Buried in Proposed Budget: Counterterrorism Programs & Palestinian Funding Issues

By Michael Kraft

Buried in the Bush Administration�s new budget sent to Congress containing huge requests for the military are modest increases for civilian programs to counter terrorism overseas. The budget bill also includes funding for the Palestinians -- with caveats following the Hamas election victory.

The Fiscal Year 2007 International Affairs budget request submitted to Congress yesterday includes $135.6 million for the State Department�s anti-terrorism training assistance (ATA) Program, which provides a wide variety of courses to improve the capabilities of civilian law enforcement officials in friendly countries, ranging from airport security to bomb detection, hostage negotiation and to handling threats from weapons of mass destruction threats.

This request is only $2 million more than the $133.5 million the Administration requested for FY 2006 and $12 million above the $122.3 million that emerged last year from the Congressional budget requests. It is also inexplicably less than the $150 million that the budget request includes for FY 2007 for the West Bank and Gaza, as discussed below.

The one State Department counterterrorism program for which the Administration sought a major increase -- in percentage terms-- is the Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP) --$11.9 million, more than doubling the $5.4 million approved for FY 06. The program provides key countries with a sophisticated computer network program that assists officials in quickly identifying suspect persons attempting to enter or leave the country. Funding requests for other specific counterterrorism programs were relatively flat�$9 million to counter terrorism financing vs the $7.425 million approved in FY 06 and $1 million for seminars and other engagement programs with allies, including help to strengthen their counterterrorism laws.

The usually battered overall State Department account fared relatively well with a $3.7 billion increase to $33.9 billion. This includes additional funds for such items as additional Foreign Service officers, more training in Arabic and Urdu and foreign assistance for countries that meet the Millennium Challenge standards. It is difficult to effectively counter terrorism over the long term without a strong embassy presence overseas to promote cooperation and programs that help improve the stability and good governance of vulnerable countries.

But the sums for the ATA and related programs are peanuts compared with the $400 billion requested for the Defense Department and the $31 billion for the Department of Homeland Security.

There are good reasons for the DOD and DHS funding requests but the relatively small amounts allocated for fighting terrorist overseas suggests that the White House�s budgeters or policy makers do not listen to the President�s speeches.

Repeatedly, during the election campaign and later speeches the President said, with slight variations, �there is only one course of action against them (the terrorists): to defeat them abroad before they attack us at home��

President Bush usually uses this line to justify continuing the US involvement in Iraq, which has become a magnet for jihadist terrorists, but there is great need to continue helping countries like Morocco, Indonesia, Turkey and others strengthen their ability to capture jihadist terrorists before they can hit Americans as well as local targets. International cooperation is essential to countering terrorism but good will without capability is not enough. These programs are designed to increase the professionalism and capabilities of civilian officials, especially in the third world.

The funding for the ATA and these related programs are buried in the Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) account of the foreign operations account. So, if the overall sub-account is cut by Congress, the ATA program will still have to compete for the other programs for a reduced slice of the pie.

Other terrorism related funds are sprinkled in the regional-oriented Economic Support Fund, such as $6 million for the Trans-Sahara counter-terrorism Initiative to strengthen border control and rapid response capabilities. Indonesia would receive $80 million to include programs for countering terrorism financing and money laundering and improving basic education (presumably to provide counter fundamentalist Islamic schools in that large Muslim country).

But even since 9/11, the White House�s OMB has cut the State Department�s requests for the ATA program before they went to the Hill. Last year, the House Appropriations Committee made additional cuts, which were only slightly restored in the conference with the Senate. Thus, there has been a repeated pattern of the White House and Congress talking tough about fighting terrorism but failing to provide enough funds for these unglamorous but important nuts and bolts programs. The ATA program can provide many more courses a year than they could with the $135.6 million request. These programs are not like building a dam or road in which it does not matter if the program is stretched out an extra year or two.

The need for shoring up the defenses against the widespread terrorism threat is now, not three years down the road. These programs help protect Americans traveling and working abroad as well as citizens in the host countries. Perhaps it is time for American business firms working overseas to weigh in to support these programs.

PALESTINIAN FUNDING

Meanwhile, the Near East section of the budget request includes $150 million for the West Bank and Gaza to �promote democratic reform, rule of law, and economic revitalization�vital components of future Palestinian statehood and sustainable peace. Funds will target six strategic priorities: private sector development, water resources, democracy and governance, health, community services and higher education.�

In a reference to the Hamas victory in the recent Palestinian elections, the State Department Presentation adds that �in light of recent legislative elections, the Administration is reviewing the West Bank/Gaza program details.�

It would be difficult to explain to a visitor from Mars why the Administration proposes more money for an entity which fosters terrorism than for programs to fight terrorism around the world. The Hamas group has been formally designated as a terrorist organization since the first list was announced in October, 1977 under the Anti-terrorist and Effective Death Penalty Act law passed the previous year.

The Administration bill does include some caveats on aid to Palestinians.

Section 555 says that none of the funds may be provided to support a Palestinian state (emphasis added) unless the Secretary of State makes a number of determinations and certifies to Congress that the elected leadership of a new Palestinian state �has demonstrated a firm commitment to peaceful co-existence� with Israel, is taking �appropriate measures to counter terrorism and terrorist financing in the West Bank and Gaza, including the dismantling of terrorist infrastructures� and is establishing a security entity that �is cooperative with appropriate Israeli and other appropriate security organizations.�

The provision also requires that the Secretary to certify that the governing body of a new Palestinian state is working with other countries in the region to establish a �just, lasting and comprehensive peace� that includes a �termination of all claims or states of belligerency.� Other sections continue earlier Congressional provisions including Section 550 that states no funds can be obligated or expended for the Palestinian authority unless the President certifies that waiving the prohibition is �important to the national security interests of the United States.�

Such a waiver request is likely to be sought by the White House in any further restrictions that the Congress might try to add when the foreign aid bill works its way through the Senate and House. Several proposals already have been introduced to deny funds to a Hamas-controlled regime and put on the terrorism list.

The Administration and Congress will have to weigh the considerations of the needs for humanitarian aid for the Palestinians with the goal of getting Hamas to permanently stop its use of terrorism. But there should be no doubt about the need to provide full funding for programs to help combat terrorism.

Perhaps if Congressional reforms make it harder to earmark funds for �bridges to nowhere� Congress can find it easier to find the relatively small amounts needed to fully fund counterterrorism programs that help save lives.

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