Topics including border security, national debt and defense, “don't ask, don't tell,” and Middle East-U.S. relations created questions and discussion at Wednesday's Great Decisions series at the Tyler Public Library.
A vocal and engaged audience of more than 130 people attended the event where the guest speaker was U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler.
Gohmert gave much of his focus during the address to national security concerns related to border security, terrorism, Islamic radicalism, the nation's indebtedness and his concern about political correctness stifling debate.
“We're living in some interesting times,” Gohmert said.
The congressman said post-Sept. 11 security remains a great concern because radical anti-American Muslim groups continue to threaten the U.S. and its allies, including Israel. Gohmert said the porous U.S. border lends to several scenarios including a “suitcase nuclear device” being brought into the country.
Gohmert said border security remains a top priority for him and should be addressed with more “drone” — an unmanned aerial vehicle — surveillance and a fence. He said violence along the Mexican-American border, the threat to citizens, and the likelihood of terrorists entering the country makes increased security necessary.
A majority of Muslims are not extremists, Gohmert said, but he is fearful of a minority who would do harm, and he extended an analogy given to him by a Middle Eastern analyst.
“The good news is, at least 90 percent of Muslims believe in living peacefully,” he said. “The bad news is, if it's 10 percent who believe otherwise out of 1.5 billion people, it means 150 million people wanted to kill you. It's still a lot.”
Gohmert said he believes the White House administration has done a much better job protecting waterways and ports than previous administrations but has not taken threats from leaders such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seriously. He equated the view that Iran is not a viable threat to Israel to the pre-World War II view of Adolf Hitler.
The White House has not clarified its position of support for Israel and that the “distance” could embolden nations such as Iran which have threatened the country, Gohmert said. He said he would like to see a resolution acknowledging the extremist threat to Israel, a recognized democratic state, and the country's right to defend itself by military force if necessary.
He listed the mounting national debt as a threat to national security. He said becoming a debtor nation does not give the country bargaining power against other emerging powers such as China. He said the president's proposed budget will increase the nation's debt by more than $1 trillion and it is time for legislators on both sides of the aisle to make tough decisions.
“We've got to end deficit spending,” he said. “During the Bush administration, Democrats rightly said we were insanely spending. They were right, but who would have thought they would have run trillion-dollar deficits for the past three years?”
Gohmert linked political correctness as a threat to national security because the sensitivity surrounding controversial topics such as Muslim extremists and the border prevents honest dialogue.
Attendees asked questions about the political will to attack deficit spending, the repeal of “don't ask, don't tell,” the Keystone XL pipeline and changing wartime rules of engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Gohmert said few legislators in Washington, D.C., are willing to make spending cuts a priority because they are unpopular but a growing number of members are acknowledging the financial predicament the United States faces. He said looming elections for other members and public outcry for deficit reduction may sway others.
Signed into law in December, the repeal of “don't ask, don't tell” allows gays to serve openly in the military for the first time in the nation's history, drew back-and-forth discussion among the crowd. A member of the crowd asked when Congress would expect the armed forces to enforce the new law. “There is no deadline,” Gohmert said.
Some thought, as Gohmert agreed, that allowing gays to serve openly would affect morale and endanger soldiers at war. Others thought the repeal should be enforced.
Owen Crawford, 19, a history major at Tyler Junior College, said he attended the talk because he is interested in politics and current events. Crawford said he was impressed with the turnout because there is typically little interest in topical forums.
“I am just happy to see so many people show up and to see them express their feelings,” he said.
Gohmert is in his fourth term as the representative from District 1 in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves as vice chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.
The Great Decisions discussion series is sponsored by the American Association of University Women and League of Women Voters.
Dee Brock, a league board of directors member, said she was pleased with the attendance and the discussion among the crowd.
“The crowd was enthusiastic, and there were differences of opinions shared,” she said. “That's what this series is about — creating a dialogue.”
