Violent extremists continue to bring new challenges to our Armed Forces and diplomatic corps around the world. Ongoing efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as growing instability in Pakistan, Lebanon, Gaza and West Bank, reinforce the need for continued involvement throughout East Asia and the Middle East. The U.S. must work with allied countries to bring the necessary resources to this region in order to achieve lasting peace and stability.
Iraq
Since the military and diplomatic surge in Iraq began over a year ago, American forces achieved significant success. Nevertheless, this has been a very difficult period on our military personnel and their families. Currently, 10 of the 18 provinces in Iraq are effectively under the full control of the Iraqi government. As more Iraqi security forces complete their training, these forces are beginning to take the lead in the majority of the security operations throughout the entire country. The U.S. Armed Forces are playing a supportive role, instead of taking the lead, in many operations today because of the security gains achieved with additional forces. These forces are now coming home and neighborhoods and cities across Iraq remain relatively stable.
All five combat brigades and three Marine units have returned home without replacement. Because of the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice made by these soldiers and Marines, deployments to Iraq will be reduced to 12-month tours beginning August 1st, down from 15-month tours. The security gains made by the additional forces brought down the violence to the lowest levels since the spring of 2004. Nevertheless, Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus are quick to note that the gains made over the past year are reversible.
As we approach the end of the year, the U.S. and Iraq will be negotiating an agreement on the role of American forces in the future. I look forward to reviewing the proposal to ensure it meets our national security objectives. Insurgent groups within Iraq and terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East continue to pose as a threat to the U.S. and our allies in the region. Al Qaeda’s resurgence in Afghanistan is a constant reminder of the work that remains. We must continue in our vigorous diplomatic and military efforts to bring peace and stability to the region.
Intelligence Reform
After months of deliberation among the House of Representatives, Senate and the White House, a comprehensive bill to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978 was enacted in July. This legislation comes in response to the disclosure of a surveillance program operated by the National Security Agency (NSA) that began in the weeks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The bill establishes new procedures for targeting suspected foreign terrorists outside the U.S., while also ensuring that every operation to surveil Americans is subject to a certification process by the Attorney General (AG) and review by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC). Furthermore, the bill adopts procedures designed to minimize the retention of classified personal information and to prohibit the dissemination of the material. The goal of the legislation is to provide our intelligence agencies with the necessary tools to collect and analyze information in order to protect our country, while ensuring proper and consistent oversight of these activities by the judicial and legislative branch.
One of the more controversial issues throughout this debate has been the role of telecommunications companies following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Allegations of improper activities and privacy violations have been levied against these companies. While the White House wanted to grant full immunity to these companies before any case could be brought against them, the new law establishes a federal court review process to determine whether or not the activities were conducted in a lawful manner. In no way does this legislation grant immediate immunity to any company facing such allegations.
It is vital that our intelligence community have the necessary tools to collect and analyze information that will protect our country from future attacks. It is equally important that the Constitution and our civil liberties are protected. These values and respect for the rule of law have made us the greatest country in the world and we cannot lose sight of these traits in the fight against extremists who wish to harm this nation.
I am always eager to hear from my constituents. If you would like to speak with my staff about international relations or defense legislation, please contact my Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-2031.
