| January 18, 2007 |
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth), Vice Chair of the Republican Conference, recently formed the Anti-Terror Caucus, along with Reps. Sue Myrick (R-NC), Bud Cramer (D-GA), and Ben Chandler (D-KY) to educate Members about the threat of terrorism at home and abroad. The first Caucus meeting was held last week, and the second meeting was held this morning.
"This is a bipartisan effort to educate Members of Congress about the very real, very grave threat we're facing from terrorism," said Granger.
Granger and the other co-chairs will be holding monthly caucus meetings at which leading terrorism and counter-terrorism experts will brief Members on the current status of terrorist threats to the nation and communicate details of the evolving threats worldwide. Much of the meetings' content will have a direct correlation to on-going terrorist activity in Iraq and Afghanistan. Caucus meetings also will help keep Members abreast of the ideology motivating the terrorists and tactics being used by the terrorists in order to allow Congress to better respond to terrorist threats.
"The caucus meetings will provide Members with the most current and reliable information on terrorism and help Members connect the dots as to why attacks are happening and what we can do to better prevent them," Granger explained.
At the second caucus meeting held today, Mary Habeck, a professor of Strategic Studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and a terrorism expert, discussed the issues surrounding jihadism and extremist organizations in the Middle East. She discussed some of the root causes of jihadism and also noted that eighty percent of Muslims are moderates who value peace.
Currently there are 55 Democrat and Republican members. By better understanding the ideology, strategy and tactics of the terrorists, Members of Congress will be able to remain one step ahead of the enemy. The Anti-Terror Caucus will be an important tool in preserving a safe and secure America.