BD: This year, we have seen an influx of citizens becoming involved in challenging the government on all issues of accountability. Do you support legislation to make the government more transparent and more accountable? MB: Yes, I do. I think that there should be legislation to require bill language to be posted for a certain period of time before Congress votes on it. I think it is very important that citizens be informed about what Congress is voting on. Quite frankly, I think it is very important that Congressmen take the time to read what they are voting on. BD: Are you in favor of Congressional Term Limits? MB: I do support Congressional Term Limits. In light of the Supreme Court ruling backing term limits back in the 1990s, you can’t do it on a state by state basis. You would have to do this by passing a Constitutional amendment. I don’t think it will pass, as many Congressmen would not want to vote themselves out of office. If this amendment is proposed, I would vote for it. BD: The War in Iraq has been a contentious issue for many on both sides of the aisle. President Obama, when he was running
for office, promised immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Do you believe we have completed the course in Iraq? Would you support immediate withdrawal? MB: Well, I think we are on the right track in Iraq. I think both Republicans and most Democrats think that we should have an orderly withdrawal based on the facts on the ground, and I think we are on the right track. Now, I think the critical decision that was made was in 2007 with the surge. I think George Bush showed tremendous courage in implementing the surge when most people in America did not want that, because it stabilized the situation. I think it put us in the situation where we might be able to withdraw and it might be a stable Iraq. I think we are on the right track. We are drawing down responsibly in Iraq and we are handing more control to the Iraqis.
We need to make sure that the Taliban does not come back in power in Afghanistan, so that safe havens for Al-Qaeda are not established there. I think we need to take the situation in Yemen seriously, so that does not become another safe haven for terrorists to create a base camp there. I also think we need to take the situation in Somalia very seriously, as we should not allow the Al-Qaeda rebels there take over and create a base camp there. So, I favor maintaining vigilance, and I think the strategy both deny terrorists a safe haven abroad. We need to keep a strong range of investigative and prosecutorial tools, so that you will be able to detect plots before they are able to take form.
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BD: On the Iraq war front, what is your perspective on the war and the greater world war against Islamic extremists? MB: I think it is vital that we maintain vigilance in terms of the war on Islamic extremism.
Photo: Matthew Berry for Congress
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