Rep. Michael Castle visits political science classTerrorism has struck home in America, creating “extraordinarily complicated” foreign and domestic policy challenges that cannot be solved in the short term, U.S. Rep. Michael N. Castle told University of Delaware students Nov. 5.
Among those questions is the most basic: In this new war, how can victory be measured? “This is a field without a goal line,” Castle said, adding that he believes the most achievable goal is to rid Afghanistan of the ruling Taliban, which has given aid and comfort to Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network. However, he said it could well be difficult to find bin Laden himself, not to mention the scores of terrorists who lead his organization. “If we don’t find him, is that defeat?” Castle asked. Beyond Al Qaeda, Castle said there is the problem of dealing with nations, such as Iraq and Somalia, that harbor terrorists and foment anti-American sentiment. “Personally, I think this effort is going to take quite a while,” Castle, who is a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, said. A key to the future is education, Castle said, adding that few in the public or even the halls of Congress have a solid grasp of the history, religion and politics of the Middle East. Islam is the predominant religion in a region that stretches from North Africa to Indonesia, an area that includes dozens of nations and a variety of beliefs but about which Americans know very little. Castle praised the leadership of President George W. Bush, noting that the administration “had a good team in place going into this,” with vast foreign policy experience in Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Additional keys are increased cooperation with other nations and increased security at home through vehicles such as the Patriot Act, which Castle supports. Cooperation with other nations can come in the way of alliances, trade agreements and greater involvement in the United Nations. He said he hopes there will be improved relations with Russia, which has large stockpiles of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The Patriot Act, Castle said, will increase governmental powers to root out terrorists but will not change the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Responding the criticism by some civil libertarians, he said he does not believe the act “overreached.”  |
Castle, speaking to students enrolled in Kenneth J. Campbell’s political science and international relations class, said the events of Sept. 11 and the subsequent anthrax attacks and war in Afghanistan have raised important issues and generated difficult questions.