Carol Moseley-Braun, former Illinois senator and ambassador to New Zealand, is a strong candidate in the 2004 presidential race. She plans changing the US military's approach to terrorism. Excerpts from an interview with IACPA.

Both the United States and India have been the victims of international terrorism.  Both countries 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?

The fight against international terrorism requires international cooperation and partnerships.  As President, I will continue efforts with India and all of our international allies to build effective, cooperative mechanisms to win the war on terror.

What are your views on India's bid to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council?

Since its charter was written over fifty years ago, membership in the United Nations has more than tripled.  Steps need to be taken to make the Security Council more inclusive and responsive to member states of the General Assembly.  I support India's Security Council membership interest, in part due to the size of its population, as well as its globally competitive economy.

The United States and India have recently conducted a series of joint military exercises.  As President, how would you approach the burgeoning defense relationship between the United States and India?  Would you support greater U.S. defense sales to India?

Joint military efforts between India and the United States are a key element in building cooperation in international anti terrorism efforts.  The stability of states and relations between states on the Indian Subcontinent are essential to maintaining international peace.  Any escalation in defense sales that might destabilize relationship in South Asia must be approached with great caution.

As President, would you support establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India?

Trade between the United States and India benefits both countries, particularly in high technology sector.  I would support a bilateral Free Trade Agreement that ensured environmental, child labor, and wage protections for companies in India, and those they employed. 

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?  As President, what would you do to curb the occurrence of hate crimes?

I have been a life long advocate for civil and human rights.  Crimes based on a person's race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation require special consideration in the judicial process.  Towards this end, both in the Illinois General Assembly and as a United States Senator, I co-sponsored legislation to expand the scope of existing hate crime la to protect more people.  As President, I will address the issue of intolerance and hate by presenting to the American people a picture of inclusion in my cabinet and in my appointments.  I will also urge the Justice Department to fully and aggressively prosecute those who commit hate crimes.

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?

The right to privacy is basic to the functioning of our civil society.  I absolutely oppose governmental policies that restrict civil liberties and attack American values under the guise of "national security."  I opposed the enactment of the Patriot Act and as President, I would work to see that the Patriot Act is not renewed.  As President, I will also put an end to proposals made by the present Administration to enact the Patriot Act II.

Do you support the Department of Homeland Security's plans to replace the current visa control system (NSEERS)?

One of the reasons the United States has become the greatest nation in the world is that we have, historically, welcomed immigrants and benefited from their skills and talents.  The policies of the current Administration turn away from our tradition as a country of immigrants by selecting people from certain countries or practitioners of specific faiths to extraordinary scrutiny.  While the ports of entry to this country must be secured against those who might harm us, the NSEERS program goes too far in collecting information from visitors and students.

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?

Undoubtedly, health care in the United States benefits from the talent and dedication of many physicians from India and other countries.  My single payer National Health Insurance will simplify the practice of medicine for all physicians, and drive down costs for both patients and health care providers.

What are your views on the efficacy of Affirmative Action as it has been implemented?

Affirmative action serves the interests of the whole community – not only the women or people of color who may get an opportunity.  Businesses that are owned and operated by women and minorities are statistically more likely to in turn give opportunity to other women and minorities, and so a ripple effect takes place.  Women and black or Asian or Hispanic or other minorities leverage their opportunity by bringing in other who might not otherwise have a chance.  Affirmative action takes down barriers that sheltered white men from competition, by giving a boost to others who want to compete.  It remains a competition.

The survival of affirmative action creates hope that opportunity exists for those who have not yet had a chance to lead and that performance and talent will be rewarded.  That hope keeps our society on a path towards progress and the fulfillment of the promise of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  The Supreme Court's recent decision regarding the challenge to the University of Michigan's law school program kept alive the light of that hope.

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