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Senator Says U.S. Must Prevent "Theological Iron Curtain” From Developing
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| Lieberman: Muslims are besieged by isolation and intolerance |
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (IslamOnline & News agencies) - A key Democratic senator has urged the administration of President George W. Bush to reassess U.S. policy toward the Muslim world to prevent what he called “Islamic radicals” from building an "ideological iron curtain."
In a major foreign policy speech at Georgetown University Monday, January 14, 2002, Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) accused "the fanatical forces of jihad [struggle]" of trying to build "a theological iron curtain to divide the Muslim world from the rest of the globe," Agence France-Presse (AFP), reported.
He said this new "Berlin Wall" is being built "with bricks made from poverty and tyranny, cemented by the mortar of hatred and violence."
The Connecticut lawmaker, who ran for vice president in the 2000 presidential election and is seen as possible presidential contender in 2004, urged the administration to broaden its interaction with the Muslim world by reaching out to Muslims with policies to alleviate poverty and improve human rights
"We must act now, proactively and aggressively, to help the millions of modern Muslims in the world who are being besieged by isolation and intolerance, because if the curtain should some day fall, it would constitute a great and grave danger to our country and much of the rest of world," said Lieberman.
The senator, just back from a trip to Central Asia, said the United States must be more assertive in defending democracy, human rights and freedom of the press in Muslim countries.
"We must make those values a premise of our alliances and a condition of our aid, because the inalienable God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that we declared our independence for don't end at America's borders," Lieberman pointed out.
Lieberman said the United States has looked too often the other way as Islamic countries denied their citizens basic rights and economic opportunities. That embittered some Muslims and obscured the U.S. record of protecting Muslims in places such as Kuwait, Bosnia and Kosovo, he said, news agencies reported.
He did not offer specific examples but cited a recent report by the democracy advocates Freedom House that said nations of the Islamic world have grown increasingly repressive over the past two decades.
“We can and must demonstrate to ordinary people throughout the Islamic world that the United States will take risks to support their freedom, aspirations and quality of life,” he said.
The United States should withhold economic and political support for oppressive regimes and speak out strongly for improved women's rights, which it has done too little of, for fear of destabilizing some governments, and help Islamic nations join the World Trade Organization (WTO).
"We must encourage Muslim nations to embrace more open economies so that they can join the WTO, and that would both spur a further reform of their trade policies and help them succeed in export industries," the senator said.
Lieberman said the United States should retarget its aid to Muslim nations toward creating better public health and education systems and more independent media outlets controlled by citizens rather than the state. He urged vigorous diplomatic efforts and more cultural exchanges to improve understanding of the United States and counter anti-Western propaganda.
At the same time, the senator urged the Bush administration to take a firm stance against Baghdad, arguing that, "this war against terrorism will not be over until [President] Saddam Hussein is removed from power in Iraq."
He said that during his trip, Central Asian leaders welcomed U.S. presence in the region "because it promises to protect their independence in relation to some of the larger neighbors in their region."
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