"Smart power" is an effective way to fight anti-Americanism and radical ideologies that use terrorist attacks against their own government and freedom-loving people elsewhere. These policies recognize that before a person can choose his politics, he has to have enough to eat and a stable community in which to live. Simply put, by increasing the number of Peace Corps volunteers and Foreign Service Officers, putting more American sandals and sneakers on the ground, we can avoid sending in American combat boots. I saw first-hand the payoff of "smart power" when several Southeast Asian nations, particularly Indonesia, were devastated by the tsunami in December 2004. The month after the disaster, I traveled to Southeast Asia and joined then-Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz to visit the tsunami-ravaged areas and meet with representatives from relief organizations and military and government officials. There was a tremendous effort of assistance and cooperation among the U.S. military, international relief organizations and the Indonesian military in responding to a cataclysmic humanitarian crisis. By providing clean drinking water and food, emergency evacuations, medical help and rebuilding, the assistance our nation provided in just that short time created a before-unmatched outpouring of goodwill for America. Unfortunately, after the flood waters receded, so too did America's "smart power" engagement in Southeast Asia. The recent attacks should be a wake-up call that it is far past time to reinvest in the region and quit ignoring the dangers of failing to do so.
Senator Kit Bond writes: By increasing the number of Peace Corps volunteers and Foreign Service Officers, putting more American sandals and sneakers on the ground, we can avoid sending in American combat boots
Putting sandals on the ground can avoid sending boots
BY SEN. CHRISTOPHER "KIT" BOND
08/02/2009
The twin suicide attacks in Jakarta, Indonesia, last month underscore the perils of our nation continuing to ignore Southeast Asia. The dangers of continuing down our current path are very real: By overlooking this region, Southeast Asia could become a breeding ground of terrorist activity for generations.
But Southeast Asia doesn't have to go down that path, and particularly not Indonesia, a democratic country of peaceful and pluralistic Muslims. Last month, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was reelected, signaling a quickening in the pace of democratic reform. In addition to democratic politics, Indonesia's religious leanings also are positive. By and large, Indonesians reject violent brands of Islam.
Despite the moderate and peace-loving population, terrorist groups like Jemaah Islamiyahand and Abu Sayef still are seeking to spread Islamist terror and impose their tyrannical rule across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, these extremists often turn to violence, resulting in this month's attacks and the deadly bombings in Bali and Jakarta in the years before.
It is critical that the United States act now, before these violent extremists gain traction in their quest to spread fundamentalist ideologies across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. This effort first requires the United States to do more than give lip service to Southeast Asian countries about our strong partnership. This cooperation must extend beyond counterterrorism and include increased trade between our nations.
Southeast Asia - Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and many smaller countries - represents our fifth-largest trading partner. These Southeast Asian countries control the Strait of Malaka, through which about 50 percent of the world's oil supply travels. By increasing trade and American business investment, we create economic opportunities in our own country and secure access to strategic trade routes, create jobs for citizens in Southeast Asia and provide an important counter the growth of terrorism and China's advancing influence in the area.
Most importantly, America must invest in "smart power," a term I use to describe the combination of military might with diplomacy, educational exchanges and economic development, in Southeast Asia.
"Smart power" is an effective way to fight anti-Americanism and radical ideologies that use terrorist attacks against their own government and freedom-loving people elsewhere. These policies recognize that before a person can choose his politics, he has to have enough to eat and a stable community in which to live. Simply put, by increasing the number of Peace Corps volunteers and Foreign Service Officers, putting more American sandals and sneakers on the ground, we can avoid sending in American combat boots.
I saw first-hand the payoff of "smart power" when several Southeast Asian nations, particularly Indonesia, were devastated by the tsunami in December 2004. The month after the disaster, I traveled to Southeast Asia and joined then-Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz to visit the tsunami-ravaged areas and meet with representatives from relief organizations and military and government officials.
There was a tremendous effort of assistance and cooperation among the U.S. military, international relief organizations and the Indonesian military in responding to a cataclysmic humanitarian crisis. By providing clean drinking water and food, emergency evacuations, medical help and rebuilding, the assistance our nation provided in just that short time created a before-unmatched outpouring of goodwill for America.
Unfortunately, after the flood waters receded, so too did America's "smart power" engagement in Southeast Asia. The recent attacks should be a wake-up call that it is far past time to reinvest in the region and quit ignoring the dangers of failing to do so.
President Barack Obama, in condemning the terrorists' actions, highlighted this danger when he said, "these attacks make it clear that extremists remain committed to murdering innocent men, women and children of any faith in all countries."
The president got it right: The war against terror is far from over, and the battles are not confined to the Middle East. Freedom-loving nations must continue to fight terrorists, not just in the border regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, but also in the jungles and countless islands of Southeast Asia.
More than just a call to arms, however, these attacks should serve as a deadly reminder that the war against extremism cannot be won by military might alone. To be successful, the United States must focus its effort on the ideological front, reaching would-be terrorists before they turn to violence.
America must make "smart-power" initiatives a cornerstone in our foreign policy and in our efforts to combat extremism and terrorism around the world. We need to start in Southeast Asia.
Missouri Republican Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond is vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
