Andy Martin on War and Peace

ANDY MARTIN
“He Works for the People of Illinois”
Republican for U. S. Senator
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-ANDY
Toll-free fax (866) 707-ANDY
Web site: http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com
E-mail: AndyforUSSenator@aol.com




February 2, 2008



Campaign diary #4


ANDY MARTIN on WAR AND PEACE


Dear Reader:

Chicago is still snow-covered again today, and I have a little more time to reflect and provide some deeper insight into both my background in Asia and the Middle East and how my views inform my conduct as a candidate.

I.

WAR

Senator Paul Douglas asked me to go to Viet-Nam in 1967. Later I made regular trips to Asia-—Thailand, Cambodia, Viet-Nam, China and Hong Kong--between 1967 and 1971. I studied Chinese in Hong Kong.

I first went to the Middle East in 1970. Since then I have been to Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. My analysis and reporting is uniformly respected, both in Washington and inside the region itself. I spent most of 2003 in Baghdad as a bureau chief. Based on my knowledge and experience in the Middle East, my position as a candidate is unique.

I was a strong opponent of the Iraq invasion in 2002-2003. I advocated a continuation of the existing policy, using airpower and special forces units to disrupt Saddam Hussein. I wanted to avoid a ground invasion. My judgment was solid. When I reached Baghdad in April, 2003, I began to predict all of the major errors in policy. Ironically, the more accurate my reports were, the more criticism I received.

Result: Today in 2008 I do not have to defend the decision to invade. But I can attack the Democrats because they turned on President Bush after initially supporting the invasion.

Where do I stand in 2008, and into 2009? President Bush finally assembled the team in Iraq in 2007 that he needed in 2003 after the invasion, a street-smart military commander and country team led by an Arabic-speaking Chief of Mission. Today we have that combination. We cannot make a precipitous withdrawal and leave Iraqis high-and-dry. We must withdraw gradually and deliberately, as we secure the nation for peaceful transition. In short, my policy position today can hold Republicans while adding independents and concerned conservative Democrats. I have a strong position from which to attack “Dump-and-Defeat” Durbin.

II.

AND PEACE

In 2000, I announced the Andy Martin Middle East Peace Plan. I laid out a framework to resolve the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. At the time, George Bush was running for president. President Bush came into office with a “hands off” policy towards resolving this conflict. My Peace Plan was initially criticized. People said it was unrealistic and “anti-Israel.” But I was only laying out a policy that I viewed as inevitable. On my radio talk show, “Andy Martin’s America,” I campaigned for the peace plan. [Full disclosure: I contribute to peace groups in the Middle East.]

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the Bush Administration began to gravitate towards my Peace Plan. Today, the substance of my Peace Plan has become Bush Administration Policy. Both at Annapolis, and in Israel and Palestine earlier this month, President Bush has accepted the overall scheme and structure I proposed eight years ago. Once again, my long term views were vindicated. Sound judgment is an essential quality in a senator.

The president now realizes that all of the players and pieces in the Middle East are related and connected. I am hopeful he will bring the overall controversy to a conclusion before he leaves office. My prayers are with President Bush.

A Republican candidate cannot run against a powerful incumbent Democrat such as Durbin without having solid foreign policy credentials. Babbling about having “no experience” and “not being a politician” and similar slogans is nonsense. No Illinoisan will trust the lives of our sons and daughters to a Republican who promises to go to the U. S. Senate as a midlife crisis “learning experience.” That is why I am the only Republican candidate who is credible to debate and attack Senator Durbin.

I have over forty years of solid foreign policy experience. On issues involving Asia and the Middle East I am an expert, not a rookie. When you combine my foreign policy expertise with my broadcasting experience in radio and television, I am uniquely qualified to challenge Durbin.

Best wishes,

ANDY MARTIN

P. S. Your thoughts, reactions and comments are always welcome. In the middle of my own U. S. Senate campaign, I can’t always answer as promptly as I normally do, but we read everything and will respond where appropriate.

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© Copyright by Andy Martin 2008. Martin holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. See also AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com; AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com.