[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16729]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING VIVEK VISWANATHAN, WINNER OF THE U.S. INSTITUTE OF PEACE 
                      NATIONAL PEACE ESSAY CONTEST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2004

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly to inform the House that 
the winner of the U.S. Institute of Peace's (USIP) 2004 National Peace 
Essay Contest is Vivek Viswanathan, a junior at Herricks High School in 
New Hyde Park, New York. Out of more than 1,000 contestants from all 50 
States, U.S. territories and even overseas schools, Vivek's 
composition, ``Establishing Peaceful and Stable Postwar Societies 
Through Effective Rebuilding Strategy,'' was judged by USIP's 
distinguished Board of Directors to be the national first place essay.
  Having met Vivek, and having seen what a mature and thoughtful young 
man he is, I know how proud his parents and family must be at this 
time. A well-rounded individual, interested in public and world affairs 
as well as sports and music, Vivek is a terrific example of what 
America's youth are capable of.
  Vivek's essay is lucid, concise and compelling. In light of the 
ongoing post-conflict struggles in Southeast Europe, Afghanistan and 
Iraq, I believe his observations are worth the attention of the whole 
House and I will ask that Vivek's essay be included in the 
Congressional Record.
  Unlike many putative experts, Vivek's understanding of post-conflict 
dynamics begins with the observation that ``the discontinuation of 
armed conflict does not imply resolution of the underlying concerns 
that caused the conflict.'' Many American lives and millions of dollars 
might have been saved had our government acknowledged this basic 
premise months ago.
  Vivek points out simple keys to success in helping states recover: 
The plan for reconstruction must be tailored to the specific situation 
at hand; the international community must supply an abundance of 
resources both economic and military; and the reconstruction process 
must have a national rather than international imprimatur to be 
accepted by the society being rebuilt. Sadly, it seems to me these very 
common-sense approaches have been lacking in our own recent 
stabilization efforts.
  The good news, I hope, is that our struggles today will inform the 
leaders of tomorrow, the Vivek Viswanathans who will write and study 
and guide our country in the future. All of the contestants in USIP's 
contest are worthy not only of our praise, but our strong 
encouragement. Their enthusiasm, their concern and their passion for a 
better world are the best guarantee of our Nation's bright future.
  Mr. Speaker, Vivek Viswanathan richly deserves our congratulations, 
and I know the whole House will join me in wishing him the very best 
for the future, a future of continued achievement and ever greater 
distinction and one, we may hope too, of peace.

                          ____________________