The value of a paper promise is measured by its fulfillment. The honorable will be known for keeping their word. Becoming a promise keeper means insisting that all the promises made on paper are fulfilled real time.
In America, we value liberty of conscience and the freedom to exercise those rights given to us by our Creator. Our land is a place where people are measured by their character, hard work and accomplishments, as opposed to their gender, creed, race or religion.
These are the values upon which this country was founded and these are the principles that continue to make America the most innovative country on the planet. Not all nations reflect these same values. Some close off certain people from societal gains, persecute minorities and enable extreme acts of discrimination and violence. While our commitment to liberty sets a positive example around the world, it is our willingness to stand up for what is right and just that sets us apart from other countries.
When civil governments engage in violations of human rights it often doesn’t end there, it spills over in how those countries interact with foreign entities. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, for example, have not only disregarded the rights of the people who live and work within their borders but they have also disregarded their trade agreements with the United States. Their violations of those paper promises should encourage leaders within the Trump administration to take swift action against the Gulf nations and hold them accountable for their deeds. After all, that is what a promise keeper does.
Since 1992, the United States has signed more than 120 “Open Skies” agreements with foreign governments to promote economic growth and benefits for airlines, workers and consumers. These agreements on paper ensure a level playing field and a free market for all countries involved. These agreements support and bolster a free, global marketplace for the aviation industry — in line with U.S. ideals.
But Qatar and the UAE have ignored international agreements in an effort to expand their economies and benefit their industries at the expense of U.S. jobs and companies. They have chosen to disregard their Open Skies agreements, creating wholly state-owned aviation sectors that can expand without regard for traditional cost concerns that constrain American carriers.
State-owned Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines have received $52 billion in subsidies in the past decade, allowing them to expand at four times the global demand. These nations have violated their Open Skies agreements and have threatened more than 10 million jobs and $1.5 trillion in economic activity supported by U.S. airlines. If left unchecked, these actions are likely to continue and only get worse. They must be held to the promises they made on paper.
Further, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines exploit their workers, forcing them to work excessive hours and have enacted inflexible policies. The airlines often force female employees to leave their jobs if they become pregnant. Similarly, migrant workers in Qatar and the UAE are often underpaid and forced to live in substandard housing. Some employers will even withhold wages, beat workers and confiscate their passports.
This treatment follows the societal norms of Qatar and the UAE, where they treat minorities — religious and otherwise — differently, discriminate against women, and allow space for extreme ideologies and voices to be heard. For example, those who speak out against the government are imprisoned and silenced. Laws allow for extreme acts of violence, including the whipping of juvenile offenders and torture of foreign nationals. Women are given few if any rights, and domestic violence is not considered a crime. To make matters worse, Qatar has been found to be one of the largest financial supporters of terrorist groups, including ISIS, enabling extreme acts of violence across the globe.
President Trump promised to protect American jobs and companies, and end harmful trade violations. In his inaugural address, he vowed to put America first and prevent our jobs from moving overseas. By taking swift action against Qatar and the UAE’s violations of Open Skies Agreements, we are showing that we do not support how these countries treat those who live and work within their borders, and we will not allow them to threaten our domestic institutions, namely our airline industry and transportation sector.
I have confidence that Trump and his administration will take swift action against these egregious violations of Open Skies agreements and against state-subsidized airlines from nations that disregard basic human rights and enable acts of extreme violence to take place without regard for life or the rule of law. I trust that he will hold them to the paper promises they have made.
