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Saxby Chambliss: "Al-Qaeda is composed of the meanest killers...whose sole purpose is to kill and harm Americans." |
Senator Saxby Chambliss discusses immigration and security issues with Georgia Daily Digest in his Atlanta office. (Editor's Note: This interview may be reproduced for distribution with credit given to GeorgiaDailyDigest.com.) GDD: You have now been in the Senate for 2 ½ years. Is it everything you expected? How is it different from your expectation? Chambliss: It is both an honor and a privilege to serve my home state of Georgia in the United States Senate. I have a great deal of pride in what I do, and I am humbled to serve the people of Georgia in this capacity. You know, I spent the majority of my time as an elected official serving South Georgia’s 8th Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Serving in the House was in some ways easier because I could get around to visit with all of the counties in my district on a fairly regular basis. Since being elected to the Senate, my workload has increased tremendously, and I have found that it’s not as easy to get around the entire state and visit with folks as it once was. However, being in the Senate has huge advantages. We are able to do a lot more for Georgia, and together Johnny (Isakson) and I have a strong voice among our colleagues and in the administration. I don’t suppose anything in life ever turns out exactly how you expect it to, however, I did expect to work hard, represent the interests and concerns of Georgians, and do everything I can to help Georgia remain the great state that it is today. GDD: What is your impression of the BRAC Commission’s decisions on Georgia military installations? Chambliss: Well, we are obviously disappointed with some of the decisions made by the BRAC Commission. Through numerous meetings, visits, phone calls and letters, members of Georgia’s congressional delegation and Governor Sonny Perdue made a strong and forceful case to the Commission to secure those Georgia bases that appeared on the original list. Unfortunately, despite the data being on our side, they maintained the decision to close the bases. Moving forward, we will do everything we can to help the local communities regarding redevelopment efforts, and I think we will see a positive economic impact in these areas as a result of the redevelopment of these properties. However, at the end of the day, the good news is that Georgia will still be a huge net gainer of jobs, both military and civilian, as a result of this round of base closure. In Columbus, for example, the recommendation to re-locate approximately 9,800 jobs at the Army’s Armor School and Center from Fort Knox to Fort Benning, reaffirms the significant role this base plays in the national security of the United States and its ability to accept new missions and personnel. In middle Georgia, Robins Air Force Base and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center will benefit from the Commission’s decision to reverse DoD’s recommendation to relocate the Robins Civilian Personnel Office. This action will ensure that civilian personnel at Robins have the services and career management expertise of a local civilian personnel office, not one 1,000 miles away. This is an issue on which I interacted directly with the Commission, and I am very pleased that these jobs will remain in Georgia. Also, by reversing DoD’s recommendation to move the Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service from Robins AFB, the Commission has acted to ensure that the Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service continues to take advantage of synergy with Air Force Reserve Command which is headquartered at Robins AFB. This decision will retain approximately 60 jobs at Robins AFB. The Marine Corps Logistics Center in Albany will also see a gain of personnel and missions. By upholding DoD’s recommendation to realign the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Barstow, CA, and move missions and personnel to MCLB Albany, the Commission is reaffirming the significant role MCLB plays in the national security of the United States. As the only Marine Corps logistics center east of the Mississippi, MCLB has distinguished itself time and time again, particularly relative to the work performed by MCLB personnel to manufacture superior vehicle armor kits that are currently protecting our American soldiers fighting on the front lines in the war on terrorism. Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta will also see gains as the Commission voted to relocate new missions and personnel, including movement of A-10 aircraft from Eielson AFB, AK, to Moody and to establish Moody as the Air Force’s center for developing “Battlefield Airmen” who will train with other service personnel to improve our nation’s joint warfighting capability. This move reaffirms what we have known all along – the hard working men and women at Moody Air Force Base play a very important role in the national security of the United States, and the base is well positioned to take on additional missions and continue to grow. While we are disappointed that Kings Bay will not be getting the additional missions we originally thought they would, this in no way detracts from the fact that Kings Bay Submarine Base plays a vital role in the national security of the United States and will continue to do so for many years to come. This was one of the toughest decisions the Commission had and, although the data and cost savings were clearly on our side, I believe that several of the Commissioners sympathized with the loss of jobs in New England that would have resulted from the closure of the Submarine Base in New London, CT, and the Navy Shipyard in Maine. I do want to commend the local communities for their extremely hard work and commitment to making the case on behalf of their respective bases. We saw tremendous support out of the Camden Partnership and members of the Southeast Georgia community, the 21st Century Partnership in middle Georgia, the Southwest Georgia Alliance for Progress, the Moody Support Committee, and countless others across the state. Everyone did an amazing job working to promote the viability of all our Georgia bases, and we remain at the forefront as we transform our military into the new era of fighting to win the war on terrorism. GDD: You have just returned from visiting our troops in Iraq. Please discuss your experience. Chambliss: The highlight of my trip was having dinner with members of Georgia’s 48th Brigade and members of the 3rd Infantry Division—to look them in the eye and tell them how much the people of Georgia and the people of America appreciate their hard work. These are difficult times in the war or terrorism; but the morale of the soldiers we visited with in Iraq is extremely high, and they are very proud of the work they are doing. Our service men and women know they are there for the right reason and are carrying out their missions in a positive and professional manner. It’s been a tough 30 days for the 48th Brigade. They have gone through some extremely difficult times that have once again brought home to us in Georgia the mean and nasty business of war. We mourn those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that America is safe and secure, and our prayers are with their families. But as we all know the price of freedom and democracy is not cheap. As we engage in this war on terrorism, causalities are inevitable. Al-Qaeda is composed of the meanest killers this world has ever known. They are murderers whose sole purpose is to kill and harm Americans. I get very emotional when I talk about how proud I am of our American soldiers, and it was a great honor for me to have the opportunity to look our troops in the eye and tell them what a great job they are doing to rid the world of terrorism once and for all and how very much they are appreciated back home in Georgia and all around the world. It’s because of their brave sacrifice that America remains safe and secure. These are the men and women who make America the great country that it is, and I couldn’t be prouder of their dedication to accomplishing this mission. I know they are going to continue to be the professional soldiers that they are until we ultimately prevail in the war on terrorism. GDD: Recent reports have raised the possibility of a phased Iraq withdrawal beginning as early as Spring 2006. Do you feel this is realistic? Chambliss: In recent weeks, we have been reminded by the tragic terrorist attacks in London and in Egypt that these terrorists are out there to kill and harm anyone who believes in freedom and democracy, including Americans. If we could say ‘look we are going to be out of Iraq in 6 months or 3 years,’ we would like to be able to do that; but we are not going to give the terrorists that kind of advantage to sit back and wait until we withdraw. We are going to continue to fight this battle on their turf until we bring them to justice or until we take justice to them. On my recent visit to Iraq, I had the opportunity to meet with General Petraeus who is responsible for training all of the Iraqi security personnel. And I can tell you that I saw a vast improvement since my last visit in 2004. Our American soldiers are working diligently to train the Iraqi people to defend themselves against the terrorists, but the Iraqi people are not at the point now where the safety of Iraq and its people would be protected if we did turn it back over to them. So we have to continue to work with them and, when they are trained to the right level and we know that they can fight the terrorists in their country, then all of our folks can come home. GDD: You’ve taken a significant leadership role on immigration reform throughout your time in the Senate. What issues relative to this issue do you foresee coming to the floor of the Senate in this legislative session? Chambliss: The key issue I think we are going to discuss between now and the end of the year is immigration reform. First and foremost, let me say that I am adamantly opposed to any form of amnesty for illegal aliens. Second, I want to emphasize the need to secure our borders and stop individuals from illegally entering our country. Earlier this year, I voted in favor of the Homeland Security Appropriations bill which provides $5.9 billion for customs and border protection and $3.8 billion for immigration and customs enforcement; 1,000 new border control agents, in addition to the 500 already approved this year; 300 new immigration/customs investigators and 460 new enforcement agents, in addition to the 168 also provided earlier this year. This bill funds 12,500 border patrol agents, 18,200 customs and border protection officers, nearly 6,100 criminal investigators for customs and immigration. Plus, the bill provides for 1,300 deportation officers and nearly 2,700 immigration enforcement agents and detention officers and $10.6 million to train new border and immigration enforcement personnel. Additionally, it also includes $138 million for container security. Looking ahead, I am currently working with my colleagues Senator’s Jon Kyl and John Cornyn to come up with an overall immigration reform package that I expect will be debated on the floor of the Senate during this legislative session. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, I have been particularly concerned with immigration reform relative to migrant workers. These foreign workers are required to work with their employer to obtain an H-2A visa to work in this country. However, many farmers across the country do not use the H-2A program because it is cumbersome, expensive, and very litigious; these farmers rely on illegal immigrants to fill their labor needs instead. I have an alternative to our current H-2A visa program that would streamline and modernize the current program, which is used by farmers to bring in temporary agricultural guest workers when a sufficient domestic labor supply cannot be found. My legislation makes targeted changes to the H-2A program to make it easier for farmers and reduce the use of illegal workers. These immigrants would have to undergo a complete background check conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, to ensure that they have no criminal history. In addition, the bill calls for the Department of Homeland Security to come up with a comprehensive plan for securing borders. We still have a lot to do, but we are making progress; and I expect that we will continue to address this issue throughout the 109th Congress. GDD: There have recently been a number of news stories on agri-security issues. As the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a member of the Intelligence Committee, you have quite a perspective. What are the immediate security issues facing agriculture, and what impact might they have in Georgia? Chambliss: A deliberate attack on the U.S. food supply and agriculture operations would cause severe economic loss from farm to plate. As we have seen with naturally occurring plant and animal diseases, losses could be particularly severe in states where animal and crop production is concentrated and largely responsible for the majority of economic activity. For example, three states, Arkansas, Alabama, and my home state of Georgia account for 41 percent of the chicken produced in the United States. As anyone in agriculture knows, farmers, ranchers, extension agents, and many others are an integral part of detecting and responding to any disease outbreak, whether naturally occurring or deliberate. The responsibility to counter an agroterrorist attack spans various agencies with different regulatory functions. However, a new partner and often overlooked component in any response is the integration of national and local law enforcement agencies. A recent symposium on agroterrorism hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation highlighted the need for our nation to respond quickly and to ensure local producers and first responders are part of any national response plan. GDD: You have stated your support for the confirmation of John Roberts to the Supreme Court. Are you confident of his confirmation? Chambliss: President Bush nominated a distinguished and highly qualified individual in Judge Roberts, and I believe he will receive a strong vote of support in the United States Senate. He is a graduate of the Harvard School of Law where he was Editor of the Law Review; he served as Associate White House Counsel to President Reagan, he served four years as the Principal Deputy Solicitor General, the government’s second highest ranking lawyer before the U.S. Supreme Court and has tried 39 cases before the Supreme Court. As a former member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I developed a favorable impression of Judge Roberts during personal visits with him throughout his confirmation process for the D.C. Circuit Court, which is the second highest court in the land. Through his many years of public service, Judge Roberts has demonstrated his faithfulness to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. Because a Supreme Court Justice serves a lifetime appointment, it’s critical that this vacancy, and all future vacancies, be filled with individuals who will strictly interpret the United States Constitution and not legislate from the federal bench. I am confident that President Bush selected Roberts because of his proven track record of applying the law as written and not making policy from the bench. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the folks on the liberal side of the aisle try to make this process very difficult but, at the end of the day, I think Judge Roberts will have an overwhelming vote. GDD: You were recently successful in passing an amendment blocking foreign aid to governments that refuse to extradite criminal suspects. We understand this issue has Georgia roots. Can you explain it? Chambliss: When an individual is charged with a crime and flees to a foreign country, it is the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State to seek extradition of that fugitive. In some instances, countries will refuse extradition. A common reason is where the prosecutors in the United States intend to seek the death penalty. Oftentimes, the prosecutors will waive the death penalty in order for the extradition to proceed successfully. I suppose this is an understandable bargain because not all countries around the world accept capital punishment. I am greatly concerned, however, about other instances where extradition is denied. For example, let me explain what happened to the son of a man named David Fulton, who is a constituent of mine from Hampton, GA. On December 21, 2002, Mr. Fulton's son, CPL Josiah Fulton of the U.S. Marine Corps, was murdered right here on the streets of Washington, D.C. At the time of his murder, Corporal Fulton was a member of the elite Presidential protection program called Yankee White, an assignment through which he had the honor of traveling abroad with the President of the United States. Corporal Fulton was awaiting assignment for service as a guard in the West Wing of the White House when he was killed. After an investigation by the District of Columbia police department, a criminal complaint was filed charging a suspect named Carlos Almanza with the murder of Josiah Fulton. Almanza, however, fled the United States to his home country, the Republic of Nicaragua, where that country's constitution prohibits extradition of its citizens. If Nicaragua refuses to turn this murder suspect over to the U.S. authorities so he can be brought to justice in the United States, where this heinous crime occurred, then Nicaragua should not receive any financial aid from the United States under the appropriations bill now before the Senate. Nicaragua's constitutional ban on extradition of its citizens who are fugitives from justice is simply no excuse. That law needs to change if they want to continue to receive American aid. Friendship should be reciprocal and, consequently, privileges like foreign aid can be revocable. The bottom line on my amendment is that we should not spend the tax dollars of hard-working Americans to assist countries that don't want to treat us with the respect that a friendship deserves. GDD: Here is the toughest question of the day. Your loyalty isn’t shifting from the Braves to the Nationals, is it? Chambliss: Braves all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!