A Civilian Surge May Be The Key To Success In Afghanistan, Says Foreign Analyst

By Meagan Wiseley - University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News Service

Dr. Clare Lockhart, Co-Founder and Director of the Institute of State Effectiveness, spoke out in favor of a civilian surge, which would indicate massive support from the Afghan people, in Afghanistan Thursday during an appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

According to Lockhart, a civilian surge can be achieved in Afghanistan by enabling Afghans to exercise self rule through the creation of civil institutions.

"[These institutions will provide the] framework needed to stabilize Afghanistan," said Lockhart.

Lockhart added that this move would be an essential step to achieving an eventual exit.

Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) emphasized the importance of a winning civilian strategy in Afghanistan.

"I have said repeatedly that we will not force the surrender of the Taliban by military force alone. Therefore, any strategy that lacks a strong civilian component is doomed," said Kerry.

U.S. Envoy To Sudan Requests Lifting Sanctions

By Mariko Lamb - Talk Radio News Service

Major General Scott Gration, a U.S. special envoy to Sudan, discussed a comprehensive strategy for that nation in preparation of UNAMID’s 2011 peace referendum and Sudan’s April 2010 elections.

“We want a country that is governed responsibly, justly, democratically, a country that’s at peace with itself and its neighbors, that’s economically viable, a country that works together with the United States in common interests,” Gration said in an address to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday.

In order to meet these objectives, “we need some space on sanctions,” he said, calling on Congress to help lift sanctions that restrict access to certain Sudanese ports. Such sanctions, he said, block access of trains carrying essential equipment and personnel for health care and education. They “are hindering me from being able to bring development to the south,” he added.

Gration said he believes that by establishing an environment that helps leaders in the north and south of Sudan reach twelve areas of agreement of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the U.S. can help Sudan reach a major milestone on the road to peace. “We created the environment so that the two parties, NCP and SBLN, could make the agreements,” Gration explained.

“It’s getting significantly better, but that doesn’t mean that we need to stop our efforts,” he said.

In addition to lifting sanctions, “we need more people,” Gration said. He recently requested three additional full-time employees from the U.S. State Department of State to assist him in fostering peace in Sudan.

Is the U.S. Staying or Going in Afghanistan and Pakistan?

By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen argued for patience when it comes to the United States’ relationship with Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Thursday. Mullen said he plans to set benchmarks for progress while in the two countries.

“I think we know what needs to be done. I think there are some significant challenges in the how to do this. You’ve got to have the security umbrella but the key is education long term. The key is village by village. The key is putting institutions which are not corrupt, developing capacity at every level...which provide for their people,” said Mullen.

In his opening statement Committee Chairman Senator John Kerry (D-MA) said the Obama administration has recognized the tough road ahead and set a goal of not allowing Afghanistan to become a “safe haven for al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups that seek to attack us” again.

Another talking point of the Committee hearing was the United States’ presence in Pakistan. Kerry and Senator Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) have set forth the Kerry-Lugar bill which would fix a Pakistan policy that they believe has “largely failed,” according to Kerry’s opening statement. The bill would triple non-military aid, authorizing it for five to ten years and change the fundamentals of the United States’ relationship with Pakistan. President Obama has called on Congress to pass this Kerry-Lugar bill as part of his overall strategy, said Kerry.

In the conclusion of Mullen’s written statement he said believes the State Department should be funded as the lead agent of U.S. diplomacy and development and that would still require the “backing of a robust military and strong economy.” He said the nation’s military activities should not lead the nation’s foreign policy but instead support it.

Mullen said, “As we win the wars we are fighting and restore the health of our Armed Forces, the military’s approach will increasingly support our diplomatic counterparts through the persistent engagement required to build networks of capable partners. By operating hand-in-hand with partners and integrated with the interagency and non-governmental organizations, we will more successfully protect the citizens of this Nation.”

Blueprints Drawn Up for 2010 International Affairs Budget

By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the proposed international affairs budget is a “major investment” as she testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday. Clinton said in her opening statement that President Obama’s 2010 budget request for the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development is $48.6 billion.

Clinton explained that she knew what a significant request and said, “We know that this request comes when some agencies are experiencing cutbacks. But it is an indication of the critical role the State Department must play to help advance our nation’s interests, safeguard our security, and make us a positive force for progress worldwide.”

Clinton offered a description of how the State Department and the USAID should exercise their global leadership effectively. The description included the “three D’s” that she said must be harnessed. The “three D’s” are diplomacy development and defense according to Clinton.

There are many issues that the State Department and the USAID are currently dealing with and Clinton said, “We need good people and we need enough of them.” According to Clinton’s opening statement, that is why the 2010 budget request includes $283 million to accommodate the hiring of over 740 new Foreign Service personnel. This increase in the budget coincides with the President’s promise of expanding the Foreign Service.

Clinton said the State Department and the USAID will have the opportunity to use “smart power to implement smart policies.” The top three priorities of focus are: urgent challenges and regions of concern,including Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iraq, and the Middle East; transnational challenges; and development assistance.

Clinton closed her opening statement by saying to Committee Chairman John Kerry, “Mr. Chairman, we’re pursuing all of these policies because it is the right thing to do, but also because it is the smart thing to do. No country benefits more than the United States when there is greater security, democracy, and opportunity in the world.”

One in seven people goes hungry each day

By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on “Alleviating Global Hunger: Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Leadership, Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) said, “It’s quite astounding that in 2009, there are over 850 million hungry people in the world. One in seven people on earth goes hungry every day, and when we talk about going hungry every day, we are talking about real pain and anguish and sufferingthat goes with that hunger.” Kerry went on to explain that “While other threats force themselves into the front burner and command our attention, hunger and malnutrition remain the number one risk to health world wide.”

The first millennium development goal is to cut the proportion of people in the developing world who suffer from hunger in half by 2015. Kerry said that, “Last year’s food riots were a worrisome sign of how a crisis in food security can quickly become a national security issue. The global financial crisis also poses an urgent and an immediate threat. The World Bank estimates that as a result of this crisis, an additional 65 million people will fall below the $2 per day poverty line this year, and an additional 53 million will fall below the absolute poverty level of $1.25 per day.” Kerry went on to say that if food prices spike in the next month, we risk a double calamity in which farmers in poor countries can’t afford to plant and buyers can’t afford to purchase food.

Kerry said that, “We can’t tackle hunger alone. We have to engage a multi-lateral approach, we have to work in coordination with international institutions, including the world food program, international aid organizations, and the World Bank.” He also said that we must demonstrate our commitment by fully funding the President's international affairs budget and initiating a foreign aid reform process.

Catherine Bertini, executive director of the World Food Program, said that “If we are to be leaders in this area, then we can see many benefits for the United States. We can see national security benefits because we see that hunger and poverty have become political flash points; that many countries have had food riots, and that those have helped unseat at least two governments in this world in the last year.” She went on to explain that it is a moral responsibility for Americans to help our sisters and brothers from around the world who are hungry and that it will restore American standing and leadership in the world.

Daniel Glickman, former United States Secretary of Agriculture, stated that “By acting decisively and in our own national interest, our country can play a central role in saving millions if not tens of millions of lives in the poorest nations of the world, as we did during the Green Revolution.” Glickman used an analogy from the movie Schindler’s list and stating that, “If you save one life, you save the entire world.” He went on to state that there is a prescription to make people self reliant so that they can become productive citizens and get themselves out of poverty and out of malnutrition.

Ranking member Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Senator Robert Casey (D-Pa.) have introduced the Global Food Security Act of 2009, which aims to serve as a practical starting point for improving United States and global efforts that food security should play a much larger role in our national security strategy. Lugar said that, “Overcoming hunger should be one of the starting points for United States foreign policy.”