Iran has a tremendous drug problem because of the border it shares with Afghanistan. Despite efforts by the United States, Afghanistan is still the world’s biggest provider of opium and heroin and thousands of tonnes cross the Iran-Afghanistan border each year. Iran tries desperately to police this, but they know themselves that they are only able to get a small percentage of the opium that passes. It is believed that of a population of sixty six million, over two million of those are addicted to opium.

It is obviously in Iran’s best interest to cut off this drug trade. There’s just the obvious problem that the United States would rather argue against Iran about nuclear weapons which, as H.D.S Greenway explained wonderfully back on October 5 on the New York Times is not something to worry about, than allow Iran to participate in dealing with this obvious issue. I would imagine that if the United States focused more on Afghanistan and less on a nuclear Iran, the Islamic Republic would contribute forces in the destruction of the poppy fields that litter Afghanistan.

The United States needs to sit down with Iran and, instead of talking about nuclear weapons, should discuss what Iran would like to contribute to the efforts in Afghanistan. When the Taliban was in control, they imposed horrendous acts of violence towards the minority Shi’a population, something that really bothered the predominately Shi’a Iran. During the 1990s, Iran contributed funds to the Northern Alliance in an effort of beating the Taliban in Afghanistan. They would obviously rather the Taliban not come back, but when it comes down to a hostile United States or the Taliban, Iran is going to focus more energy towards the former.

President Obama has obviously steered clear of the strict, hostile methods of his predecessor, President Bush, but for some reason, continues to fight against the idea of a nuclear Iran. What would be in both countries’ best interest would be to accept the fact that Iran is going to become nuclear, understand there is nothing threatening about it, and move on to the topic of Afghanistan. Iran’s involvement in Iran would only increase the stability in the region. With a conflict that is already undermanned and lacking the necessary resources, the United States should not be trying to instigate another country. It especially doesn’t need to be instigating a country that does not pose a threat to the United States.

What the United States needs to understand is that Iran feels tremendously threatened right now. The United States invaded countries to the immediate west and east, so naturally, Iran expects that they are going to be the next one. Add the fact that the United States has, for the past few years, taken such a hard approach to them, and it is easy to fathom why Iran would want a nuclear weapon. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara smoothed out the details about Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) which said that, unless a nation could destroy every single nuke in a nation’s arsenal in one immediate attack, the second strike by the attacked country would be just as devastating to the aggressor. This form of deterrence explains why the United States and the Soviet Union never used nukes on each other and it’s because of this military strategy that Iran wants a nuclear weapon so bad. A nuclear Iran means that they carry a different title; the United States won’t even consider invading them for fear of a nuclear attack on their own soldiers.

Instead of taking the hardball approach to Iran, I would appreciate a tactic of diplomacy that focused on Afghanistan and how to incorporate Iran in the conversion of Afghanistan as a nation of drugs and terrorists into a country that contributes to the globalizing world. Until the United States sees Iran not as a threat, but as a political and military ally in the war in Afghanistan, we are going to continue running into brick walls and watch as more anti-American sentiment grows in a country that doesn’t need that unifying force. If we want to see Mahmoud Ahmadinejad out of office, allow the Iranian people to do it themselves. Don’t give him a scape goat such as the “evil Imperialistic America.”

What’s unfortunate, though, is that, despite the fact China is rapidly modernizing their military and are expanding their international interests, the United States and China have no understanding on how to deal with each other over misunderstandings when it comes to their military forces. What is even more bizarre and counterproductive is that, during the highest periods of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, we had more relations between military forces than we currently have now with the People’s Liberation Army of China.

Instead, what we have with China is a tense relationship in which we expect them to do so many things such as cut back on carbon emissions and help us stop North Korea from obtaining nuclear weapons. More important than any of that (both will naturally fall into place) is the agreement and a relationship with the Chinese military that develops into another very powerful nation that is an ally of ours. While America is going to continue growing into a very powerful nation, China is going to grow at a much faster rate as it races to catch up with the already fast developing America.

Because of that, it is incredibly dangerous for America not to try developing a relationship with the Chinese military. Because they are rapidly developing a modernized military that has the ability to deploy overseas, we should be working together with them on issues such as a nuclear North Korea, Iraq (because they need the oil a lot more than we do) and other unstable areas around the world. How do we respond if a Chinese plane and an American plane just so happen to bump into each other? For eleven days, Americans were held in 2001 because of this exact situation. A Chinese jet bumped into an America recon plane. The Chinese pilot was never found.

These are situations that should be taken care of and have rules already set in place. Instead of worrying about China becoming the next “big threat,” we should be focusing on how to better develop a relationship between the two nations. China is never going to try and go to war with America simply because there’s nothing to gain from it. We are both very large powers, but inevitably, we are both very nuclear powers and a war between the two of us would result in total annihilation on both parts.

President Obama should, next month, invite some of the Chinese generals back to America to sit down and speak with Admiral Mullen and General Cartwright, to name a few, to try and determine what are some ways that the United States and China can develop a working relationship. It would give both nations a better understanding of how things are done, but also allow for the blueprints of a set of rules and strategies to be put in place for the future. China is only going to become more global as they attempt to gain more natural resources from around the world. It is important that we have strategies set up to make sure there nothing catostrophic happens from a very simple accident.

One of the worst ways to generate jobs in any country is to increase taxes on a company. What this results in is less capital for the company to invest in creating new jobs. When President Obama was campaigning on his plan to tax those companies that ship jobs overseas, it sounded appealing because it might scare these companies into putting jobs in America. What this does, though, is tax these companies twice. This is something that the United States has been doing for decades now and it’s because of this that the trade deficit has risen so high. We are importing so much more than we are exporting and this is a big problem.

The trade deficit continues to get bigger according to the US Census.

The United States, if they want to see jobs return to America, needs to make the environment more appealing to businesses. The first thing that the US needs to do is stop taxing companies for income that they make overseas. This is a double tax that really hurts businesses more than it helps them. No other country in the world taxes their companies for profits they make overseas. Instead, whatever country the profits are made in tax the company and that’s the end of the taxes. America should follow through on this policy as well and allow businesses to make profits elsewhere. This will increase our exports which will make companies more money.

This hurts large corporations, but it hurts the small business owners the most because they are unable to export at all due to the incredibly high taxes. What does this have to do with jobs? Small businesses are the businesses most likely to increase the number of people they employ. Small business is where jobs are going to come from as the economy continues to recover. If we want to see those jobs come back faster, making it so that these businesses don’t get taxes for selling goods overseas is an incredibly attractive system.

Americans want to see jobs appear, but one of the ways for that to happen is to get rid of this portion of our tax code that makes it so costly to sell goods overseas. Let the country that we are selling in tax the companies, but don’t make it so that they are taxed twice. It makes American goods more expensive and then nothing is ever sold.

In a time when we are competing with nations that can sell things for so much less, one thing American industry does not need is another tax on top of everything else. It has been going on for decades now and if they were to repeal these barriers, American trade would increase tremendously. Our exports would be more attractive and American business would be able to make more selling to other countries. At one time, we were the largest exporter. This has obviously changed, but we don’t have to continue weakening.

As the economy continues to recover, the United States needs to do what it can to recover as fast as possible. Getting new jobs is one of the best ways to get the economy to turn around; however, if we continue with these ridiculous tax barriers, those jobs will come much slower than we want.

It is very important that the United States does not step back and focus their efforts on just killing al-Qaeda with aerial drone attacks and special forces attacks. Yes, this is important and it is an aspect of warfare that is only going to become more important. What needs to be understood, though, is that if the United States ever wants to see a secure nation (not a democratic nation or a nation that pays tribute to America), but a secure nation that isn’t going to turn around and slap us twenty years from now, we can’t pull back and focus only on al-Qaeda.

A Predator which would be used heavily in one strategy for Afghanistan.

The one true way to convert Afghanistan from a dangerous, desolate place that harbors terrorism and has horrendous humanitarian practices to a nation that actually benefits globalization is to help the country achieve economy prosperity. The frustrating fact about it is that there will not be a single penny of foreign investment put into the country until those investors believe that their money is safe. Why does China continue to buy our debt? They see us as a worthwhile investment. We’re not going to implode tomorrow despite what a lot of my friends might otherwise believe.

Because foreign investors want to see a nation that is secure before putting money into it, the security aspect of things must come first. As I said in the beginning, I was watching the interview with the two secretaries and Mrs. Clinton said something absolutely remarkable that sounded very Barnett like, but an opinion that I have since subscribed to.

But it is a kind of a chicken-and-an-egg issue. We want to focus on development, particularly agriculture, rule of law, good governance, economic development, women’s employment, those kinds of issues. But in order to operate in many of the places in Afghanistan, you have to have a level of security.

In order for us to help them achieve that economic prosperity, there needs to be a sense of security. Afghanistan needs to appear like a stable, safe nation and in return, the foreign investment fund (everyone) will invest completely in the nation. Will they become a super-power? Of course not. Will they become stable and a country that is no longer a threat to the United States or any nation that stands by their belief in globalization? You bet.

I hope that President Obama will take his General’s opinion firmly into consideration and provide the soldiers required to finish this war. I am not asking for a force that goes in and bombs Afghanistan for hours on end. I am asking for a force that can help stabalize the nation and help it become a nation that can develop its own economy.

You want al-Qaeda to be on the run and unable to attack the United States? Get rid of one of its big safe havens: Afghanistan. Get rid of their ability to use the territory as a training camp. The answer to that isn’t to just attack al-Qaeda. Killing a terrorist doesn’t get rid of terrorism. It creates more. Instead, provide the necessary security while simultaneously developing Afghanistan’s military. When this happens and their economy grows, everything else will fall into place.

This is great news, especially for those nations that have shipping companies that go through that area on a regular basis. As many might remember, back in April, the Maersk Alabama was hijacked and the captain was held for a few days. In the end, President Obama gave authorization for a Navy SEAL team to take out the Somali pirates and rescued the captain.

The fact that piracy in the Indian Ocean is on a decline is a great thing and really gives credit to NATO, but more importantly, gives credit to the three states of Somalia. Each has developed, with the help of the United States and NATO, a force that can handle pirates. While they don’t have a strong navy to do things at sea, what these states have developed are small, land based forces that can go in and dismantle the pirate villages. Without their villages, these pirates are homeless.

On the home front in Somalia, the attitude towards pirates has changed as well. At one time when it was socially acceptable for young men to be pirates, now it is becoming more of a bothersome to Somali people. Add the above mentioned infantry force and few want to even consider becoming pirates.

Many officials that are directly involved in dealing with the Somali pirate issue stress that this doesn’t mean the problem is over. Piracy is still an issue in the area and those that are more experienced have realized that dealing with the navies of a multi-national response isn’t rational. Therefore, they’ve gone more south and continue to raid there. So piracy isn’t over, but there are actions being taken against it.

One of the fears, according to Mr. Axe, is that nations will perceive this as a means of “getting out.” Pirates are no longer a threat; therefore, they can pull their navies back to their coastal seas. This is dangerous for the simple fact that piracy is still a problem in the area and if all of these ships were to be removed before Somalia has developed a force capable of deterring pirates, all that will come from this is a smarter pirate force that continues to raid and hijack ships.

I’d like to see this multi-national naval force stay in the area and continue to patrol the waters. As Somalia develops their own force, they can prevent pirates from gaining a foothold on the coastal beaches, but also in the sea. If we leave too early, they won’t have a chance to route the problem and the pirates will come back.

However, in the end, it will take more than just all these large destroyers and frigates in the area to protect the commercial ships. Since all of these pirate attacks have happened, the ships have added barbed wire to their hand rails to prevent people from boarding. More importantly, ships have been making the attempt to sail much faster. The assumed 25 mph makes it nearly impossible for pirates to board. The waters are simply too choppy.

In the end, it is expensive to keep these ships in the area. However, if it’s providing Somalia with the opportunity to develop a force that can keep piracy at bay, it’s an investment that will, over time, pan out nicely.

Under the older system put in place by President Bush, the United States government would place ten interceptor missiles in Poland and an advaced radar in the Czech Republic. This would allow for the United States to shoot down any nuclear missile that was shot by the Middle East (ie. Iran) towards Europe. Fundamentally, it was a sound plan that would have done a lot of good.

Destroy Hopper launches SM3 in test.

The downside to it was two sided. First, it would have taken a long time for the United States to develop this defense system. To get the interceptors and radar in Eastern Europe, after ratification by the two European countries, it would have taken nearly eight years to get the system up and running. If Iran is on path to developing a nuclear weapon like many government sources suggest, they’ll have it far sooner than in eight years.

Secondly, by putting this missile defense system in Europe, it did little to defend against the one place that Iran has always talked about destroying: Israel. The old defense plan suggested that Iran would try and develop an ICBM. According to new intelligence reports, Iran is instead trying to develop short range nuclear weapons. In other words…Weapons that can hit Israel.

Under President Obama’s new plan, sea-based SM3 Interceptor missiles would be put into place where the administration sees the most threat for European targets. These missiles, according to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates have been proven time and time again in tests, but are also being developed more to make them even more effective. By 2015, there would be land based SM3 Interceptor missiles in place to shoot down any potential threats.

This new policy is the proper approach to missile defense simply because it gets interceptor missiles capable of shooting down potential nuclear threats by 2011. This is six years sooner than the old policy. Secondly, as Barnett explained, “We have VERY important friends much closer in than Eastern Europe.” In other words…Israel.

The United States is obviously worried about a nuclear Iran. Rather than putting missiles in Eastern Europe that does little to defend our closest ally to the problem, we have created a policy that would get defense in place much sooner and effectively get rid of any threat by Iran.

A much smaller benefit to this is the added relations with Russia. Russia and the United States were not sharing the same opinion on this missile defense system being placed in Eastern Europe. Russia saw it as a threat to their “sphere of influence.” I can see where that comes from. What’s beneficial about this updated missile defense system is it now gives America a playing card. When President Obama meets with President Medvedev, he could use potentially use this as a political tool in getting Russia to aid in getting Iran to stop developing nuclear weapons.

A missile defense, if properly installed and tested, could make ballistic missiles with nuclear capability nearly obsolete. The issue is that it needs to be an effective tool. President Obama and his team of national-security experts made the right decision in moving the missile defense system from Eastern Europe to a more logical location closer to Iran. The political advantages gained from this are only an added bonus when discussing relations with Russia.

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When the morning came, though, and they realized that they had a duty, there was no arguing about who should go in and who should not. These average Americans suddenly were raised to a status all of its own: they had become heroes. The interesting thing about these heroes, though, was that they never asked for it. They never went looking for it. They were not of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability. Nor were they illustrious warriors. These were men and women who were ordinary American citizens thrown into an extraordinary situation and rather than run away, they ran in. Completely selfless, these courageous men and women sacrificed their lives to try and save another.

The United States was sent into pandemonium after the planes hit. People rushed across the Brooklyn Bridge to escape from danger, covered in soot.  Smoke rose from the spots where the Twin Towers had hit. Fire burned. The towers crumbled and fell. Underneath rubble, people waited desperately, knowing that although it seemed unlikely, they would be saved.

For these police officers and fire fighters, though, there was no running away. There was only action and these true heroes of America demonstrated that they would do whatever it took to rescue lives including risking their own.

On September 11, 2,974 people lost their lives. Each person who died brought with them their own set of stories. Each father, mother, son, daughter, friend, cousin, husband and wife all brought with them experiences and beliefs that will always live on.

We became connected on that day. It was a connection that, for many people, we never thought we’d experience. I witnessed true heroism that day. I witnessed the utmost sacrifice that day. I experienced a connection to the rest of America.

Writing a piece about September 11, 2001 is the hardest one to transcribe. How can you truly do justice to the courage that was shown that day? I feel as if no amount of words will truly demonstrate what the true heroes of America did for us that day.

To all the families that lost a loved one on that day, my thoughts go to you. To the firefighters and police officers who died on that day, my thoughts go to you. To the fire fighters and police officers who have to sit with the memories of this horrible day, my thoughts go to you. To the victims of American 11, United 175, American 77 and United 93, my thoughts go to you. To the Armed Forces who are fighting overseas, my thoughts go to. To the United States of America, my thoughts go to you. We are one people. We have our differences, but at the end of the day, we are one people.

So I ask everyone today to take a moment and just think. Think about someone who you lost or think about someone you know who lost someone. Appreciate all that you have. September 11th was a tragedy like no other. Fortunately for America, we had true heroes. Take a little time out of your day today to thank them for their actions. They did it selflessly. They didn’t gain anything. It was out of true love for the country that we live in.

On behalf of the WeThePeoplePolitics.com staff, I offer my most sincere condolences to the families and friends of victims of these atrocious attacks. You will always be heroes in my eyes.

I look at the speech and then listen to the constant banter by politicians and I am appalled. I understand politics. I understand “sticking to your party.” This is gross, though. The President of the United States wants to address to the students of the country, to discuss education and their responsibility in their own success, and suddenly the entire world is going to end.

As Republican Chairman Jim Greer put it so “eloquently:”

“As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama’s socialist ideology. The idea that schoolchildren across our nation will be forced to watch the president justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies; increasing taxes on those who create jobs; and racking up more debt than any other president, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power.”

Perhaps Mr. Greer can read the speech and politely tell us where in it he discusses health care, banks, automobile companies, increased taxes, and debt.

I can’t understand why this is an issue. The President of the United States wanted to address the students of America and express his hopes that they take school serious. The President wants to instill in them a sense of responsibility and instead of this being received with open arms, instead, people freak out.

Why?

Education is more than just a teacher doing his/her job and a parent doing his/her job. The student needs to take responsibility. Whether it is a first grader trying to decide whether to practice writing or to play video games or a High School junior choosing to go play video games instead of study for the SATs, this speech was geared towards the students to ensure that they realize they have a responsibility.

I can tell you the problem. The United States has become increasingly polarized. This has gone on to become more than just party politics. It’s gone on to become “anything that isn’t our side is wrong.” It’s not just the Republican’s fault, though, despite the fact they are one of the biggest culprits. Nancy Pelosi, in particular, is to blame for this because it was during her reign as Speaker of the House that the Democrats used their “Whatever Bush wants to do is wrong” doctrine.

Unfortunately, this is having a negative impact on the US. The President wanted to address the students and implore that they take their school more seriously. Why is this wrong? Why shouldn’t the President urge the people to work harder?

Polarized politics is creating this fundamental issue we’re having. The United States has two parties who are battling each other so fervently that they aren’t getting anything done. Instead of presenting such illogical arguments like Mr. Geer stating, “…I am absolutely appalled the taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama’s socialist ideology,” we should be presenting arguments that stand with President Obama.

The students of America need to assume responsibility of their work. The students of America need to work. If they fail, they can’t blame anyone but themselves. If they succeed, it is because they did the work. The students of the United States need to be responsible for their actions. Instead of polarizing something so trivial as addressing the students about their need to work hard in school, focus on something more important such as the economy, the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Healthcare, Immigration and…Yeah…

The war isn’t a failure, though. Granted, the war is very frustrating and has been dragging on for so many years, it is easy to simply call it a failure. I wrote back in January that the three step plan to defeating the Taliban included more troops, destroying the heroin fields, and having Pakistan help fight more. The United States has, since Obama assumed office, done all of those things. More troops were sent to Afghanistan. The poppy fields are being destroyed en masses and Pakistan apparently has committed to dealing with their Taliban problem.

Afghan soldiers stand at attention.

The fundamental issue in Afghanistan now, at least when referring to the war, isn’t the Taliban or al-Qaeda, but instead, it is Congress in Washington. They’re demanding results in the next eighteen months and the reason that’s impossible is that it requires time to make any lasting changes.

First and foremost, the United States needs to help continue training Afghan officers. We’ve been there for going on eight years and it takes upwards of ten years, minimum, to start seeing consistent officers. Without consistent officers, no Afghan army, regardless of size, is going to be able to fight. I’d take it a step further and do what we have done for so many other nations. Allow some of their officers to come to the United States and train at our military schools. I’m not talking a ton of them, but you can have a few come and train at West Point and that will develop some very good low level officers, the ones that will be leading the individual soldiers around.

Secondly, the United States needs to develop a method in which they can start training people in governmental posts. I’m not talking about the stereotypical, “This is how you be a good sovereign state of the United States.” I mean a legit training of government positions so that, when the United States does leave, the people don’t just revert back to their old ways. I would feel much happier about Afghanistan knowing that there was peace there.

Finally, NATO needs to come in and start building up the economy. I’ve read a lot since writing my article back in January and the primary issue with destroying the poppy is that there is nothing there to replace it. If the farmers have a choice of farming poppy or farming nothing, they’ll continue to grow the drug simply because it puts food on the table. If NATO can come in and help stabilize the area enough, foreign investment will start to flow in. Once that happens, Afghanistan will be known as a victory.

Train the officers so that they can pass their learning on to other officers. Train the government officials so that they can actually govern effectively. Finally, have NATO come in and help to, effectively, stabilize areas so that foreign investment can go in. As long as an area is safe, money will flow in. That is inevitable.

His political life would alter the course of American history.  He was a key player in the passing of such legislation as the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, The COBRA Act of 1985, the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.   His actions helped to pave the way for support for the mentally handicapped, equal pay for women, increases to the minimum wage and numerous reforms to health care.  His aggressive liberal stance won him friends and enemies alike, but he was never one to allow party lines to get in the way of the issues he sought to solve.  In his 1980 speech to the Democratic National Convention, he (in his distinguished Boston brogue) characterized his political convictions, and the convictions he believed to be of the Democratic party, with these words:  ”Our cause has been, since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the cause of the common man and the common woman.”

His tumultuous personal life echoed the tragic story of the Kennedy family as a whole.  “Teddy” saw his father die of a stroke, and his two brothers gunned down by assassins. He had problems with alcohol, and was known as a womanizer.  The Chappaquidick Incident threatened his political career, while other sex scandals and alcohol-related incidents forced people to question his character. Yet through these troubled times, Ted Kennedy held himself solely accountable, and met these issues head-on.

Regardless of our political affiliations and beliefs, we can all look at Senator Ted Kennedy as a great American.  He was a tireless politician who loved his family, his faith and his country, and America will deeply and sadly miss him.

On behalf of the We The People Politics staff, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Kennedy family in their time of grief.