Suzanimal
04-13-2016, 07:54 AM
WASHINGTON
Aiding countries facing waves of refugees is a key to fighting terrorism pre-emptively, some lawmakers and refugee experts said in an unusually spectator-filled congressional hearing Tuesday.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and U2 singer Bono, along with other refugee experts, advocated to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs for more financial and humanitarian assistance to Middle Eastern countries such as Turkey, Syria and Jordan.
“This is a crisis where you pay now or pay later,” Graham said. “You’re not going to win this war just by killing terrorists.”
Graham, the subcommittee’s chairman, and panelists testifying agreed that lack of necessities such as sustenance and education was one of the biggest threats to a country’s security, especially one on the border of a conflict zone.
“We have to recognize the threats posed by lack of education, food, water, stability,” said retired Marine Gen. James Jones. “The lack of these is a driver of poverty, conflict and extremism.”
Those testifying agreed that simply giving money was not enough. To fix the refugee crisis and stop the spread of terrorism, countries need stability.
“Aid in 2016 is not charity; it’s national security,” Bono said. “A focus on fighting poverty and improving governance . . . is the best bulwark we have against the extremism of our age.”
The U2 lead singer, known not only for his music but also his philanthropy, is the co-founder of the ONE and (RED) organizations. ONE is a poverty-fighting campaign focused on Africa, while (RED) is focused on fighting AIDS. Bono has traveled to various countries and lobbied lawmakers with both campaigns.
Graham’s push for additional emergency U.S. aid to foreign countries was inspired by his recent trip to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel.
Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article71433577.html#storylink=cpy
Aiding countries facing waves of refugees is a key to fighting terrorism pre-emptively, some lawmakers and refugee experts said in an unusually spectator-filled congressional hearing Tuesday.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and U2 singer Bono, along with other refugee experts, advocated to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs for more financial and humanitarian assistance to Middle Eastern countries such as Turkey, Syria and Jordan.
“This is a crisis where you pay now or pay later,” Graham said. “You’re not going to win this war just by killing terrorists.”
Graham, the subcommittee’s chairman, and panelists testifying agreed that lack of necessities such as sustenance and education was one of the biggest threats to a country’s security, especially one on the border of a conflict zone.
“We have to recognize the threats posed by lack of education, food, water, stability,” said retired Marine Gen. James Jones. “The lack of these is a driver of poverty, conflict and extremism.”
Those testifying agreed that simply giving money was not enough. To fix the refugee crisis and stop the spread of terrorism, countries need stability.
“Aid in 2016 is not charity; it’s national security,” Bono said. “A focus on fighting poverty and improving governance . . . is the best bulwark we have against the extremism of our age.”
The U2 lead singer, known not only for his music but also his philanthropy, is the co-founder of the ONE and (RED) organizations. ONE is a poverty-fighting campaign focused on Africa, while (RED) is focused on fighting AIDS. Bono has traveled to various countries and lobbied lawmakers with both campaigns.
Graham’s push for additional emergency U.S. aid to foreign countries was inspired by his recent trip to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel.
Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article71433577.html#storylink=cpy