Reevaluating American Foreign Policy: A Call for Change after 9/11

The September 11 commission has issued a comprehensive report recommending a significant overhaul of American foreign policy towards the Arab and Muslim world. The commission calls for a preventive strategy that combines military and political efforts to counterterrorism, focusing on areas considered terrorist sanctuaries. This includes regions in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. The report emphasizes the need for the U.S. government to identify and prioritize terrorist sanctuaries, develop a realistic strategy to keep them insecure, and address the root causes of terrorism.

Key Takeaways:

• The commission recommends a broad rethinking of American foreign policy, shifting focus from military action to a comprehensive strategy that utilizes all elements of national power to prevent terrorist sanctuaries.
• The report identifies key regions as terrorist breeding grounds, including western Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, West Africa, and Southeast Asia.
• The commission calls for the U.S. government to define its message, stand for moral leadership, and offer an example in the world, highlighting the need for improved public diplomacy.
• The report warns that Iraq could become a failed state and a breeding ground for attacks against Americans if the U.S. experiment is unsuccessful.
• The commission praises President Bush's efforts in Afghanistan, urging long-term commitments to the region.
• The report characterizes the U.S.-Saudi relationship as problematic, requiring a more meaningful partnership that focuses on more than oil.

Statistics:

• The commission identifies multiple regions as terrorist sanctuaries, including western Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, West Africa, and Southeast Asia.
• The report emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy that utilizes all elements of national power, including military, economic, and diplomatic efforts.
• According to the commission, the U.S. government must identify and prioritize terrorist sanctuaries, develop a realistic strategy to keep them insecure, and address the root causes of terrorism.
• The report warns that Iraq could become a failed state and a breeding ground for attacks against Americans, emphasizing the need for a successful U.S. experiment in the region.

Sources:

• "Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States" (September 2004)
• The New York Times, "Terrorism Report Calls for Overhaul of U.S. Strategy" (July 22, 2004)