THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume VII, Issue # 80, April 9, 2005
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY
By Jon Kyle
UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY & AMERICAN NATIONAL INTERESTS: U.S. SENATOR JON KYLE'S POSITIONS ON WINNING
THE WAR AGAINST ISLAMIST TERRORISM, PROMOTING AMERICA'S INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD, DEALING WITH THE
PROBLEM OF COMMUNIST CHINA, & MAINTAINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF ISRAEL & THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA
FULL STORY:
Winning the war on terrorism must be our nation's top foreign policy priority. I strongly support President George W. Bush's
commitment to eradicating the terrorist threat and commend him for his success in forming a global alliance to accomplish that
goal. The threat posed by terrorism, however, is not the only challenge that faces the United States of America; nor can
combating terrorism be our sole international priority. The national interests of the U.S.A. require a multi-faceted approach
around the world.
WINNING THE WAR ON TERROR
The war on terrorism requires America and our allies to (1) find terrorists and bring them to justice, (2) deny them the capability
of launching another attack against us, (3) disrupt and eliminate terrorist cells throughout the world, and (4) confront dictatorial
political regimes that encourage, harbor, train, or equip terrorists. The war also requires an increased commitment of resources to
our military, intelligence and law-enforcement communities, and an unprecedented degree of cooperation between
law-enforcement and intelligence agencies at home and abroad.
The effort to combat terror has led to a much needed rethinking of all of the assumptions that guided our actions during the Cold
War. We no longer confront an enemy at a fixed location, an enemy whose goals and activities are easily ascertained. Our new
adversary consists of a shadowy network of operatives that span the globe. We need to reconsider our military structure, the
nature of our alliances, and our action on the world stage in order to enable us to meet the threat posed by this new enemy.
The war on terrorism will take us to many different places, far beyond our shores. Some of our actions will be in concert with
foreign intelligence agencies to thwart potential plots against our homeland. Others will involve freezing funds or confronting
socalled "charities" that serve as a front for funding terrorist operations.
While diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of differences will always be the first choice of the United States, military action will
sometimes be required. The tragedy of the 9-11 Islamist terrorist attacks illustrated that the U.S.A. cannot always trust in others for
its security, nor can it retreat behind a paper-peace. I will continue to support a policy of confronting challenges before they fully
develop.
PROMOTING AMERICAN INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD
I believe the United States should actively promote the core American values of constitutional democracy, protection of
individual rights and freedoms, and respect for the rule of law. Nations adhering to those principles will be better allies and
partners of America and will contribute to global stability.
The past two years has seen a succession of triumphs for constitutional democracy. There was a peaceful revolution in the
former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The "Orange Revolution" in nearby Ukraine catapulted a new president to power in the face
of despotic opposition. Elections in Iraq and Afghanistan saw citizens defy en masse the intimidation and violence of Islamic
extremists. It is imperative that the U.S.A. and its allies support constitutional democracy wherever it emerges.
In general, U.S. engagement with other nations must first protect America's vital national interests. These interests include (1)
defeating terrorism (2) preventing or at least limiting the spread of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and the means to
deliver them, (3) checking the ambitions of potentially aggressive nations, (4) assisting the transition to constitutional
democracy in the states of the former Soviet Union and elsewhere, (5) maintaining good relationships with key allies in
strategic regions, such as Israel in the Middle East and Taiwan in the Far East, and (6) protecting and preserving American
national sovereignty.
I support expansion of the NATO alliance to include those nations that want its protection, that are committed to constitutional
democracy, and that are willing to assume the alliance's obligations. I also support reform of the United Nations, as a condition
of continuing America's sizable financial support of that organization. The United States must resist all efforts by the U.N. to
assert its authority over national interests and destroy our national sovereignty.
International trade benefits both American consumers and producers, and lifts up the economies of other nations, thus
improving the global economic and political climate. Mutual benefits from trade are contingent upon adherence to the rule of
law by each participating nation. The United States should insist on adherence to the rule of law by countries with which we
maintain normal trade relations.
THE PROBLEM OF COMMUNIST CHINA
The United States will continue to face significant challenges from the People's Republic of China. While our trade and
economic relationship with China continue to expand, we cannot allow these ties to distract us from the excesses of that
country's Communist regime. Engagement with the PRC is inevitable, especially in regional matters such as North Korea,
where the Chinese also have a significant interest. However, this should never keep the United States from maintaining a
principled stand in defense of basic human rights and the rule of law.
Bellicosity from Beijing and continued military expansion implicate the long-standing U.S. commitment to our nation's
strategic and democratic partner, Taiwan. I will continue to support efforts to strengthen the relationship between the U.S.A.
and Taiwan, codified in the Taiwan Relations Act. The entire international community, not just the United States, has an
interest in keeping the Taiwan Strait peaceful.
It is just this interest that is being challenged by the European Union as it considers lifting its arms embargo on China -- an
embargo that has its roots in the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989. President Bush opposes a lifting of the embargo, as do
I. First, there has not been an improvement in the condition -- a poor human rights situation -- that precipitated the embargo's
imposition in the first place. The European Parliament, the Dutch Parliament, and the German Parliament have all passed
cautionary resolutions for this reason.
Second, increased European military sales to China will benefit China's military and threaten peace in the Taiwan Strait. China
has refused to renounce the use of force against democratic Taiwan, and, as a matter of fact, the PRC just passed a resolution
reaffirming its right to use force. The United States has pledged to help Taiwan defend itself. If the EU lifts its embargo, the
U.S.A. will have to consider the manner in which it shares its military technology and equipment with countries in the
European Union (lest these materials find their way to the PRC).
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ISRAEL & THE U.S.A.
In a world where most international relationships are forged for tactical reasons, the United States and Israel enjoy a true
friendship. The reason is not hard to find. Israel, like the United States, represents something that our enemies cannot tolerate:
a thriving constitutional democracy which, in Israel's case, is right in their midst.
Israel, in fact, is the only constitutional democracy in that region. It is the only Middle East nation that accords rights to women
and elects its leaders by a true democratic vote. Israeli schools do not teach their children to root for the destruction of Arab
countries, or compare the United States to Satan. The Israeli media is free to write and report what it wants. Israeli citizens can
say what they think, can denounce their government's policies, can stage protests, can read and write whatever they please.
In order to better advance the relationship between our countries, I serve as Co-Chairman of the U.S.-Israel Joint Parliamentary
Committee on National Security, a group consisting of members of Congress and the Knesset that continues to meet and explore
ways our two legislatures can work together to advance our common security interests.
In January, 2005, I had the privilege to observe the Palestinian elections. This is an important step for the Palestinians on their
path to a real constitutional democracy. But it is only the first step. The question now is whether the victorious Mahmoud Abbas
will use his mandate to turn the Palestinian Authority into a governing body that genuinely represents its people, respects and
protects human rights, and strives to lay the groundwork for genuine negotiations with Israel, negotiations that could lead to the
creation of a Palestinian state.
Some have called on President Bush to "seize the moment," and quickly broker some kind of a deal. But a better approach is to
give Abbas himself time to demonstrate whether he will do what is necessary to achieve lasting peace.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Islamism & Jihadism -- The Threat of Radical Islam
Page Three
Page Two
Page One
The Far East & U.S. Foreign Policy
The Israeli-Arab Conflict
The Middle East & the Arabs
The Middle East & the Problem of Iraq
Page Two
Page One
The Middle East & the Problem of Iran
War & Peace in the Real World
Page Two
Page One
Islamist Terrorist Attacks on the U.S.A.
Osama bin Laden & the Islamist Declaration of War
Against the U.S.A. & Western Civilization
Islamist International Terrorism &
U.S. Intelligence Agencies
U.S. National Security Strategy
Jon Kyle is a Republican member of the U.S. Senate, elected from and representing the State of Arizona.
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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