Jim Turner (D-Crockett), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, released a plan today to eliminate the threat of al-Qaeda to the United States that includes increasing the Peace Corps to 25,000 volunteers
Turner Announces Plan to Win the War on Terror
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Jim Turner (D-Crockett), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, released a plan today to eliminate the threat of al-Qaeda to the United States.
At a panel discussion hosted by CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) and WIIS (Women in International Security) in Washington, Turner was joined by Rep. Jane Harman, and national security experts Michèle Flournoy and Janne Nolan, to introduce a strategy to attack terrorists where they are, protect the homeland, and prevent the rise of terrorism in the future.
The 90-page document, includes over 100 specific recommendations that should be implemented to position the United States for victory in the war against terrorism. These recommendations include:
· Double the size of U.S. Special Operations Forces;
· Increase the number of FBI agents by 50%;
· Create a Director of National Intelligence;
· Monitor every mile of the U.S. border 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
· Secure all unprotected nuclear material world-wide and destroy all chemical weapons by 2010;
· Screen 100% of all cargo containers entering America for nuclear materials;
· A "Marshall Plan" for the Middle East to create a middle class and a regional common market;
· $10 billion global alliance for improving education for Arab children;
· Hire and train an additional 500 Arabic speakers at the State Department over the next 3 years;
· Double the number of exchange program visitors from the Arab-Muslim world;
· Increase the Peace Corps to 25,000 volunteers;
· Create a U.S. Reconstruction Corps ready to deploy to post-conflict zones;
· Triple funding for U.S. democratization efforts world-wide; and
· Promote one year of national service for all young Americans.
"Let me be clear-this is a war for nothing less than our survival. Our goal must be to win this war; to defeat the enemy" said Turner.
"To prevail in the war on terror our strategy must be bold-we must be willing to exercise every aspect of national power to achieve our goals. With the proper strategy, enlightened leadership, and the enduring strength of the American people, we will succeed."
