National Security has seldom been as important an issue for the American voter as it is today. Our world is on fire, quite literally.
Increasing geopolitical tensions are a daily media story whether we want to watch or not, and it is compounded by the insecurity of the open U.S. southern border, millions of unvetted refugees entering the U.S. and two wars.
One aspect of this security crisis that few people consider, however, involves training foreign military students in the United States. While the exchange of knowledge and skills between allies and other nations can be an important international diplomatic tool, we must recognize the potential dangers inherent in this ongoing practice.
The current escalating tensions in the Middle East beg us to reconsider the current exchange posture.
The 2019 Pensacola terrorist attack serves as a reminder of the threat that we face when we don’t prioritize an America First agenda.
The United States has a long history of hosting foreign military students but the programs must be monitored. The risks associated with such programs have become increasingly evident, with the Pensacola terrorist attack serving as the most tragic reminder of what can happen when America lets its guard down.
On December 6, 2019, a Saudi aviation student, Second Lieutenant Mohammed Alshamrani, opened fire at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, killing three U.S. Navy personnel and injuring several others. The incident exposed the dangers of allowing foreign military students to train on American soil, as Alshamrani had shown clear signs of radicalization before the attack.
President Trump wisely removed all Saudi Arabian foreign military students from the United States and put a suspension on future training until new guidelines were implemented.
I was deployed with the U.S. Army Reserve to Saudi Arabia after the Pensacola terrorist attack for 14 months during 2020-2021, and one of my primary roles was to restart the foreign military training and implement the new enhanced security vetting on Saudi Arabia’s security forces who sought training in the United States. While many participants in these programs are committed to their training and international cooperation, it only takes one individual with nefarious intent to pose a significant threat.
Alshamrani's actions serve as a stark reminder that the screening process must be meticulous, and yet is fraught with too many risks. Even with the new enhanced screening that I helped implement, the procedures are not foolproof.
Additionally, given the potential for radicalization after enrollment, especially with the attacks by Hamas on Israel, we must suspend this program.
Many of the foreign students currently hosted on U.S. bases are coming from foreign governments that have espoused Hamas propaganda. The risk of radicalization is just too high. Allowing military students from countries with complex and shifting allegiances to train in the United States can inadvertently expose national security vulnerabilities, especially now.
While not all international students are susceptible to radicalization, we must nevertheless be on guard and put America First.
Social media content, foreign government public statements, and personal beliefs regarding the multiple wars we are witnessing adds an unnecessary risk that Americans should not take.
The Department of Defense should suspend the current programs and look to strengthen all their vetting and screening processes immediately.
The State Department should also conduct ongoing surveillance on students during their visa stays and eliminate access to sensitive information. But if history is our guide, the Biden administration has failed at all levels, domestically and internationally, and is not capable of prioritizing the safety of Americans.
The dangers posed by allowing foreign military students to train in the United States are real and must not be underestimated. We must suspend this practice immediately. This is simply about putting America First.
Abraham Hamadeh is a candidate for Congress in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District and was the 2022 Republican nominee for Arizona Attorney General, a former prosecutor and former U.S. Army Reserve Captain. He can be found on X, @abrahamhamadeh.