This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Thanks for Lee Davidson's story on Rep. Chris Stewart's recent conference on security. Stewart serves on the House Intelligence Committee, chaired by California Rep. Devin Nunes. Christopher Hammer and Nunes each gave a "keynote" talk. The talks, with one exception, were disappointing.
Stewart, Hammer, and Nunes functioned as a mutual admiration society, each constantly praising the other two.
The highlight was the University of Utah's own Amos Guiora, talking via a poor Skype-cell phone connection from Israel. He advised Stewart to have the committee hold hearings on morals and values related to foreign policy, including targeted killings, cyber-issues (including security and offense) and the threat of some "houses of worship" in inciting terrorism. Stewart either did not understand or chose to ignore Guiora's advice. Apparently the Intelligence Committee is not really about "intelligence."
The meeting focused on military might. There was no discussion of empowering the youth of the five problem countries which were the focus of the talks.
Stewart and Nunes are often considered "reasonable" and "moderate." That is frightening. They demonstrated little understanding, no vision and no creative approaches to our, and the world's, serious security issues and problems.
We need real intelligence."
Joe Andrade
Salt Lake City