Bond Wants to Get Out the Good News on Iraq

Missouri's senior Senator said the United States isn't doing a good enough job at getting out the good news going on in Iraq.

Sen. Kit Bond, vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, held a hearing today on the importance of terrorist ideology.

He said the U.S. lags behind on winning the war of ideas, and that includes public diplomacy. He pointed to Iraq as a prime example.

"While there been significant progress, the United States needs to do a better job of public diplomacy," Sen. Bond said.

Bond pointed out that on his recent trip to Iraq, he was proud to see first-hand a mosque in Ramadi that American soldiers rebuilt but was disappointed the United States has not spread the word on this and other good news stories.

"The U.S. military has made a real difference in Iraqi communities like Ramadi, but our government is not doing an adequate job of spreading the good news," said Bond.

"The war of ideas and public opinion is not just critical in Iraq, but is crucial to the broader war on terror. The terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere in the world understand that the only way to win the war is not just militarily, but with constructive engagement and effective public diplomacy."

He also stressed that the U.S. must spend more time on examining the ideology of the enemy.

"The Global War on Terror is about 20 percent kinetic and about 80 percent ideological. We should never miss an opportunity to capture or kill any terrorists who rear their heads, but ultimate success depends on focusing the weight of our effort on the ideological front, to reach would-be terrorists before they turn to violence. To do this effectively we need to understand the role that ideology plays in motivating, radicalizing and legitimizing violent extremism," said Bond.