Foreign Affairs - Summary of Issues

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IRAQ
Operation Iraqi Freedom succeeded in overthrowing Saddam Hussein, but Iraq remains violent and unstable because of Sunni Arab resentment and a related insurgency. According to its November 30, 2005, “Strategy for Victory,” the Bush Administration indicates that U.S. forces will remain in Iraq until the country is able to provide for its own security and does not serve as a host for radical Islamic terrorists. The Administration believes that, over the longer term, Iraq will become a model for reform throughout the Middle East and a partner in the global war on terrorism. However, mounting casualties and costs have intensified a debate within the United States over the wisdom of the invasion and whether to wind down U.S. involvement without completely accomplishing U.S. goals.

Administration critics, including many in Congress, believe the U.S. mission in Iraq is failing and that major new policy initiatives are required. Some believe that U.S. counter-insurgent operations are hampered by an insufficient U.S. troop commitment. Others believe that a U.S. move toward withdrawal might undercut popular support for the insurgency and force compromise among Iraq's factions. Still others maintain that the U.S. approach should focus not on counter-insurgent combat but on reconstruction and policing of towns and cities cleared of insurgents, a plan the Administration says it is now moving toward under an approach termed “clear, hold, and build.”

IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN TROOPS

Congressman Fattah supports the redeployment of American troops from Iraq within the next six months. The war has been and continues to be costly, both in dollars and in lives. America has invested over $220 billion dollars to bring down a regime and rebuild Iraq while our own domestic priorities go unmet.

If it is necessary to have a continued military presence in Iraq, the U.S. should create an Arab and Muslim security peacekeeping force operating under the authorization of the United Nations. The deployment of these peacekeepers would demonstrate a unified global commitment to the Iraqi people that their fledgling democracy will be given an opportunity to grow and prosper without threat from disruptive insurgents, while quelling regional fears of the permanency of the presence of U.S. troops.

GLOBAL HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC
Sub-Saharan Africa has been more severely affected by AIDS than any other part of the world. There are 24.5 million adults and children living with HIV in the region, and every 25 seconds another person is infected with the disease. Although the region has about 11.15% of the world's population, it has but over 64% of the worldwide total of infected people. The overall rate of infection among adults in sub-Saharan Africa is 7.4%, compared with 1.1% worldwide. Nine southern Africa countries have infection rates above 10%, and the ten African countries with the largest infected populations account for over 50% of infected adults worldwide. AIDS has surpassed malaria as the leading cause of death in Africa, and it kills many times more Africans than war. In Africa, 57% of those infected are women.

AIDS' severe social and economic consequences are depriving Africa of skilled workers and teachers, and reducing life expectancy by decades in some countries. There are an estimated 12.3 million AIDS orphans in Africa. They face increased risk of malnutrition and reduced prospects for education. AIDS is also blamed for declines in agricultural production in some countries and is seen as a major contributor to hunger and famine.

SAFE BLOOD SUPPLY IN AFRICA

Of the approximately six million blood transfusions performed annually in Africa, as many as half of them are improperly tested for infectious diseases. Because blood transfusions are directly linked to the escalation of the number of HIV cases, Congressman Fattah led a recent legislative effort to make $2 million available to clean up Africa’s blood supply and train healthcare professionals in proper medical procedures and practices for blood transfusions.

Congressman Fattah’s legislation will also generate a tactical plan from the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, USAID and the Global AIDS Coordinator. When implemented, the plan will streamline the activities of the affiliated organizations to provide more targeted data and adequate feedback on how to administer and collect data to improve the blood supply in Africa.

These measures will improve the quality of life for millions of people and save them from an easily preventable death.

MIDDLE-EAST PEACE PROCESS
After Hamas victories in December 15, 2005, Palestinian municipal elections, speculation increased about the possible effects on the peace process if it achieved similar successes in January 25, 2006, parliamentary elections. On December 28, the “Quartet” (United States, European Union, U.N., and Russia) stated that a future Palestinian cabinet “should include no member who has not committed to the principles of Israel’s right to exist in peace and security and an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism.”

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a serious stroke on January 4, and Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert became Acting Prime Minister. On January 12, Olmert told President Bush that peace efforts could not progress if terrorist organizations like Hamas joined the Palestinian government after the elections. In January 2006, Hamas won a resounding electoral victory.

MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS

Congressman Fattah congratulates the Palestinian people on an electoral process that was free, fair and secure. The Palestinian people have the right to expect that a new government will address their aspirations for peace and statehood. Congressman Fattah believes that all members of a future Palestinian government must be committed to nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap for Peace. He also advocates continuing negotiations between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority to bring about a peaceful resolution to the current conflict.

DARFUR
The ongoing crisis in Darfur in western Sudan has led to a major humanitarian disaster, with an estimated 1.9 million people displaced and more that 213,000 people forced into neighboring Chad. While there are no reliable estimates of the number of people killed as a result of the conflict, some observers project that up to 300,000 people have been killed over the past 24 months. In July 2004, the House and Senate declared the atrocities in Darfur genocide, and the Bush Administration reached the same conclusion in September 2004.

On November 1, 2005, President Bush renewed Executive Order 13067, which called for economic sanctions on the government of Sudan for one year. The president justified the continuation of sanctions against Sudan “because the actions and policies of the Government of Sudan continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

On November 18, 2005, the U.S. Senate passed the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, by unanimous consent. The act condemns the government of Sudan for the atrocities in Darfur, imposes punitive measures, and calls for the continuation of existing sanctions.

ACTION AGAINST SUDAN

Congressman Fattah believes that the atrocities in Darfur constitute genocide and condemns the Government of Sudan for its complicity in them. In 2005, he co-sponsored the Darfur Genocide Accountability Act. This bill would prohibit any entity that does business in Sudan from raising money in the United States. It would also authorize the President to use force to stop the Darfur genocide.