John Edwards on
counter-terrorism:
As president, I will launch a comprehensive new counterterrorism policy that will be defined by two principles—strength and cooperation. The centerpiece of this policy will be a new multilateral organization called the Counterterrorism and Intelligence Treaty Organization (CITO). Every nation has an interest in shutting down terrorism. CITO will create connections between a wide range of nations on terrorism and intelligence, including countries on all continents, including Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. New connections between previously separate nations will be forged, creating new possibilities. CITO will allow members to voluntarily share financial, police, customs and immigration intelligence. Together, nations will be able to track the way terrorists travel, communicate, recruit, train, and finance their operations. And they will be able to take action, through international teams of intelligence and national security professionals who will launch targeted missions to root out and shut down terrorist cells.
As Victor Comras of the Counter-Terrorism Blog
notes:
It really is time for those countries really committed to combating terrorism to, work together more closely in a forum and format more conducive to success. Edward’s suggestion for a Counter-terrorism and Intelligence Treaty organization could group together like-minded countries committed to the same principles and goals. It could provide a forum for pooling information and for exchanging more sensitive information on a need-to- know basis. The group might also include a cadre of counter-terrorism experts, analysts, and investigators to maintain and develop both a secure and open source data base on known international terrorists, and on those providing material support to terrorists, including recruitment and funding. Those so identified could then be designated as terrorists, creating an obligation on all member countries to take the necessary civil and prosecutorial steps they have already pledged to take under so many already existent international conventions.
This idea has the potential for developing a real framework for the informal (and haphazard) intelligence-sharing and operational planning already occuring. Edwards' chances of winning are next to zero, but the Democratic nominee would be wise to give this idea serious consideration.
5 comments:
"Every nation has an interest in shutting down terrorism," as Edwards says, in the same way that every nation has an interest in shutting down air power, or light infantry, or any other tool of warfare.
It may be cynical, but I agree. Additionally, "terrorism" is incredibly subjective--we may see the Chinese attempting, for the thousandth time--to claim that Uighurs and Falun Gong constitute a "terrorist" threat to them (the Uighurs will, in time, if the Chinese keep pushing them).
There are definite limits to the utility of this proposal--however, it is an improvement over what's already in place.
Perhaps something low-key, an "Interpol" like organization for aiding national counter-non-state-actor-terrorism efforts could come to fruition.
Making something like NATO...I don't see happening. Also, unlike Edwards I don't believe that every state (I assume that is what he meant by "nation") is against terrorism.
Now I am okay expanding NATO globally to include truly like-minded allies (Japan, Australia...and...India).
This was the coment:
"Every nation has an interest in shutting down terrorism."
Patently untrue. I hope Edwards doesn't actually believe that.
Agree that Edwards was stretching it a bit, but no worse than Bush mouthing pitiful comments about universal freedom and democracy. The idea is a wholesome, realistic one, at least if carefully set up and applied. Police more than soldiers are more important in counter-terrorism efforts.
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