Anne Janak of the Friends of Scarborough Library

talked about the current world situation in an interview with retired Army Col. David W. Hunt, who speaks at the library Sunday at 2 p.m. Here are excerpts from that interview:

Q: What could the U.S. do to implement a new tactical approach toward the Middle East? Is a new tactical approach in order?

Hunt: What we are doing now is not working, which appears to be, do not talk to anyone. We have to help solve the Palestinian/Israel issue, which is at the center of the problems. Most associate us with Israel and hate us for it in the Middle East. We must get Europe to help us with this.

Q: Your operational experience took place over several different political administrations. How did governmental changes affect the work you were able to do in counter terrorism, special operations and intelligence operations?

Hunt: (President) Carter would not allow anything to be done after Iran. Secretary of Defense Regan stopped us from retaliating against Iran after the Marines were killed in Lebanon. Clinton was so bad he never met with his CIA director for two years. Bush 41 was the best. He let people do their jobs. Bush 43 has had Rumsfeld and Tenet as his crosses to bear.

Q: Terrorism has been increasing as a threat since early 1980. Is the terrorism that has developed in the decade anti-American, or is it a new tenet of fundamentalist Islam? Or is something else going on?

Hunt: Terrorism is a tool, so the later fundamentalist Islam and our lack of understanding of it and our refusal to work with or confront it have lead to the current problems.

Q: Rising insurgent violence in Afghanistan has resulted in at least 3,700 deaths this year. What do you see as an effective role for the U.S. there?

Hunt: NATO should be in the lead, with the U.S. in support. More economic aid is necessary.

Q: Walls have been effective perimeter defenses for centuries. Is this still true in the face of modern weapons? Are things like the Israeli border wall or the proposed Mexican wall effective?

Hunt: The wall in Israel is working. It is very sad but necessary. The border wall is just one thing. Without a policy, it will not work.

Q: Iran is a looming threat. What are your ideas on the likelihood that the U.S. and Israel will take action?

Hunt: Israel might, but we are out of soldiers. We can bomb them but not much else. Iran is the new superpower in the Middle East. We cannot go to war with a third country in five years.