WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today initiated a bipartisan letter to President Bush calling for the White House to request a National Intelligence Estimate on the effect of world hunger on U.S. security.

“When conditions in foreign countries deteriorate, we know it makes the job of terrorists much easier.  They recruit young men by promising a good meal.  They find suicide bombers who wouldn’t consider the unthinkable, but are offered sums of money for their families if they give their lives for a mission of jihad,” Emerson said.  “But when America shows its concern and compassion for these same populations and bags of food aid arrive with the words, ‘Gift of the People of the United States’ printed on them – it makes those terrorists’ jobs much more difficult.  We need a comprehensive assessment of how hunger contributes to the instability terrorists and militant fundamentalists thrive upon, and we need an equally thorough assessment of how hunger relief and international aid helps combat that dangerous situation for Americans at home and abroad.”

Below is the text of the letter, spearheaded by Emerson and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, active leaders on the issue of domestic and international hunger and co-chairs of the Congressional Hunger Center.

Dear President Bush,

We respectfully request and strongly urge you to conclude a National Intelligence Estimate on global food security no later than the end of January 2009.   While many studies have been reported about the current crisis in global food security, an NIE would provide the next Administration, Congress and the public with the necessary analysis of the short-term, medium-term and long-term impacts of chronic hunger on the national security interests of the United States.

 
We agree that the current crisis is unlike any food emergency the world has faced in the recent past.  Its causes are multiple, including a web of interconnected forces involving agriculture, energy, climate change, trade and new demands from emerging markets.  We support steps you and the 110th Congress have taken so far to address the emergency and near-term effects of this crisis.  However, this crisis also carries grave implications for economic growth and development, international security and social progress in developing countries.  Time is of the essence in formulating a response, and U.S. leadership and bipartisanship are essential, as well as expanded U.S. coordination with international organizations, governments and donors.  

Within this context, an NIE on global food security can provide the president and the Congress with critical analysis on how the vulnerability of many developing nations to high food prices and expanding chronic hunger might prove unsettling to their stability, social progress and security.  Such an analysis can contribute to developing comprehensive approaches that address emergency, short-term, medium-term and long-term food security needs and, thus, avert or minimize potential security crises or threats.

We look forward to receiving your response to this bipartisan request for the immediate initiation of an NIE on global food security.