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On the Issues Taking National Security Seriously
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| Taking National Security Seriously |
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I come from a military family – my dad was a Marine officer, pilot and Vietnam vet, and my uncle is a retired Naval base commander. I was an ROTC Ranger during my freshman year in college. I believe in our troops and I’m angry to see how George W. Bush and Congressman Dent have failed them, in the field and at home.
We need to properly train and equip our military to perform their mission, and when their service is through, they and their families deserve the health care and support we promised them. George Bush and Rep. Dent haven’t gotten the job done.
At home, George Bush and Dent have talked a great game on protecting our country, but have failed to do so. We need to get serious about protecting our ports, our chemical plants, and our nuclear power stations from attack, and it's not getting done. Instead, billions have been wasted on sweetheart deals and no-bid contracts while our first responders still can’t talk to each other.
We need to restore FEMA as an independent agency and thoroughly review our emergency-preparedness system. There can be no more citizens drowning in the streets of an American city while the government flounders.
In the rest of the world, we need much greater engagement with our allies on global and security issues. We also need to talk to those with whom we have great disagreements. As Moshe Dayan said: “You don’t make peace treaties with your friends, you make them with your enemies.”
Last, and certainly not least, I am appalled that almost six years after 9/11, catching those responsible for the attacks seems to be less and less a priority for the Bush Administration. The diversion of attention and resources to Iraq has allowed the Taliban to flourish again in Afghanistan, and for al-Qaida to train terrorists in Iraq. |