Where's the leadership on national security?
June 11, 2009 | By Nathaniel Ward
"Once upon a time, Washington had many leaders who put national security before their politics," Heritage domestic policy expert James Carafano writes in the Washington Examiner.
Among these champions of a strong national defense was Henry "Scoop" Jackson. A Democratic Senator from Washington state, Jackson recognized and fiercely defended America's pivotal role in the world. He effectively articulated the need for a militarily strong democracy that was relentless in its stance against tyrants, despots and totalitarians. He was one of the earliest proponents of missile defense.
But these days, Carafano explains, such "visionary national security leadership has been scarce." And members of both parties are to blame.
» What do you think? Post your comments to the Examiner site
Few of our leaders are giving proper attention to a strong national defense. They're shirking their responsibility to provide for the common defense, and instead gutting defense spending to "pay for" lavish new spending.
Some leaders do understand the importance of a strong national defense. Addressing the Heritage Foundation last week, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney correctly noted that now is not the time to cut back on defense spending:
When I add up the demands of all these defense missions, I do not come up with budget cuts…Over the last few months, [Congress] has passed measures that will add almost $4 trillion to the national debt…None of that money was spent on increasing the defense modernization budget – a failure that history will never understand or excuse.
We are living in turbulent times, Carafano says, and such times call for "more clear-headed leadership on national security issues -- not less."
Is Romney picking up where "Scoop" Jackson left off? Are more politicians going to recognize the importance of protecting America? We need more like Jackson, who Carafano said "understood that the price of freedom is the willingness to defend it."
-- Amanda Reinecker
Help stop the EPA
The Obama administration has ruled that global warming poses a serious threat to public health and safety. This "endangerment finding" gives the Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate almost anything that emits carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases—from cars to power plants to apartment buildings.
Help us speak out against this harmful ruling. Last year, 14,461 people submitted a comment through The Heritage Foundation's website asking the EPA not to move forward with carbon dioxide regulations. We need your help again.
» Visit StopEPAAgain.com to voice your concern to the EPA about these regulations.
Other Heritage work of note
- "Conservatives should be wary" of proposals to boost new car sales by giving taxpayer money to those who trade in for more efficient models, Heritage Senate relations expert Brian Darling writes. The plan, which Darling dubs "cash for clunkers," will do little to bolster the auto industry. Instead, it is a "convoluted auto bail-out."
- Attorney General Eric Holder falls short of his promise to administer the law objectively and in a non-partisan manner as long as he continues to oversee a department guilty of "misinterpreting key voting rights laws for nakedly political reasons," Heritage legal scholar Hans von Spakovsky writes. The Department of Justice, the department tasked with upholding the rule of law, undermines it by dismissing and overlooking some of the most egregious cases of voter fraud and intimidation in the name of outdated and unjust components of the Voting Rights Act.
- President Obama cannot be considered a "totally profligate spender," Heritage Distinguished Fellow Ernest Istook argues. He has managed to drastically reduce spending in some areas, though half of all the President's cuts are in an area where spending is important: defense.
- Does public opinion really support big-government health care? Heritage's Mike Franc looks at the data and concludes that, if anything, the public is more opposed to such a plan today than it was in 1993, the last time the issue arose.
- In her weekly Washington Times column, Heritage senior fellow Rebecca Hagelin laments the popular mentality that "'Dad' seems to be the only person in modern society whom it is acceptable to belittle." As scientific studies consistently reveal, fatherless homes increase the likeliness of depression, poverty, school drop-outs and pregnancies among adolescents. Hagelin argues that we should address these adverse effects by working to "equip fathers to lead in spite of a culture that tells them not to."
In other news
- The American Medical Association has announced its opposition to any health care reform including a government insurance plan that would "compete" with private insurers. The liberal proposal currently on the table includes such a provision. "The introduction of a new public plan threatens to restrict patient choice by driving out private insurers, which currently provide coverage for nearly 70 percent of Americans," the organization said. Instead, they argued that insurance plans should be "provided through private markets, as they are currently."
- The federal government is "allowing" bailed-out financial firms to repay the debts they owe taxpayers if they so choose. The administration had previously denied requests to pay down these debts, even from financially sound banks, prompting speculation that the government sought to micromanage these companies.
- Chrysler and Fiat have finalized a deal to create a 'new' Chrysler, effective immediately. The government-brokered agreement came two days after the Supreme Court temporarily delayed the sale.
- Pyongyang has issued another threat, warning of nuclear retaliation should the communist nation be punished internationally for its recent behavior.
- The top United Nations environmental official has called for a global ban on plastic bags.
- "It's already failed," argues former Speaker Newt Gingrich about the President's tax-and-spend approach to the economy.
- Despite Republican requests for a later date, the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonya Sotomayor are set to begin July 13. President Obama is pushing for a vote before Congress' August recess. Conservatives fear this will rush the delicate "advice and consent" process called for in the Constitution.
- A proposal to establish "compassion centers," or non-profit stores that sell medical marijuana, passed in the Rhode Island state Senate by a vote of 30-2 and now goes to the governor for approval.
Coming up at Heritage
To attend these or any other events at Heritage please RSVP at Heritage's website. Or you can view these events live online. All times are Eastern.
- On Wednesday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m., a panel of experts discusses how America can respond to current and future threats to national security.
Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation. Amanda Reinecker contributed to this report.
