How does the U.S. approach Iran?

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

"If the United States is able to set a new tone in context with the
relationship in Afghanistan and elsewhere I think in of that
itself will change the nuclear calculations of Iran's leadership."
said Karim Sadjadpour, an associate at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace.

In a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled "Iranian
Political and Nuclear Realities and U.S. Policy Options" witnesses
gave their recommendations on how the U.S. should approach Iran
concerning nuclear production. The hearing comes after a report
released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stating that
Natanz, an Iranian nuclear plant, has gained enough reactor-grade
uranium to allow Iran to create an atomic bomb.

Sadjapour focused on three key options that he thinks the U.S. should
follow. The first being to commence the dialogue with Iran by aiming
to build confidence on areas of common interest such as Afghanistan
and Iraq rather than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the nuclear
issue. "Focus on Supreme leader in Iran, Khamenei not the President,
Ahmadinejad. If I had to describe him (Ahmadinejad) in one word, is
mistrustful...He believes that if you compromise you project
weakness." he said. Sadjapour also stated that it is imperative that
the U.S. maintain an airtight international approach saying that each
country should approach Iran with the same talking points.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Zambia and Egypt, Frank Wisner, said that Iran
is important, Iran is dangerous and Iran is urgent. "I do not believe
in the military option...there is no room for a military
response...the issues of national survival that are first and foremost
on Iran's mind gives me some hope that we can get traction if we chose
to engage and engage fully but I won't pretend for a moment that
dealing with Iranians will not be extremely tough. There will be many
setbacks and many deceptions...I personally welcome as I'm certain all
of us do, an appointment of a new special representative to take a
hard look at Iran and our foreign policies." he concluded.

Admiral Mullen addresses soldier's needs

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, delivered an address at the Reserve Officer's Association Mid-Winter conference. He spoke of the need to integrate the full time army and and the reserve at this time. Admiral Mullen addressed the global economic crisis, stating that it instantly proved the interconnectedness of societies around the world. He also expressed concern that the crisis will result in "increased global instability" and this will affect security and the role of the military in ways which we cannot predict.

Admiral Mullen also focused intently on the need of the military and reserves to care for its members and their families. He believes that it is "well within our resources" in the U.S. to make sure that all our soldiers, and their families, receive the support they need. This includes preparing soldiers for reintegration with their work and families, as well as increasing the amount of time soldiers are allowed to come home. Furthermore, there needs to be a framework of support for families of fallen and injured soldiers, as well as soldiers suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Sexual Assault in the Military

"Women serving in the U.S. military today are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire in Iraq,” Congresswoman Jane Harman (CA) reported to the congressional committee for Military Sexual Assault Victim Support and Response. The committee met Wednesday with military personnel to discuss how the Department of Defense can improve victim support and advocacy. Beginning the hearing was former marine Laura Waterson. Ms. Waterson was sexually assaulted by an officer in her unit in early 2001. Her testimony shed light on the meager and often time insulting support provided to her by the military following her report that she was sexually abused. Through out her often weepy eyed testimony Waterson described the extremely painful aftermath of her assault that ultimately to “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the end of her marriage, and extreme irrational behavior.”

Waterson’s testimony spoke to the issues that surround support for victims of sexual assault within the military. Following an assault there is the issue of confidentiality due to the fact that many women fear persecution or humiliation from other soldiers or are intimidated by commanding officers. Attending the hearing was the mother of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, whose daughter was murdered shortly after reporting that she was raped by a fellow officer. The victim’s mother believes that if the marines had provided more effective protection for Maria after her assault she would still be alive.

Currently, sexual assaults that occur in the military are to be reported to Sexual Assault Response Correspondents (SARCs). After the initial report it is the SARCs responsibility to provide support and advocate for the victim. Attending the hearing was SARC and Army Sergeant Michael Horwath. Sgt. Horwath described his duty as a “liaison between the survivor and their commander.” Waterson’s testimony shed light on the fact that the SARC has no legal ability to effect change in a commanding officer’s decision in any give sexual assault case. Furthermore, the acting commander of the unit in which sexual assault takes place has no legal or occupational incentive to follow through with thorough investigations and strict punishment. Congresswoman Jane Harman, an active member of the committee, stressed that this “is an epidemic that impairs our nation.”

While SARC and Navy Chief Petty Officer Tonya McKennie said that she “can ensure that the victim will receive all the advice and support that (she) can possibly offer,” she is not a part of the team that investigates the assault and she is limited to “interactions and suggestions” when it comes to reporting to the commanding officers. Congressman Michael Turner admitted that “this is an ongoing process and we don’t have it right.”

Grand military strategy deemed unrealistic

The containment strategy that the U.S. used against the Soviet Union in the years following WWII may not be so useful in today's environment.

"We do not have a monolithic threat. We are facing a multitude of challenges...I have difficulty envisioning an overall grand strategy that relates to all these challenges and, most importantly, defines our response," said former Army Vice Chief of Staff General Jack Keane during a hearing with the House Armed Services Committee on consideration for an American grand strategy.

"It's not that we cannot conceive of a grand strategy that encompasses our multifaceted challenges, we can, but it would be so overarching that I think it would lose a sense of realism and practicality."

The hearing comes months before a change in presidential administrations, an event that the committee believes will provide an opportunity to reevaluate the current approach to defense. Keane discussed necessary changes.

"We have to take away some vital lesson...post conflict operations are every bit as important as the conflict itself and we are painfully aware of that. Therefore, we have to have structures in our military and capabilities to deal with that better than what we have now."

Military brainstorms better ways to pay

A military study of compensation suggests extending military discounts for groceries to supermarkets located off-base, a move that would save military families from driving long distance to base amidst high gas prices. This and other suggestions were outlined during a press conference discussing the 10th Review of Military Compensation, a quadrennial report to Congress from the Department of Defense.

The report advocates establishing charter schools for children on military bases and allowing military vouchers to be used in any public or private school. To improve the military’s recruiting and retention of medical professionals, the report suggested fast-tracking non-citizen physicians to citizenship, an effort that would utilize American-trained doctors who are currently unable to practice in a military setting. Responding to perceived flaws in the military’s retirement program that offer a “one size fits all” program to personnel regardless of skill sets and training, the report suggested offering gate payments to servicemen and women who have reached milestones in their career while offering separation payments that would encourage other types of personnel to retire. In addition, the report supports raising medical care co-payments for active duty personnel and their families to reflect rates of inflation.