Collins speaks at Rotary Club on Middle East peace

BANGOR – Failing peace negotiations in the Middle East and America’s overextended armed forces were among topics discussed Tuesday by Sen. Susan Collins at a meeting of the Bangor Rotary Club.

Sharing her experiences from a pre-Christmas trip to Israel and Jordan, Collins faulted Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat for stalling peace in the region, saying the failing negotiations fuel global terrorism.

“Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat has proved himself time and time again to be a faithless negotiator, to the detriment of many innocent people, including, ironically, his fellow Palestinians,” Collins said. “Terrorist groups like al-Qaida often use [the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians] as an excuse, an alibi, for their violence.”

Collins was one of four congressional members to participate in a five-day trip to the Middle East to discuss national security, terrorism and peace issues with the Israeli Parliament.

Labeling King Abdullah of Jordan a “bright spot” in the quest for lasting peace in the area, Collins said Jordan’s training of Iraqi citizens to become police officers has lessened the burden on increasingly strained American troops.

“We need to increase the size of our active armed forces. They’re being deployed too often and for too long a time,” the senator said. “My fear is the result will be we’ll see a real exodus from the [National] Guard and from the reserves.”

In the wake of the Bush administration’s poor planning for postwar Iraq, Collins said, police officers and medical personnel in Maine’s rural towns have been deployed, leaving some communities without adequate public safety services.

On another matter the senator indicated that Mainers will benefit from improved health care measures following the recent passage of the controversial Medicare bill.

“This is not a perfect bill,” Collins said. “But I don’t believe you can let the quest for perfection prevent low-income seniors who need prescription drug coverage from getting the services they need.”

The bill will bring $1.7 million to the state for family practice residency programs, as well as aid for older people and disabled residents who rely on home health care, the senator said.

“I think that low-income Mainers will be very satisfied with this bill,” Collins said after her presentation. “Those who already have good, company provided prescription drug coverage may well be better off keeping their current coverage.”

The senator said she was happy, however, to see other legislation blocked, including a recent energy bill squashed by the Senate in November.

“This bill was a disaster,” Collins said, citing a provision for $150 million in tax subsidies to increase energy efficiency at a Louisiana shopping center that houses a Hooters restaurant.

“It seems to me you could buy sweaters at a much lower cost and achieve the same goal,” she said.

Saying the bill was biased toward Southern utility companies, Collins said future energy legislation should reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and protect the environment.

The senator’s other priorities for the coming year include plans to increase funding for Maine highways and education and improve services for mentally ill children and displaced manufacturing workers.