US Economic Security and Our Relations with the Middle East and Asia

Since September 11th, 2001, the US has spent hundreds of billions of dollars in borrowed funds to try and secure the US mainland from further assault. The events in London last week prove that we cannot be certain of the success of such expenditures. Even with the decades of experience in dealing with the IRA, the British were powerless to detect a few disaffected jihadists in their own midst.

For the Americans and our allies, the economic costs of the US policy toward Iraq continue to mount. We have missed opportunities to turn the tide. If the US had supported the European initiatives to persuade the Iranian Government on the issue of their nuclear program, and if we had supported the building of an oil pipeline from Iran, through Pakistan, to India, we might have empowered the moderate elements of the Sunni sect. How about a Nixon China - like strategy? We could reach out to Iran by supporting their economic development programs and help drain the cesspool of likely jihadist recruits. Without such a bold approach we will be left with an ever increasing need to subjugate our economy to creditors in the Middle East and Asia, further weakening our economic security.