National Security

[Editor's Note: Quickly after arriving in Congress, I realized one of the hardest working and most capable members of the entire body was Pete Hoekstra of Michigan.  Outspoken, objective, conservative, and informed, Hoekstra served the House and America effectively and honorably as senior member and ultimately Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence during the days and years since 9/11.  Hoekstra continues as the ranking Republican on this key committee and is a regular on national news casts and print media outlets as a clarion voice about the real nature of the enemy we face and the challenges and progress that happen in the field.

A Line of Sight is honored to include guest commentary from Congressman Hoekstra in this issue which was penned following the Petraeus/Crocker report and just as he left on yet another trip to Iraq.]

General David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq, and Iraq Ambassador Ryan Crocker delivered sobering testimony before Congress this week.

They reported that the military and security situation is improving with the increase in combat forces and that Iraq is receiving more support from other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

However, they also testified that the effort toward political reconciliation among the Sunnis and Shias has not improved and that Iran and Syria continue to provide philosophical and material support to instability in Iraq.

Following their testimony I traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Pakistan with Republican Leader U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, to evaluate the testimony of General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker firsthand.

It is unfortunate that so many on the political left determined how they would respond to General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker before they even delivered their testimony. The far-left liberal Moveon.org even purchased a full-page ad in the New York Times that accused him of betraying his country and implied that he is committing treason.

They missed a significant opportunity to set partisan differences aside, listen to their testimony and conduct a serious discussion of how America will defeat the threat from radical jihadists.

They have clearly stated that Iraq is the central front in their fight, but we are fighting an enemy on a global basis. Recently attacks were thwarted in Denmark and Germany.

We can also point to other successes: one of the world’s most murderous dictators and sponsors of terrorism has been removed from power in Iraq, Libya has abandoned its nuclear weapons programs and we have not experienced an attack on U.S. soil since nearly 3,000 innocent men, women and children were killed on 9-11.

Moving forward we must first and foremost focus on a unified strategy of creating security and stability in Iraq before focusing on democracy, which may have been too high of a goal for which to strive in the immediate effort.

Second we need to continue to pressure countries in the region to contribute more economic, political and military resources toward stability in Iraq. We also need to prevent Iran and Syria from contributing to instability.

Finally we must provide the men and women in the military and U.S. intelligence community with the resources that they need to fight and win in the struggle against radical jihadists.

It will be a long-term effort that will test America’s resolve perhaps more so that at any time in our nation’s history, but failure cannot be an option.

About Congressman Peter Hoekstra

Congressman Peter Hoekstra was named Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 2004 and held the post until January, 2007.  He now serves as the top Republican on the committee.

In his role he is responsible for helping to lead Congressional oversight of U.S. intelligence during its modernization to confront the threats of the 21^st Century.

As a former Vice President at Herman Miller, he is one of the few former Fortune 500 business executives in Congress, bringing a unique blend of experience and perspective to Washington since he was first elected in 1992.

He currently lives in Holland, Mich. with his wife, Diane.  They have three children: Erin, Allison and Bryan.  Born in Groningen, the Netherlands, and having immigrated with his family to Michigan with his family at 3 years old, he is one of the few members of Congress who was not born in the United States.