Henry Hyde Congressman Says America Must Win War Against Terrorism by John Shaw Henry Hyde, the chairman of the House International Relations Committee, said the United States faces one of the most daunting challenges of its history in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Washington, D.C., and New York. In his cluttered office in the House Rayburn Office Building, Hyde sat down and talked about how the United States must gear up for a new and difficult era in international relations. "We are now in a war, a war that is directed at America and the civilized world. Itís that simple," he said. "We have to lead the world to oppose terrorism as a weapon against civilization. So this is a war for civilization. No country should harbor terrorists and we have tolerated countries that have tolerated terrorists. This must change. The massive, obscene, destruction of human life we saw in New York and Washington should show us all that terrorism canít be tolerated. It has to be wiped off the map." Hyde said he is perplexed by the psychologies of those who were involved in the plane hijackings. "These people were driven by such total hatred, by a desire to destroy our way of life, by a willingness to destroy totally innocent people. These acts were demonic. They were driven by pure hatred," he said. Hyde said the United States must build a broad international coalition to wage war against terrorism, adding that he has been encouraged by NATOís decision to back America in this struggle. "This effort wonít be easy, but it must be successful. It is imperative that we understand that we are in a war. It is imperative we take the steps necessary, in both terms of policy and funding to make sure we win this war," he said. Chairman of the House International Relations since January, Hyde has strong views and clear ideas on a wide range of subjects. A voracious reader with a love of history and politics and a self-deprecating wit, Hyde is one of the most colorful and respected figures in Congress. He has long argued that Americans must recognize that the world is not as benign as they have long believed. "There has been a palpable feeling that the Cold War is over, and there are no serious threats with the Russian bear comatose. But as I like to say, the forest is full of dangerous snakes. There is a very important need for the United States to recognize that no one will rescue us given the exigent circumstances. We have to be self-sufficient to really survive," he said. Hyde said that Americans have not followed the intricacies of international relations and have shown a disinterest in the outside world. "Most Americans, except those on both coasts, are not focused on foreign policy and international affairs. We are parochial, provincial, insular," he said. "One of the shortcomings ofóI should not say our system but of our practicesóis an acute sense of the immediate. Not much thought is given to the distant future or even the not-too-distant future," he said. Hyde said the American government over recent decades has not done an adequate job in preparing for the future. "I think we would be frightened if we knew how ad hoc are most big decisions by government. You just keep your fingers crossed and live day to day. But thatís the problem of course. You should not just live day to day," he said. Over the past several months, Hyde has given major speeches about Asia, Latin America and the HIV/AIDS crisis. He is particularly intrigued by the challenge that Chinaís growing strength poses to the United States. Hyde said the United States should be mindful that China was one of the worldís most powerful nations for several thousand years, and its relative weakness over the last two centuries is a historic anomaly that is coming to an end. Chinaís plunge into world affairs will inevitably jostle the international system that the United States helped construct after World War II, he noted. According to Hyde, the United States cannot stop Chinaís emergence but might be able to shape its character. A powerful, authoritarian China would be a threat to the United States and to the international system, but a democratic China could be a far more cooperative actor. The United States should promote democratic change within China and use Taiwan as an example, he said. Taiwanís 1996 presidential election was "a major event in human history" because it was the first time in three millennia that a democratic government came to power in China, he added. In Hydeís view, American support of Taiwan should be clear and firm. "We should never threaten the [Peopleís Republic of China], never give it a basis for feeling threatened. We should stand firmly and unequivocally with Taiwan because itís a working free market economy with a democracy that has proven itself. Itís a showcase for democracy. We ought to hold it up for the world to see," he said. Like many others, Hyde is perplexed about Russia and is uncertain about what direction it is headed under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin. "Russia is still a riddle wrapped up in an enigma. We donít know which way it is going. I feel a little better with Putin in charge than Boris Yeltsin if only because of Yeltsinís health problems. Putin is more predictable. But itís difficult to develop a successful policy with a country that has been described as mafia-ridden. My feeling right now is only the biggest oil companies can stand up to the extortions," he said. "Russia is a work in progress and is a very important part of the world community. We need to maintainóI want to say a close watch on Russiaóbut I should say close relations with Russia," he said. Hyde said that Russiaís nationalistic impulses have been subdued recently but are always lurking just below the surface. "Russia wants to regain its stature as a world power but hasnít quite figured out which way to go. They have fears about NATO, about the ABM Treaty," he added. Hyde said he is still trying to assess Russiaís recent contacts with China. "Russiaís alliance with China is interesting and consequential. But experts donít think that the Russia-Chinese relationship has a great future because of the natural contradictions between the two countries," he said. Hyde fears there has been erosion in the United Statesís relationship with Europe that, if not repaired, could result in the rupture of the trans-Atlantic bond. "The relationship is fraying. Slowly, quietly it is being hollowed out even as the responsible officials solemnly reaffirm their commitments," he said. Hyde said his meetings with European leaders are usually positive, and they emphasize the importance of American engagement there. But rank-and-file Europeans appear to be far more critical of the United States. "There is just one critical blast after another." Hyde backs a strong American initiative to extend free trade between the United States and Latin America as a way of generating economic growth and creating jobs. "A lot of the problems in our hemisphere could be addressed, if not solved, by free trade. There is so much we have in common. I think a commonwealth of the Americas would help everyone. But it will take real leadership and a bit of luck," he said. A strong American partnership with Mexico must serve as the foundation of this larger hemisphere initiative, he added. Hyde is trying to gauge events in the Middle East but said recent events are deeply distressing and make it difficult to muster optimism. "The Middle East seems to have regressed rather than progressed. Each day brings a new terrorist attack and I donít see an end in sight. The hostility is palpable, and itís venomous. The killing is relentless. Nothing is hopeless, but it will take an enormous change in attitude, and I donít see anything precipitating anything yet," he said. "Itís very hard to compromise when the two contending forces believe what they are struggling over has been assigned to them by God," he added. Hyde said America should lead a global effort to confront the HIV/AIDS crisis that is wreaking havoc across the world and could kill up to 80 million over the next decade. He likens it to the Black Death plague that ravaged Europe in the 14th century. "Itís not just deepest, darkest Africa we are dealing with. Itís Brazil. Itís the Caribbean. Itís Russia. Itís the United States. Itís everyone in the world. A s this pandemic spreads, we must do what we can do," he said. He pushed legislation in the House earlier this year that would authorize $1.3 billion for a global AIDS fund. This sum is larger than the White House has endorsed, but Hyde wants to secure the largest American commitment he can. Born in Chicago, Hyde, 77, studied at Georgetown University and earned a law degree from Loyola University. He served in the Navy during World War II and retired as a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Hyde was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1974 and is serving his 14th term. He has been a member of the House International Relations Committee since 1982. During the 1980s, he was vocal on arms-control issues and the debate regarding American policy in Central America. He served on the Iran-Contra panel in 1987 and was the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Intelligence from 1985 to 1991. When Republicans won control of the House in 1995, Hyde assumed the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee. Among other things, he played a central and controversial role in the Houseís impeachment of former President Bill Clinton. Most Republicans say Hyde followed his constitutional responsibilities, but many Democrats believe he was a key leader in a partisan witch-hunt. Following House Republican rules that limit committee chairmen to a six-year tenure, Hyde relinquished his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee last year. He assumed the chair of the International Relations Committee in January. Hyde said he wants his panel to educate and lead the American people but also to listen to them and take their views and concerns seriously. The chairmanship of the International Relations panel thrusts a new set of demands on him. "I wouldnít say itís fun. Itís challenging. Itís interesting. This is a big job. But foreign policy deals with big issuesówar and peace and economic stability," he said. Hyde reads widely on international affairsóhe is currently reading Henry Kissingerís new book on foreign policyóand consults with diplomats passing through Washington. "Iím waterlogged with tea and cookies," he said. Hyde is trying to prod the United States to look ahead and prepare for the future. During a hearing his committee held this spring with Secretary of State Colin Powell, Hyde raised concerns that now seem prescient. "What concerns me most is that, in the crush of the present, there is little or no evidence of the development of a long-term strategy. We often seem to be at the mercy of events, carried downstream toward an uncertain destination instead of moving forward toward one of our own choosing," he said to Powell. "The wealth of opportunities we currently possess are not permanent; the luxury of choice may be a passing one. To believe that we shall always be above the fray, untouched and untouchable by the forces of destruction still at work in this world is a dangerous illusion. Our current summer may yet prove fleeting," he said. John Shaw is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.