What to do if America is attacked
December 3, 2008| By David Talbot
In the unlikely but possible event that a Mumbai-style assault were made on American soil, Heritage expert James Carafano offers a list of "do's and don'ts" for our leaders.
Though America has not seen a domestic attack in seven years, he explains, "it is unrealistic to believe that that all homeland security efforts will deny every attack every time."
What Not to Do
- Throw money at the problem. The problem is not lack of funds but misallocation of funds.
- Trade safety for civil liberties. "The debate over the balance between civil liberties and security warrants thoughtful debate, not knee-jerk histrionics."
- Blame America. "Nothing the United States has done justifies terrorist acts aimed against innocent people."
- Say the U.S. is on the wrong course. "In all wars there are advances and setbacks, victories and casualties: Every such incident is not a call for change in strategy."
What to Do
- Emphasize cooperation and information sharing. Federal, state, and local law enforcement must work together.
- Retain an integrated approach to homeland security. Relevant federal agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency "must remain an integral part of the Homeland Security Department."
- Maintain valuable terrorism-fighting tools. Tools established under legislation like the USA PATRIOT Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments of 2008 are key to thwarting attacks.
