OCT. 22 – Thomas H. Kean (former governor of New Jersey) and Lee Hamilton, chair and vice chair of 9-11 Commission, in a letter dated Oct. 22 to House International Relations Committee Chair Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL), drew attention to their recommendations regarding Pakistan and Afghanistan when lauding his efforts to bring about bipartisan agreement on the two major bills (H.R. 10 and S. 2845) making their way through Congress to reform the national and international security system of the United States. Here are extracts from that letter to Rep. Hyde.

“We write in response to your letter of October 20, 2004, asking our views with respect to the foreign policy and diplomacy provisions as contained in H.R. 10 and S. 2845.

First, we believe strongly that our counterterrorism policy must incorporate all the tools of American power, including foreign policy and diplomacy. We commend you and your Senate colleagues for your outstanding leadership in addressing the 9-11 Commission’s recommendations with respect to foreign policy and diplomacy. Second, we are in agreement that the conflict in which we are engaged is more than a war on terrorism. We, like you, understand that this is a struggle that will be with us for a generation. We seek to address not only the immediate threat from terrorists today but also the sources of that threat, sources which are rooted in the social, political, and economic environment that supports the terrorists. We believe our foreign policy and diplomacy recommendations directly address this long-term effort and are critical to protecting the American people. Third, we want to highlight provisions that we see as especially valuable in Title IV and Title X of the respective House and Senate bills in conference.

Both bills contain very good language on findings and Sense of Congress provisions with respect to U.S. policy on Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, terrorist sanctuaries, economic policies to combat terrorism, coalition strategies, exchanges programs, and the humane treatment of foreign prisoners…

We support the authorization of appropriations in Title X for aid to Afghanistan, the promotion of U.S. values through broadcast media, the expansion of scholarship and exchange programs in the Islamic world, an International Youth Opportunity Fund, and the Middle East Partnership Initiative.

We support Title IV’s strong emphasis on public diplomacy training in the Foreign Service, and pilot programs for scholarships to American-sponsored schools in Muslim countries. (Emphasis added.) We recognize that you worked very closely on a bipartisan basis in the development of Title IV, and we appreciate the constructive approach you are taking in the conference committee.”