I propose the initiation of a “Second Front in the War on Terror.”

Rather than hoping to win the so-called “War on Terror” with traditional battlefield tactics alone, I propose a number of innovative social exchange programs that would help promote peace and foster understanding of each other’s cultures, in what he calls a true effort to open the hearts and minds of the citizens of the Middle East and the United States.

“Almost five years after 9/11, our Nation still has few non-military programs which directly assist the people of the Middle East and the United States to become better acquainted. Because of the current Administration’s limited vision since 9/11, the people of the Middle East know little about the true values that we attempt to foster in our land on a daily basis: religious tolerance, ethnic diversity, upward mobility and educational opportunity for all. As a result, they know little about us and our understanding of them is limited by fear.

Congress has spent billions of dollars on military campaigns but almost nothing to foster understanding between people in our country and in the Middle East. A military based ‘War on Terror’ is only one part of any overall plan to keep America truly safe. ” We need a Second Front on the War on Terror and we need it today”, Zuiker said. Based in part on his almost thirty year career as a community organizer, Zuiker believes that the United States needs to showcase its best natural resource - the American people. If elected, Zuiker promised to support specific programs that would allow people throughout the world to know and appreciate the true values that represent our Nation and the ideals of the citizens of the 2nd Congressional district.

Zuiker listed several programs and initiatives that he promised to propose and support if elected. They include the following:

1. Passage of a “People to People” program that promotes short-term travel of young children from the Middle East to the United States. This program will initially cost much less than the price of one new jet fighter. The People to People program will promote, organize and administer short-term travel on the part of Middle East school groups to the United States. The program will enlist American families and communities to host Middle East elementary school children and their parents or chaperones for short-term visits to our country. In addition to travel expenses, the funding will provide both host and visiting families with insight and training to understand each other, maximize positive family/visitor interchanges and find host housing sites.

2. The creation of an “American International Disaster Relief Corps”. This program will create a corps of American citizen volunteers who stand ready and willing to assist victims of natural disasters. Hawaii, and the other states, are filled with citizens who are willing to spend a few weeks helping others in far away locations. The program will compliment existing international relief efforts. It will recruit American volunteers who wish to remain on call to assist when natural disasters occur. This program will get the volunteers, train the volunteers and send the volunteers. This program will save lives and allow multitudes of people throughout the world to learn first-hand about the heart and soul of America. And this program will give new meaning to the term “the Americans are coming.”

3. Passage of increased funding for the Peace Corps programs to enhance its mission and expand the good will that America has gained from the unique American volunteer program. In describing his experience in the Peace Corp, Zuiker stated, “Almost forty years ago I began living and working with four isolated rural villages within walking distance of the Haitian border. The villages had four broken down shacks for schools and no sense of Ohana. After two years the mutual efforts of the village residents, governmental agencies and myself resulted in construction of a six-room community elementary school. The unified school building replaced the shacks and a true sense of mutual cooperation had been born in those villages. Over the past three decades that school building has educated thousands of young Dominicans.

Zuiker said , “Two years ago I returned to those four villages to visit. Although I had not been back to the Dominican Republic for over thirty-five years, the villagers welcomed me with open arms and continuously thanked me, and America, for helping their village many years earlier. In other words, two years of hard but enjoyable work as a Peace Corps volunteer resulted in over three decades of good will for America and greatly expanded educational opportunities for the Dominican youth. That is not a bad investment if you ask me!”

In creating the People to People Program and the American International Disaster Relief Corps and by expanding the current Peace Corps, Zuiker hopes to return America’s image in the world to its former heights. ” It is the ideals and the spirit of the American people that has made this Nation great. We must now compliment our military efforts by immediately opening up this Second Front in the War on Terrorism. Unless we do so we are deceiving ourselves,.” Zuiker concluded.