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American Respect is a not-for-profit organization that
believes invading Iraq has increased global terrorism, is
costing thousands of lives, (and literally trillions of tax
dollars) and is increasing energy costs. It believes the
United States should take a very different approach to
addressing this problem. Its principles for reducing
terrorism are:
- Pursue true terrorists that attack
the U.S., such as al Qaeda, by eliminating training
camps, preventing arms smuggling, freezing financial
assets and apprehending terrorist leaders.
- Find balanced solutions in
sensitive areas which foment terrorism by rebuilding
international coalitions. Violence in regions like
Chechnya, Kashmir and especially Palestine directly and
adversely affects the entire Muslim world.
- Decrease our profile in Iraq and
use international coalitions to lead a march toward
guaranteed rights, limited government and democratic
representation. Further recognize that Iraq was
arbitrarily assembled in 1919 from three ethnically and
religiously different Ottoman provinces, and that a
peaceful solution may require a return, either partly or
fully, to a federation that creates a soft partition
amongst Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds.
- Build up the economies of Muslim
countries with the goal of creating a larger middle
class in each. If abject poverty is a breeding ground
for terrorism, then creating broad prosperity is a key
part of the solution--especially in the areas of trade
and land reform. And success in the economies of any
Muslim country--from Morocco to Indonesia--is positive
for stability and peace throughout the region. This must
be accompanied by a more decentralized,
representational, democratic government.
- Establish a tone of goodwill in
policies and actions toward these nations and their
growing and increasingly global populations.
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