PRESIDENT BUSH, VISIONARY LEADER: NATIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE KEY
etherzone.com
By: Carol Devine-Molin
Since the aftermath of 9/11, President Bush has effectively dispelled any lingering doubts regarding his ability to lead this great nation, especially in light of his overall handling of the profound crisis foisted upon us by the forces of terror. Clearly, Bush’s actions on the national security and war fronts have earned him significant backing from the American people, as demonstrated by his approval ratings that have remained in the high 80% bracket. He is well appreciated by the American people, as is his wartime consiglieri, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
But what sets Bush apart as an outstanding leader? Bush is a visionary, a man with a remarkable plan that will significantly safeguard the citizenry over the long haul. He is determined to strategically orchestrate all that must be done in order to guarantee the safety and security of the American people, not just for the immediate future, but for several generations to come. Yes, President Bush and his resolute team have set out to accomplish a monumental mission, which will generate tremendous positive impact. Unlike Clinton, who was primarily focused upon the short-term economy, his own public travails, and excessive attempts to broker an all but impossible deal between the Israelis and Palestinians, Bush understands that his primary responsibility as president is to protect the American people, both at home and abroad, plain and simple.
During this past year, President Bush has demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the foreign policy and national security difficulties that had been tossed to the sidelines and left sorely unattended by the previous Clinton administration. Most notably, during the 1990’s, transnational terrorism perpetrated by radical Islamic fundamentalists was continuing to increase in frequency and intensity, posing a dangerous threat to American citizens and American assets throughout the world. Yet, the Clinton team accomplished little to fend off terrorism, despite high profile terror attacks by the al-Qaeda network upon two of our embassies in Africa (Kenya and Tanzania, 1998), the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia (1996), the USS Cole in the port of Aden, Yemen (2000), and the Twin Towers in NYC (1993), at which time the al-Qaeda perpetrators more than promised to return to finish off the job of destroying those icons of American grandeur. According to past Clinton advisor Dick Morris, regarding terrorism, "Clinton hesitated and failed to act, always finding a reason why some other concern was more important (NY Post, 12/26/01).
What are some of the salient intermediate objectives of Bush’s larger mission to ensure national safety and prevent the American people from being attacked by hostile forces? Certainly, the following are all at the vanguard: a) Winning the "war on terrorism"; b) Rebuilding and modernizing the military, with the accompanying deployment of a National Missile Defense system; and c) Keeping China in check, while facilitating democratic reforms in that nation.
Among Bush’s priorities, effectuating a victorious outcome for the "war on terrorism" is clearly numero uno on the list. Although the Afghanistan campaign is currently underway, an extended war will inevitably involve forays into any number of nations (Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and the Philippines, are all possibilities) in order to rout out these sinister fanatics. Reportedly, al-Qaeda cells, which carry out violent strikes upon command, are ensconced in approximately sixty nations. And since cutting off monetary funding for these radical groups is crucial, the US government is identifying and freezing the assets of al-Qaeda, Hamas, and other terrorist organizations with alacrity. The death or disappearance of a charismatic figure such as Osama bin Laden will have virtually no effect upon these foot soldiers of terror, since a host of lieutenants are already in place to devise strategic assaults and issue directives.
Importantly, this is a two-front war, both foreign and domestic, a "new war" like nothing else that we have ever fought before. On the US home turf, our enemies will continue to attempt asymmetric assaults that exploit our vulnerabilities and the element of surprise. Therefore, (to the dismay of many who cynically view big bureaucracy) expect a growing number of protocols and procedures to be instituted by the recently established Office of Homeland Security, for the overall protection of Americans. For instance, airline safety measures are currently in the process of being upgraded, incorporating an array of anti-terrorism tactics including more extensive searches of passengers and luggage for weaponry, the use of bomb-sniffing dogs, and the patrolling of airport concourses by armed National Guard troops. Sites that would invariably be of interest to terrorists, such as nuclear power plants and football stadiums, are being placed on "high alert" status. And "first response" medical teams are being trained to detect, treat and contain persons affected by biological and chemical warfare, in the event of such strikes.
Of course, a concomitant objective of the Bush administration is the rebuilding and modernization of our Armed Forces, imperative to addressing all types of emerging military threats to our national security. It is vital for this anticipated state-of-the-art military to operate a National Missile Defense system, which is still in the developmental stages. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is acutely aware that we must be prepared to fight the next war (not the ones that are already history), and highly trained and motivated military personnel are key. "Special Forces" are "part warrior, part diplomat" as stated by retired Army Col. David Hackworth, a Fox News Channel contributor. Hackworth further noted that these soldiers are required to be mobile, hard-hitting and readily capable of interacting with the local inhabitants of the war region, since intelligence gathering and surveillance are taking on a new emphasis in this ever-evolving warfare mode.
Beyond the aforesaid, the one major power that is cause for extreme consternation is the People’s Republic of China, which has exhibited growing internal and external aggression resulting in portentous difficulties for both the Chinese citizenry and many within the international community. Inevitably, the Bush administration has been forced to confront and manage the China problem to some extent during the past year, most notably when a Chinese pilot downed our EP-3E surveillance aircraft with its crew of twenty-four last Spring.
Throughout the 1990’s the Clinton team appeared inured to the fact that China represented an emerging military threat to America and the world-at-large. In their book, "Red Dragon Rising" authors Timperlake and Triplett document China’s myriad bellicose activities such as regularly transferring weaponry to rogue nations that promulgate state-sponsored terrorism, stealing vital US national security secrets from Los Alamos and demonstrating menacing overtures toward Taiwan. And let’s not forget the morally bankrupt manner in which China treats its own people. So-called dissidents are routinely apprehended, imprisoned gulag-style, systematically tortured, and even executed for the sale of their body parts, a ghastly practice euphemistically referred to as "organ harvesting".
Mounting evidence only points to the fact that this patently corrupt regime in China has continued on the path of naked aggression. According to Bill Gertz, and his partner Rowan Scarborough, "China has deployed about 350 short-range missiles opposite Taiwan, and is building up to a force of about 600 missiles over the next several years". In that same piece, Gertz and Scarborough also reported that China had the audacity to supply the al-Qaeda network with weaponry after 9/11. Their official source indicated, "A week after the terrorist attack, the ruling Taliban and the al-Qaeda fighters embedded among them, received a shipment of Chinese-made SA-7 missiles. The shoulder-fired anti-aircraft weapons are similar to the US Stinger" (Washington Times, 12/21/01). This certainly belies China’s recent claims that they are partners with America in this war on terrorism.
Now, China is assiduously focused upon the development of their aerospace program, including the honing of satellite and rocket launch, space exploration technologies and micro-gravitation. It’s progressing at a quick pace, with Shenzhou III, third in a series of unmanned test flights, scheduled to be launched next month. Moreover, China is currently allocating notable resources to its military space efforts, clearly cognizant of the importance of "space dominance" and its far-reaching implications.
The Bush administration understands that a National Missile Defense system is not only necessary to intercept a limited number of incoming missiles that will inflict damage at the ground level. Such a system must also be deployed in order to help prevent guided missiles from destroying our space-based sensors and satellites, which profoundly impact civilian and military sectors alike. In the space realm, a nuclear detonation can disrupt or destroy nearby satellites, with residual radiation impeding "new satellite operations for months"(MSNBC, "The Threat Over The Horizon", Jonathan Broder). Current and soon-to-be nuclear powers, such as rogue states North Korea and Iran, "have missiles that can reach the necessary altitudes" in order to detonate nuclear blasts capable of damaging space-based assets. China could do the same, as well. And undoubtedly, China and other nations are researching and developing a host of other technologies for targeting our pivotal system of satellites.
In the US, all modes of information and communication, including telecommunications and cyber systems, are reliant upon satellite transmissions. Given our nation’s formidable dependence on satellite usage and our vulnerability in the space sphere, it’s vital that we properly ensure the safety and security of our space-based assets. Clearly, it’s another reason why a National Missile Defense system needs to be deployed in a timely manner.
Lastly, despite President Bush’s terrific plans for the US to acquire "full-dimensional protection" against various asymmetric attacks, he well comprehends that without a vibrant economy, his administration would be voted out of office. The good news is that the economy appears to be stabilizing, with jobless claims beginning to dip. Moreover, the index of leading economic indicators rose by a stronger than expected .5% last month in November, on the heels of a slight increase in October. Hopefully, the upswing trend will continue, and the economy will be poised for a full recovery in the first or second quarter of 2002. |
