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InThisIssue…

3 JanuaryinReview3 FebruaryEvents

ConservativePerspective4 Liberals:TakingResponsibility?,

ZachGorelick5 SayYestoSayingNo,Michael

Russo6 Iran:ThreatorBluff?,Ashley

Colburn8 TheCostofDon’tAskDon’tTell,

SineadCasey

MarcoRubio,candidateforU.S.SenatorinFlorida,speakingatCPAC.TheGWCRshostedRubiolastyearoncampus.

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FEBRUARYinreview2/7 CollegeRepublicansSuperBowlParty2/11 CR/CDDebateonIllegalImmigration2/17 KaraokeNightatFridays2/18 CPAC2/19 CPAC2/20 CPAC2/22 RepublicanGovernorsAssociationGala2/23 Rep.ErikPaulsenEvent2/26 TriptoWalterReidHospital

MARCHevents3/10 BagtheBagTaxEvent3/11 VoicesforSchoolChoicesMovieScreening3/13‐3/21 SpringBreak!GoodLuckonMidterms!3/25 CR/CDForeignPolicyDebateAlleventslistedaresubjecttochange.OtherCReventswillbeannouncedoverthelistserv.CRmembersmayattendourweeklyExecutiveBoardMeetingseveryMondayat9PMintheMarvinCenter

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Asareasonablethinker,Iamutterlyconfused.Inpastmonths,theDemocraticPartyhaslaudedthegrandmissiontoreturnourtroopstotheirhomes,towithdrawfromabrokenIraqandendthis‘futilewar,’this‘nextVietnam.’Granted,theideainisolationisfantastic,forwhatcouldbenoblerthanreturningthousandsofmenandwomenbacktothedinnertable?Still,myconcernlieswithinthecontextofamajorhumanitariancrisis.Whataretheaffectsofamajorwithdrawal?Whataretheimmediateconsequences?Howwillthisaffecttheever‐dwindlingglobalopinionoftheUnitedStatesunderanewandyoungpresidency?

Whenputintopropercontext,thepossibilityofamajorwithdrawalwithinthenearfutureseemsbleakerandbleakerthroughthejadedeyesofwar‐tornIraq.Withaniron‐spikedfist,SaddamHusseinpacifiedthemultitudeofpassionatelyaggressiveIslamicsectsandmilitiasusingabrutal,yethighly

effective,tactic:fear.HisreignofterroroverthebrokennationwassuccessfullyceasedthroughthetirelesseffortsofourservicemembersintheMiddleEast,butwhatensuedwasfarfromourexpectations.Anessentialdetail,overlookedbymilitaryanalysts,perhapssimplyignored,wastheeffectonafragilenationwhentheoppressivesteeltrapwasremovedfromthewildbeast,whenhundredsofbittergroupsandcauseswereunleashedalmostcompletelyunchecked.Bycrushingtheglassspike,wehavecreatedtheshards.Thenaturalreactionistoquicklyremove

ourhand,lestwebeslicedbytheroughdebris.Instead,letusunderstandthetrueconsequencesofsuchactions.Let’sbehonest:thereremainsalotofdoubtaboutthedecisiontoinvadeIraq,anditremainsoneoftheBushadministration’smostquestionablecalls.Still,wemaintainapresenceandareresponsibleforwhatwehavepledgedrelentlesslytodo:tohelpthenewIraqigovernmentgainsignificantheadwayintheirdifficultbattleagainsttheterrorismthatrageswithinitsembattledborders.Granted,wecannotattempttotrulyreformtheregion,butwecanatleastkeepourpromisetoeveryIraqichildforwhomgunshotshavebecomebutanechoofthepast.Since2003,theamountofciviliandeathswithinIraqhasleaptskyward,withroughestimatesbytheIraqiGovernmentstatingover45,000deathsbytheendof2008.Ishuddertothinkofthegrislynumbersthatmighthavebeen,hadnotouryoungmenandwomenbravelystoodanddefendedwhat

Liberals:TakingResponsibility?ZachGorelick

“TheDemocraticPartyhasalwaysclaimedtobeamoralbeacon,puttingthevalueofahumanlifeabovethegoldendollarsign.Theirhypocrisycouldn’tbeclearerinregardstotheirstanceonthiscrucialissue.”

5theyknewwasright,theprotectionofaninjuredfawnamongstapackofwolves.Whilethesituationislargelycontroversial,Ifindmyselflookingbeyondanationalperspectiveandadoptingatrue‘big‐picture’standpoint.Sure,wecan’tstayinIraqfor100years,Mr.McCain,butperhapsatleastuntilwe’vebuiltanefficientforceinIraqandtrulyfinalizedourinvestment,ourvowtotheIraqipeoplethatchangeispossible,evenbytheirownhands.TheDemocraticPartyhasalwaysclaimedtobeamoralbeacon,puttingthevalueofahumanlifeabovethegoldendollarsign.Theirhypocrisycouldn’tbeclearerinregardstotheirstanceonthiscrucialissue.WithPresidentObamapledgingsettimesanddatesforafullmilitarywithdrawal,thesolutionsimplycomesdowntobroadeningourapparentlynarrowviewoftheconflict,thinkingoutsideofournationandthinkingabouttheIraqicivilianpopulation,whichstandsingravedangerwhetherwelikeitornot.LiberalsneedtoadjusttheirperspectivesandupholdtheAmericanstandardthatourpoliticalsystemembodies,continuingtobeaninstitutionofcharacterandvaluethatshouldbeenviedworldwide.

Thecurrenthealthcare(ornowinsurance)reformdebatehastakensomestrangetwistsandturnsoverthepastyear,whichhasbeendueinparttosomeoddrhetoricbeingthrownaround.MostofthisbizarrecommentaryiscomingfromthepowerhungryObama‐dazzledeliteoftheDemocraticPartywhosayonaregularbasisthattheRepublicanPartyisthe"partyofno"and,evenbetter,thatitisthesenay‐sayingRepublicanswhostoppedhealthcarereformfrompassing.Thissecondclaimisthemostabsurdofall,sinceuntiltheelectionofSenatorBrownofMassachusetts,theDemocratshadabsolutecontroloverthelegislativeprocess.Anditwaswiththisfilibuster‐proofmajoritythattheyfailedmiserablytopasssomethingtheyclaimedtobetheirmainmissionforthepast40years;intheonlychancetheywillprobablyeverget.And,somethingtheDemocratic

NationalCommitteeandSpeakerPelosiaretryingtoavoid:Republicanswerecompletelyirrelevantintheequationforpassingbillsupuntilnow.PresidentObamastoleapagefromJohnMcCain'sbookandcampaignedonthefactthathewouldbe"bipartisan"andreachoutacrosstheaisletogeteveryone’sideasintoahealthcarebill.Butwhatisthepresident'sdefinitionof"bipartisanship"?Whenhe,orratherNancyPelosi,dictatesthetermsandtheRepublicanscheerforjoyandvote"Yes!",regardlessofwhatthebillactuallysays?UnfortunatelyfortheGreatIdealist,hisdefinitionofbipartisanshiphasnotpleasedRepublicansinCongress.AftertheObamamiracleofhope‐and‐change,mostoftheRepublicansinCongresshaverealizedthatthewaytowinanelectionisnottobelessliberalversionoftheDemocrats,buttobestrongconservatives.OneonlyhastolookattheUnitedKingdomtoseewhathappenswhentheoppositionistooweak:whenitinstitutedasocialistwelfarestate,theConservativestaggedalongortriedtoofferasmallerversion,ratherthanstandingfortheirideals.Asaresult,thepartiesintheUKnowarejustvaryingdegreesofprogressives.TherealproblemtheDemocratshaveencounteredisnotRepublicanssayingno,butratheritistheirownmembershipthatisnoton

SayYestoSayingNoMichaelRusso

“AftertheObamamiracleofhope‐and‐change,mostoftheRepublicansinCongresshaverealizedthatthewaytowinanelectionisnottobelessliberalversionoftheDemocrats,buttobestrongconservatives.”

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board.Now,theyhavehadtoresorttooutrightbribery,threats,andbackdoordealstotryandpassit.ThenotionthattheGOPissomehowresponsibleforthefailureofthe“reform”billuptothispointisutterlyabsurd.Itisjustnowthattheyhavethesolid40votestoblockthebillintheSenate,althoughtheDemocratsareapparentlysurprisedthatSenatorScottBrownwillnotconsidervotingforthebill.IguesstheyweretoobusyattackingtheirowncandidateMarthaCoakleyforrunninganawfulcampaigntoactuallyunderstandwhySenatorBrownisvotingagainsthealthcarereform:HewonbecauseMassachussetts,andAmerica,doesnotwantthisbill.Regardingthewhole“partyofno”idiocy,IwouldactuallyliketoseetheRepublicansstandupandsaytheyarethe"partyofno”withpride.Itshouldbepraisedthattheyarevoting"No!"onabillthatisanopenattempttoleadtheUnitedStatestoapathofsocialistgovernance.TheGOPshouldbeproudtoproclaimthattheywillvote"No!"onanythingthatisinherentlyanti‐Americanand,evenworse,anti‐freedom‐‐whichisexactlywhatanybillthatexpandsthedebt,increasesthesizeofthegovernmentand,unnecessarilyraisestaxesis.TheRepublicansinCongresshaveofferedalternativestotheDemocrats,fromtortreformtosellinginsuranceacrossstatelinestomedicalhealthsavingsaccounts.Andbytheway,nothingtheRepublicanshaveproposedwillcosthundredsofbillionsofdollars.

ObamaistryingtoemplacesanctionsandusethethreatofattacktocoerceIranintohaltingitsambitiousnuclearobtainmentprogram.AmericaninsecuritiesarefurtherfedwiththecontinuationofAhmadinejad’sregimeaftertheviolentelectionslastyear.Also,IsraelhasthreatenedtoattackIraniftheU.S.doesnot.Butwemustthinkofournationalsecurityfirst—thethreatofsanctionsordirectforceagainstIranwouldputournationalsecurityinjeopardy.

TheIranianracetodevelopnuclearweaponsisnotnew.Itsfirstattemptwasduringthe1950s,butIranlackedtheresourcesandmotivationtocompletetheprogram.AfterAmericantroopsdemolishedBaghdadandSadamHussein’sregimein2003,Irandecidedtore‐createitsnuclearprogram.ThebiggestfailureofU.S.foreignpolicywithIranwastheinstigationoftheIran‐IraqWarandthestrainedrelationshipwithIranaftertheU.S.‐supportedShahwasreplacedbytheextremistleadersoftheIranianrevolution.ThesetwoincidentsisolatedIranfromtheinternationalcommunity,andtheIraqinvasioncreatedfearsthattheU.S.,becauseoftheIran‐Americanstrainedrelationship,wouldconventionallydestroytheIranianmilitaryjustasquickly.ThismotivatedIrantobeginitsnewnuclearprograminsearchofgreatersecurity.Iranhasotherreasonstoobtainnuclearweapons,suchasaseatintheexclusivenuclearclub,dramaticriseininternationalstatus,andmostimportantly,adeterrencemechanismtowardstheU.S.andstatesthatsurroundit,suchasIsrael.Thekeywordisdeterrence.IranwillnotattacktheUnitedStatesorIsraelwithanucleararsenal.Infact,theveryexistenceofanuclearprogramconstrainsIranfromapossibleattempttoattackanotherstate.BoththeUnitedStatesandIranaredeterredfromattackingoneanotherwiththeirnucleararsenalsbecauseofthetheoryofmutuallyassureddestruction.IholdthispointofviewbecauseIrananditsleadershaveneveractedirrationallyorspontaneously,whichmeanstheycarefully

calculatetheiractions.Iranwouldnotattackanotherstateoutofspiteorhatebecausethecostsassociatedwithpossibleretaliationwouldbetoohigh.SinceIran,theUnitedStates,andIsraelsupposedlyhaveorwillhavenuclearweapons,noneof

thestateswouldbeabletocompletelyrepeltheother’sretaliationefforts,andmutualdestructioncouldensue.Noneofthestateswantstobecompletelydestroyedjustforthesakeof“winning.”Also,sinceIranisunderanauthoritarianregime,AhmadinejaddoesnotwanttogiveuphispoweroverIranifheweretoattacktheUnitedStates.

Iran:ThreatorBluff?AshleyColburn “Wemustthink

ofournationalsecurityfirst.”

7TheUnitedStatesandotherstateshavetriedinthepasttoemplacesanctionsonIrantocompelthemintostoppingnuclearobtainment,butnonehavebeensuccessful.Iranissolelyanatural‐resourcestate,anddecliningoilpriceshavebeenthemaincontributortotheirpooreconomy,alongwiththedestructionoftheIranianmanufacturingindustryduetointernationalisolation.Thepurposeofsanctionsistopunishstateseconomicallyandfinancially,butbannedgoodsareusuallyeasytofindintheblackmarketorotherstatesthatarenotimposingthesanctions.Forexample,thispastJanuary,RussiarefusedtotakepartinthesanctionsagainstIran,becauseIranhasbeenavaluableweaponscustomer.ChinahasalsoresistedsanctionsbecauseitfearsAmericanimperialismandbelievesIranhastherighttopeacefulobtainmentofanuclearprogram.Also,sanctionsmayhurtthepeopleofIranmorethanthegovernmentelite.MostAmericanshavesupportedtheIraniandemocraticGreenRevolution,andsanctionsmaynegativelyaffectthismovement.Iran,aswellasNorthKorea,hasrejectedthesesanctionsbecauseitbelievestheU.S.istryingtoprohibitIranianprogress,andithastherighttoapeacefulnuclearobtainmentforthepurposeofdefense.Inreturn,IranhasthreatenedtostopexportingoiltoEuropeifsanctionsweretobeimplemented.Smallconcessions,suchasallowingIranaspecificamountofuraniumandtheabilityto“peacefully”createanuclearprogram,areseenaslargesuccessestostateslikeIran.SanctionshaveactuallybeenhurtingtheU.S.positionagainst

Iran.Inmyopinion,thebestoptionfortheUnitedStatesistoavoidsanctionsandunderstandthatIranwillobtainnuclearweaponseventually.Justasitisunrealistictoholdtheidealistattitudethatonedayallnuclearweaponswillbeabolishedfromthefaceoftheearth,itisunrealistictobelievethatwecanpreventastatefromobtainingtheseweaponsifitispursuingit.Weliveintheageofnuclearpowerandnuclearweapons.ButtheIraniannuclearobtainmentprocesscouldactuallybeasuccessfortheinternationalcommunitybecauseitwoulddenyIrananylogicalreasontoattackitsadversaries;theycouldnolongerclaimthattheWestistryingtoholdthembackorstripthemoftheirnecessarydefensesystems.Thenucleararsenalwouldmostlikelybeusedasadeterrencemechanism.TheuseofnuclearweaponswouldweakenIran’sinfluentialpositioninsurroundingareasbecauseitsignalstootheradversariesthatIranhasmostlikelyuseditsentirenucleararsenalandwouldtakeyearstoregainthatarsenal,givingadversariestoperfectchancetoconventionallyattackanddestroytheIraniansocietyandregime.AnattackwouldalsocreatecoststhataretooexcessiveforIrantoafford,especiallysinceitseconomyislagging.EveniftheU.S.findsotherwaystocompelIranintoslowingitsprogram,itwouldmostlikelyfailtocompletelystopIran.TheworldwillhavetoacceptthatIranwillobtainnuclearweaponseventually,andtheU.S.mustuseColdWar‐likedeterrencepoliciestoprotectitselfanditsinternationalinterests.ThemostthreateningaspectofIranpossessingnuclearweaponsisnotthatIranwilldirectlyattacktheWest;itisthechancethattheymayprovidetheseweaponstoterroristorganizations.ThebestalternativeoptionfortheU.S.istoconventionallypreventIranian‐supportedterroristgroups,suchasHezbollah,fromobtainingnuclearweaponstoprotectagainstindirectIranianattacksonU.S.foreigninterests.TerrorismispotentiallythebiggestthreattoAmericanlives;notanIranianattack.

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SomewhereinthemiddleofPresidentObama’sStateoftheUnion,betweenthrowingpopcornatthetelevisionscreenwhenhetalkedaboutnotgivinguponthedemocraticidealofhealthcarereformandscreamingback“NOYOUDON’T”afterheclaimedto“excludelobbyistsfrompolicy‐makingjobs,”Istoppedandsmiled,andgotthatfeelingyougetwhenyourememberhowproudyouaretobeanAmerican.Itwasrightaboutthetimewhenhesaid“Thisyear‐‐thisyear,IwillworkwithCongressandourmilitarytofinallyrepealthelawthatdeniesgayAmericanstherighttoservethecountrytheylovebecauseofwhotheyare.It'stherightthingtodo.”Itisbeyondtherightthingtodo,itistheAmericanthingtodo,asafreedomlovingpeopleofanationthattreasureslibertyandequality.Butaboveallelse,itisthenecessarythingtodo.ItisnecessarybecauseDon’task,Don’tTellhasbeenathreattoournationalsecurityandhashadtollingfinancialcostsonourmilitarybudgetforthepast15years.For15years,Americahaslostgoodsoldierstoabadpolicy.Eachyearroughly1,000menandwomenaredischargedfromthemilitarybecauseoftheirsexualorientation.Thesemenandwomenhadcriticalskills,suchastheabilitytospeakandtranslateArabic.Theywereofficers,militarypolice,doctors,humaninterrogators,marines,sailors,andcoastguards.TheyweremenlikeAlexNicholson,ahumanintelligencecollectorintheUnitedStatesArmy,whospokefivelanguagesandwashonorablydischargedafterbeingoustedbyathirdpartyforbeinggay.Whenhismilitarycareerended,avitalpieceoftheUnitedStatesSecuritywallwaschippedoff.TheUnitedStatesisincrediblylackinginpersonneltrainedincriticallanguages

pertinenttonationalsecurity.Accordingtothe9/11Commission,oneofthebiggestreasonsbehindtheintelligencefailuresleadingupto9/11wasthefactthattheDepartmentofDefense’sNationalSecurityAgencysimplydidnothaveenoughArabiclinguiststotranslatealloftheintelligenceclipsinbacklog.“Tomorrowiszerohour,”wasoneofthoseclipsinbacklogthatwasnottranslatedtilltwodaysafter9/11.AcliptheCommissionsingledoutashavingthepotentialtostoptheattacks.Aclipthatcouldhaveeasilybeentranslatedbyanyoneofthe54ArabiclinguistsdismissedunderDADT,priortoSeptember11,

2001.TherepealofDADTisnolongersimplyacivilrightsissue.Itexceedsthecredibilityforrepealbasedonagenerationalchange.Itisamatterofnationalsecurity.Inthemistoftwowarsistheperfecttimetorepealthisdangerouspolicy,becausewitheverysoliderwelose

toDADT,isasoliderwhocouldbegatheringortranslatingintelligence,dismantlingbombs,savingwoundedsoldiers’lives,carryingoutspecialops,fightinginIraqorAfghanistanandbringingourtroopsonestepclosertovictory,onestepclosertocominghome.Theestimated13,000militarypersonaldismissedfromdutyunderDADTsinceitsenactment,doesnotincludedthemenandwomenwhooptedoutofre‐enlistmentbecausetheyfearedbeingoustedandlosingeverything‐theirpensions,theircareers,theirdignity.ItdoesnotincludeallthegayAmericanswhoneverenlistedbecausetheycouldnotbefreetobehonestaboutthemselves.Onesoliderisonetoomanytolosetoapolicythatthreatensournationalsecurity.Tolosethousandsbecauseofsociopoliticalqualmsisadisgrace.Whenwillourparty,thepartywhoissupposedtobethetoughestonnationalsecurity,stopsupportingalawthatallowsourcountrytosacrificegoodsoldiersandthreatenoursecurity?Asforthetollonourmilitarybudget,theGovernmentAccountabilityOfficereportedthatithascost$95.4millionforrecruitingand$95.1millionfortrainingreplacementsforthe9,488troopsdischargedfrom1994through2003.TheBlueRibbonCommissionplacesthetotalcloserto$363million,whichincludes“separationtravel”

TheCostofDon’tAskDon’tTellSineadCasey

“Istoppedandsmiled,andgotthatfeelingyougetwhenyourememberhowproudyouaretobeanAmerican.

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onceaservicememberisdischarged,officertraining,andotherassociatedcosts.Thisdoesnotincludethemillionsofdollarsinitiallyspenttotrainandrecruitthetroopswhoweredischarged.AccordingtotheWilliamsInstitute,Themilitaryspendsanestimated$22,000to$43,000perpersontoreplacethosedischargedunderDADT.Theseareridiculousexpenditures.Whydowedoubttheprofessionalismofthegreatestmilitaryintheworld?Themilitaryisnotaboutwhattroopsfeellikeorwant,itisaboutwhattheyarecapableof,itisaboutwhatisgoodforthewhole,andthewholeneedsthosetroopswearelosingandthetroopswecangain.LiftingDADTrestrictionscouldattractanestimated36,700menandwomentoactivedutyservicealongwith12,000moreindividualstotheguardandreserve.Yes,IamaRepublican.Andyes,IbelieveinrepealingDon’tAskDon’tTell,becauseofthesecurityandeconomicthreatthatloomswitheachsecondofitslegitimacy.ButthequestionIhavefortheRepublicanPartyis—whydon’t

you?BlockingtherepealofDon’tAskDon’tTellbecausewefearitmayleadtothesocialliberalizationofotherissuesishittingthehatebutton.Itsprovingeverysmall‐mindednotiontheliberalsthrowatus100%right.Denyingapersontobefreewithwhotheyarebecauseitsdoesnotfitourconformityiswrong.It’swrong,it’sbigot,it’santi‐democratic,andit’sagainsteverythingwestandforasaparty,atourcore,andmoreimportantlyasanation.ThisisAmerica.Thenationthathasovercomesomuch,thathassacrificedsomuch.Ifapartycannotacceptsomethingbecauseitisdifferent,thenthatpartyhasnorightservingtheAmericanpeople,apeopleofprogress,apeopleofacceptance,apeopleofequalityandfreedomforall.RepealingDon’tAskDon’tTellistherightthingtodotoinsurenationalsecurity,fiscalresponsibilityandsocialequality.

TheviewsexpressedinCRMonthlyrepresentthoseofourmembers,andarenotnecessarilytheviewsorpositionsoftheCollegeRepublicanNationalCommittee,theDCFederationofCollege

Republicans,orTheGeorgeWashingtonUniversityCollegeRepublicans.

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