Measuring how safe we are, in our homes, towns, and nationally is an imprecise science, but measuring the wrong thing is a sure failure. National security has been redefined as everything, climate, population, not enough “safe spaces,” gender neutrality, pronouns. It is none of that. It is about deterrence, readiness for war, real threats, internal and external. And … time runs short.
For my money, while making everything a national security threat seems appealing, weather to world migration, saving seals to how we “feel” – national security is more serious. To get real, we need to identify the top dozen issues that could end the Republic, and focus on them.
Of course, some issues are tied together, but still, the time for belly gazing and handwringing is over. Leaders must lead, grow up, build a consensus, protect our nation, and just get after it.
Another caution on national security: Avoid easy, abstract targets, the sort no one gets blamed for missing. Accountability matters, from border security to military readiness, internal security to infrastructure. If no one is on the hook, no one responsible, things slide. Do the hard stuff, first.
What is the hard stuff then? What are our top national security threats? Realistically, they flash read, and most of us know it: Military readiness, diplomatic engagement, no border security, infiltration of communities by foreign crime groups, cyberattacks on infrastructure (power grid, transportation, communication, food and medical), national debt, drug deaths, civic division, poor education, no government accountability, lost civil liberties, public corruption and abuse.
Other than those dozen abject failures, we are fine. So, seriously, we have gone for too long missing the big things. We are losing ground. We need to sober up, get back to basics, and secure things within and without – against threats kinetic, cyber, economic, ideological, and public.
How? Three steps: Assess, accept, and measure these threats. Build a consensus, using facts politicians cannot duck. Do the hard things to rebuild our national security, like it mattered.
If we can tightly focus on key issues, and forget the rest, all the weird, woke, hysterical, hypersensitive, self-oriented, supercilious, senselessly selfish stuff, we can and will restabilize. If we look away from this core threat – pretending national security does not matter – we will lose.
At home, we must restore predictability, normalcy, and confidence in the safety of our homes, children, schools, streets, government representatives, and constitutional order; abroad we must restore a sense that America is what we have always been, brave, undeterred, ready, a leader.
Historically, we understood what mattered, which was not “feelings,” divisive identities, imaginary genders, and pretending international evil was good and good evil. Nonsense was not coddled. Diplomacy was intelligent, forward-leaning, and not reactive but defined the world, and made it more stable. We were not defined by others’ definitions of public order; we defended our border.
Close to home, we wanted kids learning critical skills, and life skills, not political activism and moral depravity; we wanted a centered, patriotic, appreciative, well-informed teaching pool, populated by those who unabashedly loved America, the American Dream, upward mobility, our founding philosophy, history, and exceptional record of achievement. We knew to discourage defeatism, relativism, Marxism, alienation, drug use, and the like, and encourage bravery, leadership, and strength.
We understood the values – personal, national, fiscal, moral – of responsibility, values like honesty, ethical behavior, faith in a loving God, the idea that being offended is fine, as it always carries the chance of getting us closer to truth, permits self-correction, fosters reflection.
When these things slip at home, in families, schools, towns, cities, and civic venues – we lose a sense of personal and community security, start defaulting to distrust and doubt, and slide sideways.
Final point: These dozen top issues – real threats – are tied together. External threats rise with internal division, distraction, poor leadership, and stumbling. It is a one-for-one, with more internal friction, and more external vulnerability. Moral, economic, cultural, and material threats, including unaccountable, abusive national and state leadership, entice adversaries to strike.
So, what is the answer? As indicated above, we need to narrow our definition of national security to real threats, educate ourselves on how they undermine us, and then hit them all – hard.
Can it be done, in these highly divided times? Yes, we all need national security, something we must agree on because time is truly running short. As the philosopher, astronomer, diplomat, and author of The Canterbury Tales, Jeffery Chaucer, wrote: “Time and tide… wait for no man.”
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.
RBC, good article. Everything that you stated is important. The nation must once again be “proactive” rather than “reactive”.
What is the difference between illegals crossing the border dressed in civilian clothes and illegals in military uniforms? Either way it’s an invasion that needs to be addressed! In my opinion the allowing of thousands of military age men into the country, not knowing anything about them, is the biggest national security threat!!! It’s only a matter of time that we will have to deal with being attacked from within! Just because these illegals are not wearing military uniforms, they are here, just waiting for the phone call.
Maybe its neocon warmongering but if we’d kicked Iran’s butt decades ago, would Israel (and the world) be under threat from them today? If we’d not opened up trade with China, a self-avowed enemy of the west, would we need to bolster Australia, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan’s military as much today?
Excellent article that prioritizes national security above superfluous, “touchy-feely” nonsense that our cry-baby media has been spotlighting for way too long.
Thank goodness for a discussion, finally, that can fuel a positive difference in our national security.
Jeffery Chaucer ( author – The Canterbury Tales ) had it right – ” Time and tide …. wait for no man “. Ain’t that a genuine bit of wisdom ! As you stated wisely RBC. regarding getting back to basics, securing things within and without – by Assessing, accepting and measuring the threats to National security. No time or place for nonsense. The accountability for defending the Nation ‘s borders for just one example , the time element as well as dealing with anything that entices the adversaries to strike, .And having Faith in God, practicing Honesty and ethical behavior will build moral strength. The list of things that have been corrupted and have put the . Nation at risk , such as. Lack of government accountability, and public corruption — that can jeopardize Liberty . So to encourage good leadership, bravery, strength puts the right spirit forward ,on the right course, always keeping in mind the time factor regarding being prepared — that can be aided by remembering Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941 and the September 11, 2001 attacks. In. the spirit of. God bless America, land of the free and the home of the brave.. With a sense of determination to set things right and. encourage what is good right . Let Truth and Liberty prevail !
Looking for a very specific proactive list of ways/things every American can do to prepare family, community, state and country. Agree 110% that we have security issues and all need to get involved, just outline how.
All issues are valid, but I wish to talk about our Border issue. Does anyone know how Poland was invaded at the beginning of WW2. I had a old neighbor when I was about 10 years old who was Polish and lived through WW2 in Poland.
If you look in Google search your will, find this:
How was Poland invaded in WW2?
“Without a declaration of war, 1.5 million troops stormed Nazi Germany’s 1,750-mile border with Poland. They came from the north, south and west. They came by land, by air and by sea in a quest to regain territory lost by Germany in the Treaty of Versailles and colonize its neighbor.”
Poland was very proud of its National Citizen Registry (something like that). It registered every man, woman and child. The Registry told who had guns and itemized each weapon, what political side they were on, what religion they were, how much money they had, the jobs they did, all the official leaders, their families and where they lived.
Germany did it in less than one weekend. How? The town’s people noticed that there were a lot of skiers coming in by train on Friday night than usual. They usually came for a vacation, but with families. This time they were all young men. When the people when to sleep that night, the parachuters arrived. Some came in by sea. Where was the first place they went into in the cover of night?
To the National Citizen Registry, of course. That night the Official leaders, anyone politically against the Germans, Jews, etc. were processed and either died that night or tortured.
We have millions of undocumented aliens entering our country and some are from hostile countries. We are Poland, only we have given them years to build up their resources. Germany took Poland basically overnight. Sat and Sun were just cleaning up a few messes, like processes all the Jews, claiming all the artwork, etc.
If you did not know, Poland is the reason that we do not use our SS# as identification. My old neighbor said that gun registration killed a lot of the people in their beds. The Germans just killed them. Religious leaders were rounded up and killed that night. Kill off all the leaders and you have less rebellion. It worked then; it will work now. May God Bless America!
Charity begins at home. If we take care of ourselves, the rest of the world will know we are serious. Eisenhower knew this, as did Reagan. We cannot appease the world and stay safe. Time is running out.
Time for more people to: ????????????
Wake-Up & Due Something for the USA !!!
And stop (Sleep Walking)) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S.
Vote—Yes
The bad will cheat -But they can only cheat so: Much !
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Trump makes it sound like the majority of illegals are from countries that emptied their prisons and mental institutions & send them to USA. Is that really true, as I would think that the crime rate would be astronomical if +16 million of these people have crossed the border. If not true, is Trump spewing fake news. Would like to hear the truth on this matter. In reality, some undocumented criminals/terrorists crossed the border during Trump term and some are still entering today & I also worry about our Northern border.