Are we safer because of Bush's policies on homeland security?
Are we safer because of Bush's leadership on the war on terror?
Are we safer because we have eliminated a horrible dictator in Iraq?
Clarke's book and testimony has focused on whether the Bush administration ignored terrorism before September 11, and that took the wrong steps afterwards.
These claims, as reported over the weekend, have been colloborated. What Clarke is saying is true and accurate. So starting from the premise that Clarke is right.....what now?
But what hasn't been discussed as much yet, is the alternative response to 9-11 proposed by Clarke. In his book, Clarke proposed that instead of attacking Iraq, we should have:
- Undertaken a massive effort to eliminate our vulnerabilities at home by strengthening homeland security;
- Launch a global effort to counter the ideology of al Queda through a partnership to promote common American and real Islamic values;
- Attack the roots of real terrorism (e.g., Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan) to go beyond rounding up current terrorists but also strengthen open government to foster political, economic and social change
Bush would claim that his Administration is doing those things. He would say that those are his goals. If we agree on goals, then lets talk about tactics and strategies to meet these goals.
Should we invest $100 Billion a year in creating a democracy in Iraq or in aiding first responders in the US?
Should we invest $87 Billion a year in protecting our seaports, airports and railway lines, or should we invade a country not connected to terrorism?
Viewed this way, there is a big difference between Clarke and Bush's view on the war on terror. For example, the Department of Homeland Security is "revenue-neutral," meaning that is pure reorganization and little or no new investment in security.
But for better or worse, we now have to deal with Iraq. To me, the key questions are: Are we doing everything we can to support first-responders? Are we doing anything to protect the security of the homeland other than declaring orange alerts? Can we do more to win the battle of ideas with fundamentalism? Where are the real hot spots of terrorism?