Isolation is Not an Option
Eight years ago, as President George W. Bush left office, the world was in a relatively stable position. Following the success of the surge, Iraq was strengthening its self-governance capacity after a long battle against a nearly defeated Al Qaeda in the country. The Taliban retreated back to their safe haven in Pakistan while Syria was having negotiations with Israel on a lasting peace. Members of Congress were regularly visiting Yemen, and Russia occupied part of Georgia, but was largely seen as limited to its own regional goals. While there was certainly turmoil brewing in these regions and the threat of Islamist terrorism was still prevalent, it was a different world that looked like it might be on a path to stability. And as the last of the American forces were leaving Iraq, President Obama declared, “we’re leaving behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq.”
Today the world around us seems much different. Chaos has enveloped the Middle East with the hijacking of the Arab Spring and the rise of ISIS, and has spread to Africa, Europe, and is currently inspiring attacks in the United States. Russia has illegally annexed Crimea and violated the sovereignty of another country, has become a dominant player in the Middle East with its actions to prop up the murderer Bashar al-Assad in Syria, while also buzzing our navy ships. In the Pacific, China is building fake islands and declaring them territory, while North Korea is testing more powerful nuclear weapons and the payloads to deliver a strike to the west coast of the United States. Iran captures our sailors, puts them on their knees, and is “thanked” by the U.S. Secretary of State for letting them go. Sadly, the world is in absolute and utter chaos.
It is in this context that I went on a congressional delegation trip to several troubled areas of the Middle East. Over the eight day trip, we got a firsthand look at the challenges the world continues to face and the issues that we as Members of Congress must make decisions on almost daily. If one thing has become clear over the last decade, it’s that isolation is no longer an option in a world made smaller by globalization, the free flow of information and ease of travel.
Overall, the trip was eye-opening, somewhat depressing, and failed to give me a sense of confidence in our current state of affairs in the world. Many leaders and citizens of these troubled areas shared concerns about a retreating president and a Republican front runner all too eager to feed into the idea of isolation. In these places, I saw and met with generations of youth who had been displaced from their home countries and deprived of a basic education. Access to education and more opportunity is the first line of defense against a cesspool of extremist ideology. Simply put, a young person who understands the world, and can participate in it, is far less likely to commit jihad against it. Most importantly, the world understands — and certainly these people understood — that a world with American engagement looks far better than a world without.
Our first stop on the trip was to Israel, which is always a great place to visit. Israel boasts a booming economy by leading the world in new technology startups and their recent energy discoveries. The minute you step foot in Jerusalem, you understand the importance of this place to so many people throughout human history. As a Christian, the history of the bible becomes even clearer as you trace the footsteps of Christ, and see history in front of your very eyes and hear the future foretold. On a political front, you see the challenges that face the residents daily. The random knife attacks and bombings by Palestinian jihadists can reach out and touch you at any moment, and you feel the geographic closeness of people who have been in conflict for centuries. For the past decade, Israelis have had to deal with the constant threat of rocket attacks and other bombardments. The sense of danger is palpable knowing that terrorist groups like Hamas possess high ground in places like Gaza, a perfect launching point for ongoing attacks on innocent civilians and in the flight path of Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
It was in this environment that our delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The hour-long meeting was an open and frank discussion about the challenges in the region, such as the ongoing threat of terror from Palestinian extremists, the potential of a nuclear-armed Iran, and the impact of the Syrian civil war on Israel’s border. Meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu assured us that he is a man dedicated to the survival of his country and deeply worried about its future. Increasingly surrounded by enemies of Israel’s existence, the challenges are very evident, which sometimes is hard to understand from our perch oceans away. Israel’s continued existence and safety is a bulwark in a Middle East teetering on total collapse. Bottom line? Israel is America’s best friend in that region. Yes, Israel needs America, but America also needs Israel. Its survival was authored by our creator and ignored at our peril.
Every time I visit, I am always impressed by the people’s commitment to the state. Everywhere you go you see members of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ready to defend their fellow citizens, regardless of what God they worship. Israel is teaming with folks from every major religion, living in harmony. The news does a disservice to this narrative. The IDF members on active duty are comprised largely of young people serving their obligation to the military (for little pay), but it doesn’t stop there. Residents who served remain in the reserves for many years after their initial commitment, and remain ready to serve if called upon to do so, which is unfortunately quite often. It’s a great lesson for America as we figure how to shape our future military posture to include the National Guard and Reserve forces.
Following our visit to Israel, the delegation visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Over the years, the U.S. relationship with the Kingdom has been punctuated with several low points. A stable Saudi government is imperative to a stable Middle East, but navigating the human rights abuses with the need for a strong alliance is very difficult. As the host nation to Mecca and the leader of Sunni states, Saudi Arabia has invested billions in fighting Al Qaeda and ISIS, and strengthening nations in disarray, such as Egypt. Saudi Arabia is currently engaged in pushing back Iranian hegemony in Yemen, committing to airstrikes and military operations against the Iranian operatives and proxies there. I visited Yemen in the past, and can assure you that we do not want to see an Iranian client state there. Instead of lambasting Saudi Arabia, we should commend the Kingdom for its actions to fight terror and take the fight to ISIS at its source.
The striking thing you notice when you land in Saudi Arabia is the amount of money visibly invested in their buildings and infrastructure. The roads are fairly empty, but in impeccable shape. The cars are top of the line and the buildings are like some that would only exist in blueprints of an architect’s dream. I can’t help but think how nice it would be had America utilized its energy prowess earlier and how optimistic I am that since we are now the world’s energy leader, we might be able to enjoy some of that investment and economic vibrancy as well.
Our delegation had a number of good meetings; such as with the Foreign Minister, Deputy Crown Prince, and King Salman. One thing stood out in all of these meetings: the region needs help, and the United States has a unique ability to rally together a coalition to confront these challenges. Syria is an issue on the minds of all leaders of the Kingdom, since it has led to the refugee crisis that is spinning out of control and the violence committed by both ISIS and the barbaric Assad regime. Starting with the failure to enforce our own red line to our failure to keep the Russian government from striking the moderate opposition, many are wondering if the United States has given up, and left a vacuum in the Middle East. After all, a vacuum has to be filled by something, and it seems chaos is winning that battle. It is imperative the next president makes clear that we have core interests in the Middle East and America will be there to continue its engagement.
Following the visit to Saudi Arabia, the delegation went to Turkey, another hotbed of terrorist activity against a key NATO ally on the front lines of the Syrian refugee crisis. It was in this visit that we linked up with U2’s lead singer Bono, most known for his voice, but probably most appreciated for his fight for global human rights and social justice. Bono played a pivotal role in convincing President George W. Bush to get involved in the global fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS, which led to the creation of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that has been instrumental in saving lives in Africa from the scourge of this epidemic.
While we did meet with the Prime Minister, perhaps the most memorable part of the entire trip was our visit to the Nizip refugee camp close to the Syrian border. The Turks have invested a great deal of resources in handling the refugee crisis, and in attempting to integrate many of the refugees into their communities. However, some still live in the refugee camps like the one we visited. What resonates with me the most during these site visits are the children. Many of us can get trapped into the mentality that what happens somewhere else doesn’t affect us. Unfortunately, the stories of war and terror have become common place and can dull our senses to the tangible impact on real people. The children at this camp reminded me that children around the world have the same hopes, dreams, and aspirations as American children. Every child had a backpack they were proud of, symbolic in my mind of their limited possessions and those lost in war. These children must be guided into understanding the value of freedom and opportunity instead of the detriment of being bound to a strict ideology that requires complete obedience and the murder of innocents and non-believers.
Following our visit in Turkey, we went to Egypt, where more of the themes remained. Egypt, a nation of almost 90 million people, has gone through major upheaval before settling on the relatively stable current government under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Egypt is continually threatened by Islamist extremism from ISIS and the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as economic turmoil with a tourism industry that collapsed following the revolution. High unemployment and a tough budgetary environment threaten the fight against terror, but the current Egyptian government continues to show its commitment to fighting with both words and actions. Egypt continues to fight ISIS in the Sinai Peninsula, largely in cooperation with other allies in the region, and beats back the threat of an extremist takeover. Maintaining a stable Egypt is a key component to preventing a worsened humanitarian crisis, and ultimately defeating this radical ideology that the Western world remains engaged against.
Overall, the trip had a great impact on me because we here in Congress wrestle with the issues of how to fund and execute this war against terrorism. We have learned a painful lesson these past few years: social change, if carried out incorrectly, can lead to vacuums of leadership and breeding grounds for terror. More importantly, we have learned that a Middle East void of American leadership will proceed down a path of disaster. We must embrace our unique position in this world. We have been blessed with brave citizens and amazing resources. Throughout our history, we have attempted to put up walls and withdraw from the world, and each time, the evils reach out and go after us here at home. To fight the enemy on their land and support allies willing to do the same is a much better option than waiting for another major attack here that takes the lives of our fellow Americans.
To put it another way, I’ll quote Ronald Reagan on a different enemy “If nothing in life is worth dying for, when did this begin–just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard ’round the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis didn’t die in vain. Where, then, is the road to peace? Well, it’s a simple answer after all.”
