TheVoiceOfJoyce

Me and my grandson 2013/Jerusalem

Dear followers:

As an American, I am concerned about Terrorism coming to our shores. As a realist, I believe there is one way to keep terrorism at bay, that’s with muscular diplomacy. If we care about the Middle East or Africa, we should support governments that provide human rights to their people and wish to establish working institutions based on the Rule of Law.

• If we continue to support despots, the people get none of the aid designated for them and   all the money goes to the  corrupt officials in charge.
• If we remove despots without putting a provisional government in place , that everyone trusts, we have a failed state and the people are brutalized , once again.
• If you reward good behavior and compassionate leaders, people do not revolt.
• If we promote human rights before getting to a failed state, terrorism will not have a foothold in that country or in a failed province.

To decrease terrorism we should support” good regimes” with working institutions and the rule of law.

If we continue to support despots who ignore the needs of their people we are certain to have a failed state that is a breeding ground for ISIS or their affiliates. Worse, failed states supporting terrorism, destabilize other states in the region as their propaganda recruits more soldiers for the terrorist cause. Then, Like a giant squid ISIS, AND/ or AlQaeda , et al send their lieutenants to provinces within neighboring Nation States to set up shop. Once people are vulnerable and unprotected, the ” neglected” province is over run by terrorists too! If we can’t reclaim the people peacefully, Coalition forces may be required  .

In Iraq “we” allowed the Islamic State to get a foothold in the provinces where the population was already brutalized by the Shiite government in place.  A committed group of diplomats and military advisors can support and reinstate institutions , creating  a fair and balanced military composed of Shiite and Sunni factions.  The solution seems so easy,
funding the old order has led to chaos and oppression. Train an army of the people for the protection of the people, insure stability, be committed to training the next generation of compassionate leaders without the influence of malevolent foreign powers and their proxies.

In Syria, now that ISIS is feeling the strength of coalition bombing and being cut off in the Syrian provinces, it is time to bring the warring factions back to the peace table. ( article in the financial Times 2/29/16 ” Syria Enjoys relative peace of ceasefire”)  I’ve counted 14 separate groups with a stake in Syrian Peace. All factions need to feel that we are,  in fact,  honest brokers and will maintain the peace.  AlQueda and the Islamic State, don’t thrive in States that treat their people humanely and with compassion.  A true peace is not viable, unless and until, all foreign governments and their proxies exit this state.  The long term objective is a self governing independent Syria.

 
Terrorists won’t thrive if we change our foreign policy.  ( This is a long term goal.)  If we reward regimes that institute reforms for the benefit of their people, we would decrease graft, military supplies and decrease our foreign aid budget. America would have a method and a policy of giving , that is judicious , cheaper and more effective,  benefiting our fellow man while creating a state that supports it’s people, rather then another despot on the verge of civil war.

 
Civil war is contagious. When People in one country are oppressed ISIS enters and then finds a niche and oil revenue  to maintain itself. Though their tactics are  purposefully  horrific, they do set up a functional system of government. It looks tantalizing and exciting to young people and they join their revolutionary brothers setting up ” shop ” in the  vulnerable provinces. Our lesson should be, never give Terrorists a reason to enter a country. Once there is a failed state, a government without a leader, it is difficult to rout the Terrorists. That’s reason enough to change our Foreign Policy going forward.

• Change  foreign Policy to prevent destabilization of a society, whether it’s in the Middle East or Africa.
• Stop the spread of terror by advocating good humanitarian Policy and supporting the people of a nation not the despot.
• Win the hearts and minds of the people , care about their plight, intervene in a humane manner before there is strife, then we can save ourselves from international terrorism.

We can continue to be the World’s policeman, with a coalition of Nations, dedicated to diplomacy rather then civil war, dedicated to humanity, rather then despotic leaders.

If you’re interested in our security, dear followers, please read Angus Deaton’s book, “the Great Escape”. I became a believer. Bill Gates is a believer in measurable positive outcomes, too!  Additionally, I recommend, this month’s issue of Foreign Affairs Magazine, though I’ve given you a summary of their topic “GeoEconomics”, before I knew , what I’m advocating, had a name!  LOL.

If we value life, why not value this type of Foreign policy and aid. “GeoEconomics”

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