Safer, But Not Safe

September 2006

By Roy J. Tanner
U.S. Senate Candidate (FL)

People in the know

refer to this as the
―new normal.‖ In
recent reports to
Congress, it’s been
determined that the
U.S. mainland is
now susceptible to
attack by terrorist
regimes through
use of weapons of
mass destruction.

That said, the Bush administration’s preemptive, post 9/11 posture has been
highly effective at thwarting new homeland attacks. This feat is even more
impressive when you consider the divisive, non-stop congressional infighting
over whether the U.S. should repel future terror strikes as a matter of law
enforcement or national security?

But when it comes to the former, apparently the only thing mankind has ever
learned from history is that – mankind has never learned from history. It seems
hope springs eternal within liberal Western cultures that the changing face of
tyranny can somehow be deterred via jurist prudence or appeased if the right
mix of diplomatic concessions are proffered. History though, begs to differ.
Empires - It’s fashionable to refer to this era of U.S. history as ―Pax Americana.‖
Citing striking similarities, historians have compared the American enterprise to
the former empires of Athens and Rome. Athens pursued security by installing
democratic governments in hostile Greek nation-states. And the Roman republic
established control of its empire’s spread through commerce and taxation. But if
American influence can be likened to an empire, surely it’s of benevolent intent.

Multi-front wars – Draw first blood or lay siege to U.S. strategic interests though,
and super-power justice will be prosecuted with dispatch. Attack two U.S. cities,
and we topple two rogue governments. However, the weary business of nation
building in Afghanistan and Iraq, or the anarchy we’d leave behind after retreat,
are sobering realities of having to ―carry the water‖ in defense of the free world.
But if forced to wage war on terror, surely it’s better to engage the fight abroad.

Tyranny – Consistent with history, the changing face of tyranny still looks to
vanquish liberty. It’s been suggested that World War II was about Nazis, using
Germany to impose the reign of the perfect race, the Aryan race; the Cold War was
about Marxists, using the Soviet Union to impose the reign of the perfect class, the
working class; and 9/11 heralded the era of religious totalitarians, Muslims
utilizing terror to impose the reign of the perfect faith, political Islam.

Proxies - President Bush has labeled terror’s advance as the ideological struggle
of the 21st century. With increasing effectiveness, Islamic Salafist and jihadist
movements have been attacking Western population centers for the last 30-years.
Moribund, virulent strains of Islam’s Sunni and Shia sects compete for terror
notoriety by way of spectacular assaults through miscreant organs like al-Qaeda,
Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad — to usher-in a caliphate or imamate reign.

Patrons - More troubling still are fascist nation-states that unleash these proxy
attacks on the West. While Russia and China appear content to battle U.S
dominance only for world markets, they’re actively aiding and abetting the
nuclear aspirations of the North Korean pariah and the terror masters in Iran.
Consequently, the existential threats to U.S. interests today are unprecedented.
Fortunately, the Bush doctrine treats terror and its sponsors as one and the same.

Secure the homeland – Clearly, the next chapter of our nation’s manifest destiny
requires we adopt a long view as it relates to protecting the mainland if we’re to
sustain the American experiment. And history suggests that security begins with
fortifying our borders and ports. While America remains a magnet for émigrés
worldwide, our existing immigration laws must also be strictly enforced.
Exhaust diplomacy – As history attests, the policy of ―peace through strength‖
offers a compelling argument. But in addition to carrying a ―big stick,‖ we must
continue to ―walk softly‖ by exhausting diplomatic initiatives first. Even if it
only exposes the excesses of tyranny and the impotence of the UN, multi-lateral
negotiations lend more credence to Western ideals than does unilateral power.

Defend Liberty – But where diplomacy fails to check the spread of tyranny or the
menace of terror, prosecuting a just war is imperative. That said, establishing a
reason for hope is what secures the promise of future peace. In 1775 there were
no democracies. Then came the American Revolution, which raised the number to
one. Now, some 230-years later there are 117, accounting for 61% of the world's
governments. Only governance by the governed ensures peace between nations.

According to historian Victor Davis Hanson, ―we are in one of the rare periods of
fundamental transformation in world history — as the U.S. pledges its blood and
treasure in a dangerous and daring attempt to bring the Middle East, kicking and
screaming, into the family of democratic nations and free societies.‖ And since
darker alternatives are unthinkable, we must summon the will to stay the course.

Because the lessons of history are clear, I challenge you to be steadfast in support
of our Commander in Chief. Send me to Washington and I’ll counter those who
prize expedience over duty, in the mission critical engagements that advance
global liberty. For additional information on securing peace through preemption
of existential threats, visit http://www.tannerforsenate.com/security.htm .

As the 911 Commission concluded, ―We are safer, but we’re not safe.‖ In the final
analysis, the security of the free world is a journey, not a destination.

Let’s walk together.