US advised to encourage ‘political change’ in S.Arabia, Egypt
WASHINGTON, Nov 28: To defeat terrorism, the United States must make major changes in foreign policy, including encouraging political change in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, doubling foreign aid, and rebuilding failed states, a report released on Tuesday by an influential think tank says.
The report, by the Center for Security and International Studies, also calls for a massive initiative to defend against bioterrorism. It advises Washington to insist that any regime using nuclear, biological or chemical arms against the United States or its interests “will be removed from power”.
Among the main recommendation of the think tank are:
— Although the United States tilted toward India before Sept 11, it must now restore an “evenhanded” approach toward Pakistan and India to ensure peace in South Asia.
— To prevail in the war against terrorism, Washington must embark on a sustained campaign to change “hearts and minds” in the Muslim world, where anti-Americanism could destabilize Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
— Congress should consider creating a homeland security corps of young people and adults who would help protect the nation for two years. Volunteers would serve in the Public Health Service, the National Guard or airport security services, among other possibilities.
In addition, it stresses the need for urgent humanitarian assistance to millions of starving people in Afghanistan, arguing that massive deaths this winter would undermine US efforts to combat terrorism and to improve stability.
The findings and recommendations are contained in a 373-page document, titled “To Prevail,” that lays out a framework it says will ensure US victory after the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
“We stand at a delicate moment in history — a turning point after which the United States could emerge even stronger ... or after which events could spiral out of our control,” co-authors Kurt Campbell and Michele Flournoy, both former US officials, conclude.
“The stakes are as high as they come for this generation and the next. In managing this campaign, we must prevail,” the two, who now work for the center, write.
HATRED OF AMERICA CITED: Although the report says nothing can justify the Sept 11 attacks, it urges the United States to mitigate the conditions that motivated the suicide bombings.
“The single most important driver of Islamic rage is the failure of many ‘moderate’ Islamic states to create modern governments responsive to the needs of their people and viable civil societies where even minimal levels of debate and democracy are tolerated,” the report says.
It specifically cites Saudi Arabia and Egypt — Washington’s most important Arab allies — as countries that have failed to provide a modern political program or a compelling vision of progress.
The United States must prepare for the possibility that unless ruling regimes in these countries embrace new policies of zero tolerance for terrorists as well as greater liberty, economic opportunity and political participation, “they may end up as casualties in this international campaign,” it says.
Washington’s priorities must include “assisting — if necessary pressuring — various regimes to create more modern governments”, responsive to their citizens, it continues.
In fashioning a new foreign policy, the United States must commit no less than 0.2 per cent of its gross national product — essentially, double the current level — to funding foreign assistance, the report insists.
“Development is security by other means,” it says.
Some of its other conclusions and recommendations:
— Afghanistan, where the Taliban sheltered bin Laden and his al Qaeda network of extremists, exemplifies the dangers of failed states. “Under no conditions can the United States afford to walk away” and leave the country in ruins after the war is over.
‘APOLLO’ PROGRAMME: President George W. Bush should launch a national public-private initiative on the grand scale of the 1960s Apollo space programme to “neutralize” the bioterrorism threat.
This would involve the urgent development of a national arsenal of vaccines and antibiotics for every biological pathogen that could be used in an attack on the United States.
— The country must assert its right to destroy, disable or seize any government’s nuclear, chemical or biological capabilities if Washington has “credible evidence” that use of these weapons is imminent or the government is providing such capabilities to “terrorist” groups. A government using or supplying such weapons “will be removed from power.”
When asked at a news conference if this meant that the United States should go after Iraq, Flournoy was cool to the idea, saying that such action would undermine efforts to combat terrorism on other fronts.—Reuters
