Press Room
Letter to the Washington Times
The following letter was published in the Washington Times on December 13, 2007:
December 11, 2007
Letters Editor
The Washington Times
December 11, 2007
Letters Editor
The Washington Times
3600 New York Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
To the Editor:
Joel Mowbray’s December 6 column, “Harty’s downfall,” repeats the tired old canard that 9/11 happened because of a profligate visa policy, and urges the administration to replace outgoing State Department consular chief Maura Harty with someone who will supposedly “keep us safe” by cracking down on visas. Whether or not it follows this misguided advice will be a key test of the administration’s professed concern for balancing security concerns with the necessity of remaining a country that is open to foreign visitors, educational and cultural exchange, and international talent.
Amb. Harty, a consummate professional, did a commendable job of striking this difficult balance, by carefully imposing necessary visa controls while at the same time having the courage to alter or discard those that merely erected barriers without enhancing security. She is one of the few senior officials who has actually managed her bureau in accordance with the administration’s declared policy of maintaining both secure borders and open doors. Yes, she presided over the passport fiasco—but she stood up and accepted responsibility in a congressional hearing, a bureaucratic rarity.
For the sake of its security, the country can only hope that the White House will be up to the challenge of replacing Amb. Harty with an equally capable person. It’s a shame that this distinguished public servant has to be subjected to Mr. Mowbray’s ignorant diatribe.
Victor C. Johnson
Associate Executive Director for Public Policy
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
To the Editor:
Joel Mowbray’s December 6 column, “Harty’s downfall,” repeats the tired old canard that 9/11 happened because of a profligate visa policy, and urges the administration to replace outgoing State Department consular chief Maura Harty with someone who will supposedly “keep us safe” by cracking down on visas. Whether or not it follows this misguided advice will be a key test of the administration’s professed concern for balancing security concerns with the necessity of remaining a country that is open to foreign visitors, educational and cultural exchange, and international talent.
Amb. Harty, a consummate professional, did a commendable job of striking this difficult balance, by carefully imposing necessary visa controls while at the same time having the courage to alter or discard those that merely erected barriers without enhancing security. She is one of the few senior officials who has actually managed her bureau in accordance with the administration’s declared policy of maintaining both secure borders and open doors. Yes, she presided over the passport fiasco—but she stood up and accepted responsibility in a congressional hearing, a bureaucratic rarity.
For the sake of its security, the country can only hope that the White House will be up to the challenge of replacing Amb. Harty with an equally capable person. It’s a shame that this distinguished public servant has to be subjected to Mr. Mowbray’s ignorant diatribe.
Victor C. Johnson
Associate Executive Director for Public Policy
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
