Massachusetts Senator John Kerry on January 19 rode to victory in Iowa's kickoff presidential caucuses, upsetting front-runners for the Democratic nomination to challenge President George W Bush. Excerpts from an interview to the IACPA:
Q: Both the United States and India have been the victims of international terrorism. Both have established working groups and conducted joint anti-terrorism exercises to address this issue. As president, what will you do to support and enhance this relationship?
JK: I recognize the importance of new - and growing - relationships in meeting the new challenges we face. The fight against terrorism requires the use of a mix of military, diplomatic and law enforcement responses. The establishment and development of bilateral and multilateral working groups is crucial. I believe that the United States and India understand that the threat of international terrorism affects both democracies. I strongly believe that we must continue to work together to bolster our joint capacities.
I would continue the combined naval and special forces exercises our governments have undertaken. More broadly, I would like our counter-terrorism forces to take tougher actions against terrorist financing. Because international terrorism is always a transnational problem, we need to foster deeper cooperation between US law enforcement and regulatory authorities of other countries. I want to build on the emerging cooperative relationship between the US and India to further these efforts.
Q: What are your views on India's bid to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council?
JK: I am interested in looking at ways to make the Security Council more effective and more representative of today's international community. In many ways, India would be a good candidate for Security Council membership but there is one notable problem: it is not a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). All the nuclear powers on the Council not only directly shape the NPT but are parties that abide by it. This may be the most serious issue with respect to India's candidacy for Council membership and one that must be addressed by India.
Q: The US and India have recently conducted a series of joint military exercises. How would you approach the burgeoning defense relationship between the two countries? Would you support greater US defense sales to India?
JK: I believe it is important, to both the United States and to India, that the relationship between our two countries continue to grow in every aspect, including defense. Decisions on US defense sales, however, cannot be made in the abstract. They must be made in the specific context of the needs of the recipient nation, the weapons and systems under consideration, and the interests of the US at the time of the purchase.
Q: Would you support establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India?
JK: I am open to the basic concept of Free Trade Agreements, but they must move countries forward. Such agreements need to include internationally recognized core-labor standards and environmental protections as well as effective mechanisms for the monitoring and enforcement of negotiated commitments.
Q: Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Indian Americans, specifically Sikh Americans, have been the victims of serious hate crimes. Do you support stronger hate crimes legislation? What would you do to curb the occurrence of hate crimes?
JK: I am an original cosponsor of federal hate crimes legislation, which would criminalize serious offenses committed against individuals because of, among other things, their religious or ethnic affiliations. While most state and local police and prosecutors are vigilant in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, we need a backup system to assure that every hate crime is properly vindicated. As president, I would assure that the Hate Crimes Act is properly enforced by the Justice Department and that there are appropriate resources for the training of state and local officials in identifying, solving and prosecuting these crimes at the state level.
Q: How do you respond to fears that law enforcement's increased use, or proposed use, of invasive technology is a violation of basic privacy rights?
JK: I am deeply concerned that the Bush-Ashcroft Justice Department has thrown basic civil liberties out the window in their efforts to make Americans feel safer, while doing little to actually make them safer. I favor giving law enforcement the tools it needs to prevent, investigate and prosecute terrorism, but I also favor assuring that there is appropriate court and Congressional oversight over the use of these powerful tools. I do not trust John Ashcroft to protect our civil liberties.
Q: Do you support the Department of Homeland Security's plans to replace the current visa control system (NSEERS)?
JK: I support a comprehensive approach to immigration, which makes use of technology and intelligence information to assure that those who would do harm to the US never make it to our shores in the first place. At the same time, I oppose measures, which merely harass and make legitimate international travel difficult for people who wish to come to this country to learn or work.
Q: Some estimates place the number of Indian American physicians at over 35,000. Given this fact, what are your views on addressing the severe medical malpractice insurance problem facing the industry?
JK: I oppose a cap on non-economic damages because this cap disadvantages patients, in particular children and low-wage adults, whose losses cannot be fairly compensated through economic damages. That said, the current system is fundamentally flawed and must be reformed. We need a system to weed out lawsuits without merit and save money, and these savings should go to reduce the cost of malpractice insurance for health care providers. My plan would:
· Prohibit any individual from bringing a medical malpractice liability action unless a qualified specialist determines a legitimate case exists.
· Require mediation, to be made available by the state, prior to a trial for any medical malpractice liability action.
· Prohibit punitive damages from being awarded in a medical malpractice action except upon proof of gross negligence, reckless indifference to life, or one of various types of intentional acts.
· Require medical malpractice liability insurance companies to implement a plan to dedicate at least 50 percent of the annual savings to reducing malpractice premiums for health care providers.
Q: What are your views on the efficacy of affirmative action as it has been implemented?
JK: I strongly favor affirmative action. I opposed the Administration's attack in the Supreme Court on the University of Michigan's affirmative action program. We need to strengthen civil rights, enforce equal rights, and end Bush's attempt to rollback freedom. As I've learned in my life, some things are worth fighting for. And now is the time to stand up on critical issues that go to the heart of our liberty - to defend inclusion and diversity and end racial profiling. America's diversity is a strength, not a weakness, and it's not just universities that have come to realize that.
Courtesy:
The Indian American Center for Political Awareness
1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036
43 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10010
202.955.8338 - 202.327.5483 (f) - www.iacfpa.org
