R-MN), with a record 53 Senators from both sides of the aisle signing the letter. On the House side, Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA-28), Christopher Shays (R-CT-4), Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI-9), and Vic Snyder (D-AR-2) drove the effort to garner more than 109 Republican and Democratic signatures on the letter to President Bush. Currently, the proposed FY 2007 International Affairs Budget totals 35.1 billion dollars -- a mere 1.2 percent of the overall FY 2007 Federal Budget -- yet it provides the U.S. with priceless opportunities to generate much needed allies, partners and friends.

"Today, more than ever, it is critical that we continue to fund our U.S. International Affairs Budget," said Sen. Feinstein. "U.S. foreign assistance programs offer relief to the millions of victims of poverty, starvation, and illiteracy found throughout the developing world. By giving these communities in need the tools to target these root causes of terrorism, we not only help promote basic humanitarian values, we also help establish greater stability and security abroad, and encourage greater economic prosperity here at home."

"As a former Peace Corps volunteer, I can attest to the substantial contributions foreign assistance programs make to economic development, higher living standards and improved health and nutrition," noted Rep. Chris Shays.

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Chris Dodd writes: The time has come for the United States to begin the process of getting our troops out of Iraq

Chris Dodd writes: The time has come for the United States to begin the process of getting our troops out of Iraq
"After spending six days in the Middle East last week - which included visits with the top leaders in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel - it's hard not to come to the same conclusion: Our strategy in Iraq makes no sense. It never really did. It is as bad in person as it appears on television. There are literally dozens of sects, militias, gangs, warlords, foreign terrorists and others killing one another for dozens of reasons in Iraq today, and American troops are caught in the crossfire. Our brave men and women have done everything asked of them with great courage and honor, but searching for military solutions in Iraq today is a fool's errand. True peace and security in Iraq will not come at the end of an American gun. It will only happen to the degree that Iraq's leaders are willing to take responsibility for governing their own country and securing their own future. America's position should be clear: Iraqis must show they want a country now, or American troops should begin to withdraw."

Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's. He is considering a run for Presidency in 2008.  This editorial first appeared in the Des Moines Register. Read more and leave your comments.

Dodd edges closer to declaring run for President

Sen. Christopher Dodd edges closer to officially declaring he is running for president at a Harvard University student-sponsored forum for potential candidates in 2008
Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., accused President Bush of not working with the rest of the world's nations when it comes to environmental policies and fighting terrorism. "This mentality of unilateralism is very, very dangerous. If I am nominated and elected, that will change dramatically," he said. During a brief interview session with reporters afterward, Dodd was asked why he thought voters might support him in a run for president. "I honestly believe we're in one of those moments where experience matters. I'm half-tempted to steal Kinky Friedman's slogan for his gubernatorial race in Texas. I'm saying this somewhat facetiously, but I love this slogan down there, and it was, 'How hard can this job be?' He was following George Bush as the governor in Texas." Senator Chris Dodd served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's.

Dodd Introduces Effective Terrorists Prosecution Act
“I take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting this country from terrorists,” Sen. Dodd said. “But there is a right way to do this and a wrong way to do this. It’s clear the people who perpetrated these horrendous crimes against our country and our people have no moral compass and deserve to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But in taking away their legal rights, the rights first codified in our country’s Constitution, we’re taking away our own moral compass, as well.”

Dodd outlines priorities as new Chairman of Senate Banking Committee
Dodd says he will propose ways to keep people from losing their homes when mortgage costs rise and to end predatory lending practices "that strip equity out of consumers' homes and leave them on the verge of default." The senator wants to provide more scrutiny of how regulators, and those they regulate, deal with credit card consumers. He also plans hearings about how to combat terrorist financing, and he will consider whether to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. The law, which helps protect companies and consumers from economic fallout from terrorist attacks, is due to expire at the end of 2007.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers in Congress react to the Iraq Study Group's Report

Statement of Senator Dodd on the Iraq Study Group's Report
“I couldn’t agree more with the group’s conclusion that there is no magic formula for fixing the problems in Iraq.  I also totally concur that we must set benchmarks for Iraq to meet as a condition of our continued assistance.  Iraq must make progress on reconciliation, security and improvement in the daily lives of the Iraqi people.  Iraq’s neighbors and regional leaders should be included in finding a solution to Iraq’s problems.  The United States does indeed have long term interests in the region and a broken Iraq does not advance those interests; that is why the work of the group must be given very serious consideration by President Bush.”

Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's.

Sam Farr calls the findings of the Iraq Study Group "honest" and "realistic"
"Honest, realistic assessments like incoming Defense Secretary Bob Gates yesterday admitting that 'we're not winning' in Iraq, and the bipartisan Iraq Study Group today highlighting that the situation is 'grave and deteriorating' have been missing and ignored in Republican-run Washington for the last three years," Farr said.

Congressman Sam Farr of California served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia in the 1960's.

Chris Shays Reaction to Iraq Study Group Report
“The Iraq Study Group is providing momentum for changing the course at a critical time for the future of Iraq and we need to move quickly to review its recommendations,” Shays said. “Iraqis are facing increased violence yet their government is not showing the political will to make the tough decisions that will begin to resolve the conflict. Based on my 15 oversight trips to Iraq, I agree with the ISG’s assessment that we need to transition combat operations to Iraqi forces; encourage national reconciliation; and increase diplomatic efforts in the region. It is important to note the panel unanimously agreed our support needs to be conditional on the Iraqis’ performance.”

Congressman Chris Shays of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji in the 1960's.

Rep. Tom Petri says the newly-released high-level Iraq Study Group report is "a pretty sobering document"
"One thing that impressed me as I was reading through it was the answer to the question, 'What happens if they establish these benchmarks, and they don't, in fact, help make real progress toward achieving security so that we can withdraw our troops and redeploy them," Petri said. "And the answer in the report is if they don't do that, the United States should keep open the option to reduce its political, military or economic support for the Iraqi government, which to me means that they are keeping open the option of maybe finding a stronger government that can deliver over in that part of the world." 

Congressman Tom Petri of Wisconsin served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Somalia in the 1960's.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Michael O'Hanlon writes: Iraq is one of the top five deadliest places on earth

RPCV Michael O'Hanlon writes: Iraq is one of the top five deadliest places on earth
"The simplest conclusion to reach is that Iraq, now one of the two or three most violent places on Earth, is in civil war but not yet all-out absolute civil war. Does it matter? Politically, here at home, I believe Americans care less about semantics and more about whether they sense we have a credible strategy for victory — or at least for achieving some measure of stability in Iraq.(Research from various scholars, including Duke University professor Peter Feaver who now works for President Bush, backs up this generalization about what most determines American public support for the nation's wars.) I think the answer is that clearly Americans do not believe we are winning. They do not believe we presently have a strategy that will change the trajectory in Iraq. In other words, we already knew we were losing, whether one called this a civil war or not. The important question is can we turn things around, not whether we can find some way to spin events in Iraq into a more positive picture than the facts warrant. But let's call a spade a spade: Right now we are part of a losing operation, and Iraq is in a civil war. What is more, American voters know it — meaning that 2007 will probably be make or break time for this country's willingness to continue the war effort."

Michael O'Hanlon, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute and a Visiting Lecturer at Princeton University, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Congo Kinshasa.