Major R. Owens: A Peace Surge in the First 100 Days

[babylonsister]

Just imagine...


A Peace Surge in the First 100 Days
Major R. Owens

Posted July 15, 2008 | 03:53 PM (EST)


Ending combat in Iraq is only step one.

The newly elected President of the United States must deliver for restless young voters by launching a "Peace Surge" in his first 100 days. There is no need to force the youth of America to wait for visible change. Structures are already in place which make it possible to mobilize thousands of peacemakers in a short period of time. Change for peace can begin to flow like a mighty stream within a few months.

Real change on the peace front requires launching a massive mobilization for peace. Counteracting the existing militarized culture we must, without delay, commence building a culture of peace.

To facilitate movement in the first 100 days with maximum speed and a broad inspiring momentum there is a dormant federal agency free of partisan blister and scars, waiting in place. The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, non-partisan, national agency established and funded by Congress. The Board Members are appointed by the president and the leadership of the House and Senate. It operates under the jurisdiction of the Education and Labor Committee. It is a near perfect instrument for promoting a non-partisan permanent campaign for peace. To lead the "Peace Surge" this is an Institute whose time has come.

Actions by the new president during the first 100 days should include the following:

* The long neglected United States Institute of Peace (www.usip.org) should be fully energized, highlighted and promoted
* The new president should propose assigning a new overall coordinating role to the Institute of Peace, authorizing it to serve as the lead agency for creating an expanded American human resources infrastructure to support building a Culture for Peace.
* Propose legislation for expanding the size and increasing the budgets of the Peace Corps and VISTA and placing these two entities under the jurisdiction of the Institute of Peace.
* Propose legislation to create a Civilian Conservation Corps to provide engagement opportunities for school dropouts and disconnected youth who would be trained to assist with domestic and international emergencies. This corps should be placed under the jurisdiction of the Institute and Corps members should be afforded opportunities to graduate into the Peace Corps or VISTA.
* Propose legislation to remove the United States Information Agency functions from the State Department to the Institute of Peace.
* By executive order the new president should appoint a Commission to develop a plan for creating a National Peace University with Regional Academies to operate under the jurisdiction of the Institute of Peace.

For the long haul we are projecting Peace Academies comparable to West Point, Annapolis, the Air Force Academy, Officer Training Schools, etc.; and a Peace University comparable to the War College. Our Civilization of the future requires a massive number of trained professional peacemakers on the government payroll. We need peace professionals comparable to five star generals, admirals, captains, sergeants, privates, etc.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-major-r-owens/a-peace-surge-in-the-firs_b_112915.html

[midnight]

1. When I heard about a Peace University several years ago,

I thought it was a good idea. Now my thoughts are exactly this:Our Civilization of the future requires a massive number of trained professional peacemakers on the government payroll.