Bush Must Negotiate to Make America Safer, Say Former Generals
Aaron Glantz, OneWorld US Thu Aug 17, 11:28 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 17 (OneWorld) - Twenty-one former generals and high ranking national security officials have called on United States President George W. Bush to reverse course and embrace a new area of negotiation with
Iran, Iraq, and North Korea. In a letter released Thursday, the group told reporters Bush's 'hard line' policies have undermined national security and made America less safe.
Of particular concern for the generals was increased saber rattling between Washington and Tehran over the development of an Iranian nuclear program.
"We call on the administration to engage immediately in direct talks with the government of Iran without preconditions to help resolve the current crisis in the Middle East and to settle differences over an Iranian nuclear program," their letter read.
"An attack on Iran would have disastrous consequences for security in the region and U.S. forces in Iraq," they argued. "It would inflame hatred and violence in the Middle East and among Muslims everywhere."
In a telephone news conference Thursday morning, the former security officials took particular aim at the Bush Administration's policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorists or with states that support them.
"That seems strange since Ronald Reagan was willing to negotiate with the Soviets even though they were the 'Evil Empire," said retired Lt. General Robert Guard, who served as special assistant to Defense Secretary Robert McNamara during the Vietnam War and now works at the non-profit Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. "One wonders whyGeorge Bush can't negotiate with the Axis of Evil."
The generals further argued that the Bush Administration's invasion of Iraq is at least partially responsible for Iran's drive to develop a nuclear program.
"When you announce an axis of evil of three countries and invade one and then say that Iran should take that as a lesson, it does seem that it may give them an incentive to do precisely what they don't want them to do," Guard said, "develop a nuclear weapon."
Former director of Policy Planning for the State Department, Morton Halperin, said the same goes for North Korea. The more belligerent the Bush Administration behaves, he said, the faster North Korea will work to develop nuclear weapons.
"The North Koreans want to talk to us directly," said Halperin, who now works for the Washington, DC-based Center for American Progress. "Their concern is about getting security assurances from us and about getting diplomatic recognition. We should not be afraid to talk to our opponents."
At the White House, Bush's spokesperson Tony Snow dismissed the letter.
"In a political year people are going to make political statements, including retired generals, and they're perfectly welcome to," Snow told reporters at his daily briefing. "It's an important addition to the public debate. But we're also--the president is a guy who has got real responsibility here. Now, I've got to tell you, just given to what I said...in response to the sort of ongoing cost of promoting freedom around the globe, do you not think a president will do everything in his power to succeed? And the answer is, yes. He's not sitting around saying, boy, I'm stubborn, I'm going to stick with it.
"That's not the way the president is," Snow said, insisting the Bush administration is planning policy changes while declining to offer specifics.
But the generals who signed the letter say Bush has been stubborn, and a poor student of history.
General Joseph Hoar, the Commander in Chief of U.S. Military Central Command under presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush, said the George W. Bush administration would be advised to remember the French occupation of Algeria, which lasted 134 years.
Nationalist rebels launched an insurgency against the French in 1954. After eight years of insurgent bombings and counter-terrorism operations, France was finally forced to quit Algeria in 1962.
Hoar says like the Battle of Algiers the current war on terror is a war of ideas.
"Until we get away from the idea that we can solve these problems through the use of military force and begin to change the political problems causing discontent by providing security and services, we're not going to win this war," he said.
4 comments:
Dare I speak, ... but that sounds a lot more like rational, and diplomatic tones around, and with the table manners. What I mean is I hope we can live together and respect each others diversity. Also being peaceful, careful and patient about issues requires good talking skills.
The use of the words 'axis of evil' to describe another country that has foreign ways is not a good opening line. I don't think so anyway. So I agreee with the research CK,it sounds like good research to me. I can't help but aks(slang) howz thata kidcokalola? Coming along or going or gone? Happy hoollalaiihoop. I am in a state of shock, but oh so glad about that last postrave. I will now disappear for a few weeks and not bother you agin (slang. Love from Seth Justman.
Well...you gotta admit that the North Koreans are just a little bit "different" in their approach to the world (ask the South Koreans and Japanese, where we are in negotiations to sell 80 Patriot missles for self defense), and that Iran appears to have a President who has the thumbs up from the mullahs to call for the absolute destruction of Israel. It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack. (Identify THAT reference and you're my hero)
I do not think I wish to chat long on the subject for it ends up going round and round with us, and also I must stop myself from getting into the habit. But I agree on North Korea's ambitions, they are not my politics.
But I do understand how Iran got to the point of not liking Israel. Only it seems to late to turn the clock back and I wish they could all live together and share and care. I guess I am not as afraid of Islam as some because I find no problem with it myself. I like it. So I see it through different eyes. You will find fault with me no matter how I put it. As Israel is so much part of America's mindset and Islam is seen as so different and so frightening to those in the western world. For some unknown reason, so many myths and lies abound about what Islam is it becomes demonised. I really do not have a problem with it. I find it liberating and advanced for women's rights not as the west tries to make it out to be.
I hope Iran and Hezbollah do accept Israel, like so many muslims think, and aim at getting on with negotiations in getting the UN resoultions, of a Palestinian state and respect for palestinian peoples to live in what is left of their original territories. I hope for peace and that it will lead to ending the suicide bombers desruction to get attention and their voice heard. For them to not have to go to such extremes to make their point. Do you not agree? Thanks ck for putting my previous comment up. How! to ya Lou and kidcola and hope you are enjoying holiday on island paradise, with big oceanwaves for your bodysurfing with foamboogieboards and with no riptides taking you out of your way yet. Stay reasonably close to shore, and look out for sharks, and have some time for lots of reef-oil rubbed in for all your good measure.
Well put Aussie Punk Chick. That's what viewpoints are for, to get a wider understanding of another's life and experience. Palestine is the key component in this long-standing anguish.
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