On Thursday, Congressman Harold Ford Jr. appeared on CNBC's Kudlow and Company as well as MSNBC's Hardball.While on Kudlow and Company, Congressman Ford was asked he would support a measure that would eliminate budget earmarks, in which he said he would.
Ford went on to say that the measure would be the most important part of any lobbying reform Congress could pass. He went on to say that the travel and gifts will also have to be dealt with, but he believes one can find a direct link between the growth and pork barrel spending and the growth of the lobbying industry in Washington.
He added that being a lobbyist is not a bad thing and that a few bad apples have gave the industry a awful name. He said a measure that would eliminate earmarks would help correct the system. Ford said he would not only support the measure, but would 'lobby' for the legislation.
Ford was also asked what we are going to do in relationship to Iran. In response he said that diplomacy has to be the first, second and maybe third option at this time because of how consumed we are around the world and because we cannot afford another armed conflict. He added that the challenges in Iran speak to one of tenets of one of the approaches President Clinton used which involved expanding our circle of friends, repairing world relations, fighting successful war on terrorism, which means we need our allies working with us.
On Iraq, Ford said the next 6-9 months are the most important months since Saddam was captured. He went on to say that if Iraq can get on a trajectory to where it can govern itself and can establish a unity government which included the Kurds, Shiites, and gives the Sunnis a sense of belonging, we could have a viable partner in Iraq over the next several decades, but it is going to a great effort from us. Ford added that he was encouraged by what he saw in Iraq on his most recent trip to the country.
However, Ford was not as happy in regards to Afghanistan. He said some of what he saw there was disconcerting. The Congressman said we are making great progress, but insurgency is growing in a small way and could grow larger if we do not address it. He said he would hate for the insurgency there to be ignored as it was in Iraq. He added that we must crush the insurgency so that Afghanistan can get on a good trajectory and establish a strong economy.
On Hardball, Ford was asked what he learned on his trip to Iraq and Afghanistan. In response he said that progress is being made at both places and that we are at a crossroads in both places with similar themes. He said improved security and better infrastructure and services are needed.
The Congressman noted that the war in Afghanistan is not over. He said the insurgency is small now, but if it grows and we look 6 months from now and wonder why we did not crush it, we may be faced with a situation like in Iraq. He hopes we do not abandon that effort too soon.
In Iraq, Ford said that Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad is the best thing the United States has going and that we should continue to support him and what he asks for.
Ford stressed the need for not pulling out prematurely. He said he would hate for another generation of kids to go back over there and fight in 10-15 years from now because we did not finish the job.
Congressman Ford added that the United States needs a new oil plan. He said no one should have to go back to the Middle East to protect our oil interests or our insatiable appetite for energy.
When asked who the people were in Iraq we are fighting, Ford said they are those who want to frustrate our efforts there, those who want to stop the new government from working and disinfranchised and disenchanted Sunnis. He also said you cannot count out the influence of Syria and Iran. He added Iran is the second largest influence in Iraq, behind the United States, which needs to be addressed.
In regards to Iran, Ford said diplomacy has to be the first plan of action.
When asked what about the scenario of Iraq becoming a second Iran, Ford said that if the Shiites do not make the Sunnis feel like they have a future in Iraq, we will have that problem on our hands. He said that both Democrats and Republicans alike should tell the President that we should not withdrawal prematurely. He added that saying that does not mean we can not drawn down troops eventually, but we cannot take away the tools we are providing these people to help govern themselves because it is important now and will be important 5-10 years down the road.
