Don’t neglect homeland security
September 11, 2008| By Nathaniel Ward
Seven years after the brutal terrorist attacks, Heritage Foundation experts continue to advance common-sense ideas to keep America safe at home and overseas.
"The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks should remind both campaigns that the issue of homeland security cannot be ignored," Heritage's Jena Baker McNeill argues.
In an article coauthored with and David Heyman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Heritage national security expert James Carafano expresses a similar worry.
"Voters," they write, "have heard little about homeland security." And to the extent politicians discuss the problem, the solutions invariably focus on bureaucratic federal solutions—not on the state and local governments that are "the real strength and the front lines of prevention, protection, response and recovery."
Carafano and Heyman outline several recommendations for the candidates to devise an effective homeland security scheme, "one that not only thwarts terrorists, but respects constitutional liberties and promotes economic competitiveness."
In a separate analysis, Carafano reminds us to keep three things in mind as we consider next steps in the war on terror:
- Dealing with transnational terrorism takes time and patience. America must adapt to changing threats because of the nature of the enemy.
- Washington too often lets bad habits become standard operating procedure. Change comes slowly in the nation's capital, but it shouldn't be the reason our homeland security is jeopardized. Policymakers need to fix what's not working.
- Strategy is an essential part of the long war, and policymakers must consider the implications of their actions. Keeping America safe, free and prosperous requires a focused effort, attention and resources in pursuit of national objectives.
