National Insecurity (11/8/2005)

Vice President Cheney’s ex-chief of staff and ex-national security advisor I. Lewis Libby Jr. has been indicted on five counts, including obstruction of justice and perjury.  By now, most people know the background of this case: White House officials sought to punish former ambassador Joseph Wilson for criticizing the Iraq war by disclosing that his wife, Valerie Wilson, was a CIA agent; they used pro-Bush columnists to leak the information; then they tried to cover up their actions.  Betrayal of the agent’s cover has damaged her and her contacts-- ironically, at a time when, more than ever, we need to gather better intelligence.  President Bush ran on the platform that Americans should trust him to keep us safe.  But this recent fiasco is only one of many White House policies and actions that have actually weakened our national security.  For example:

Bush used twisted intelligence--that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and was tied to the 9/11 attacks—to lead us into war.  Bush smugly announced in May 2003 “mission accomplished” in Iraq; but we now have 160,000 troops there, more than at any other time during the war. He tells us we are making progress, but the war drags on; Americans and innocent Iraqis are killed and wounded daily; terrorism has increased because of the war; and worldwide opinion of the U.S. continues to plummet.  Now Bush says we are fighting for an Iraqi democracy, but it appears the new Iraq constitution creates an Islamic theocracy.  Iraqis want us out of their country, the insurgency spreads, and the Middle East grows ever more dangerous.  Does that make you feel safe?

With our troops mired in a distant war, fewer forces are here for domestic security.  As billions of dollars flow into the war, we have less to help those in need at home.  Who can forget the failures of our so-called Homeland Security agency during the hurricanes?  Or of then FEMA director Michael Brown, who was more interested in eating at a fine restaurant in Baton Rouge and looking fashionable on television, than getting food, water and medical supplies to the thousands stranded and dying in New Orleans?  Or of Bush, telling us a day after Katrina struck that everybody was doing a great job and things were going well.  Does that make you feel safe?

Our federal deficit, the largest in history, lets foreign countries buy our debt.  China, one of the biggest holders of our IOUs, can call in the debt or leverage it to force concessions that may not be in our national interest.  Does that make you feel safe?

The number of uninsured Americans who need health care is increasing. They face bankruptcy as well as chronic, painful illness and death. Nearly half of all individual bankruptcies are due to medical bills.  And individuals confront a more difficult process than corporations do to emerge from bankruptcy.  Does that make you feel safe?

The oil companies are gouging huge profits, while we pay the highest gasoline and heating costs ever.  This winter some Americans will have to choose between heating and eating.  Some already must choose between medicine and food.  Does that make you feel safe?

Do our porous borders, the dismal followup on thousands of people with expired visas, the inadequate search of containers entering the country, and the lack of security at our chemical and nuclear plants scare you?  Or do you think you are safe because the Transportation Security Authority makes you take off your shoes at the airport?

Our country is in deep trouble.  Americans know it.  An October 25 CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll showed that Bush would lose the election if it were held this year. The White House seems more focused on building its political power than our national security.  Unless that changes soon, we will have national insecurity.

- Judith Kohler

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