The True Threats To National Security
Alan E. Moses
June 21, 2009
As Republicans and Democrats argue over the many issues of Health Care, The stagnant Economy, Budget Deficits, and the many International hot spots such as Iran and North Korea. None have mentioned the fact that all are contributing factors to a weakened American National Security. Former V.P. Dick Cheney still claims that the main threat is Terrorism and ignores the decline in American economic might as a cause. This was the sector that was most impacted by his and the President Bush administrations mistaken venture into Iraq while the real threats went unchecked.
Iraq cost America not only billions of dollars but weakened our standing throughout the world. The acknowledged culprits of 911 Al-Qeada fell by the way side as the invasion and policing of Iraq somehow became the priority. Our economy ran off the road as nobody was at the wheel so to speak. Deficits soared to pay for this costly and ill advised nation building.
The backbone of our economy the automotive industry fell apart in record time as the banking system and Wall Street crumbled almost over night. The true cost of living soared as wages froze and job creation became near nonexistent. Health Care costs soared upwards as construction fell to new lows. Job loss coupled with home for-closures all created our current economic turmoil with no real answers as how to right the ship. The Bush Administration and most in congress just stood by claiming our only concern should be Terrorism.
Yet where were we to find these terrorists and how were we to shut them down. We began to rattle our swords and became bogged down in verbal confrontations with any nation that wouldn't follow our lead. Our political standing and therefore leverage declined drastically in many parts of the world.
Our manufacturing base moved to China as the Chinese used our system of need and greed to force us to rely on them financially. This is a twist of fate that should alarm all those that carry the Capitalist Democracy banner. Yet you only hear the man on the street mentioning this reliance on a Communist government. Our government seems eerily quiet on this National Security threat.
The Multinational Corporations that pushed us to buy buy buy made billions before reality began to hit. Oops, the buyers don't have the jobs that allow them to buy anymore. The Financial institutions allowed everyone to borrow more than they could afford to pay back. It was a simple rush to make a profit (greed) as quickly as possible that has knocked us down. The question is can we get up before its too late?
The Health Care situation has gotten out of control with everyone involved abusing the system and driving costs into outer space. There is no regulation to speak of and what there is has proven very unreliable. The Pharmaceutical Industry has become legal drug pushers as they advertise all over the Internet, on your televisions, at the ball park and even the racetrack. "Ask your doctor" is the way they sell you medicines to fix everything from weight loss to eliminating natural minstrel cycles. Advances or future problems? Only time will tell.
Iran and its turmoil within has slowed its ability to create problems elsewhere. Iraq seems to have begun to feather out its rough edges although there is still an underlying potential for future problems. Afghanistan is questionable at this point as we don't seem to really know what the situation there is. Pakistan has to be of concern as those in government and the military seem to play a chess game of who really has control of the Nuclear weapons that they already have. And the biggest problem on the international scene today is North Korea and its continuous threats against the United States. This is one of the poorest nations in the world and yet can cause us to flinch at every step.
We need to make some changes that are real and stop the bleeding. This is not our fathers America anymore. We no longer lead as we can only react to each situation as it comes forth. This forces us to jump from situation to situation never solving or fixing the root causes to the problem and only using temporary band aids that soon fall off due to neglect.
Iraq cost America not only billions of dollars but weakened our standing throughout the world. The acknowledged culprits of 911 Al-Qeada fell by the way side as the invasion and policing of Iraq somehow became the priority. Our economy ran off the road as nobody was at the wheel so to speak. Deficits soared to pay for this costly and ill advised nation building.
The backbone of our economy the automotive industry fell apart in record time as the banking system and Wall Street crumbled almost over night. The true cost of living soared as wages froze and job creation became near nonexistent. Health Care costs soared upwards as construction fell to new lows. Job loss coupled with home for-closures all created our current economic turmoil with no real answers as how to right the ship. The Bush Administration and most in congress just stood by claiming our only concern should be Terrorism.
Yet where were we to find these terrorists and how were we to shut them down. We began to rattle our swords and became bogged down in verbal confrontations with any nation that wouldn't follow our lead. Our political standing and therefore leverage declined drastically in many parts of the world.
Our manufacturing base moved to China as the Chinese used our system of need and greed to force us to rely on them financially. This is a twist of fate that should alarm all those that carry the Capitalist Democracy banner. Yet you only hear the man on the street mentioning this reliance on a Communist government. Our government seems eerily quiet on this National Security threat.
The Multinational Corporations that pushed us to buy buy buy made billions before reality began to hit. Oops, the buyers don't have the jobs that allow them to buy anymore. The Financial institutions allowed everyone to borrow more than they could afford to pay back. It was a simple rush to make a profit (greed) as quickly as possible that has knocked us down. The question is can we get up before its too late?
The Health Care situation has gotten out of control with everyone involved abusing the system and driving costs into outer space. There is no regulation to speak of and what there is has proven very unreliable. The Pharmaceutical Industry has become legal drug pushers as they advertise all over the Internet, on your televisions, at the ball park and even the racetrack. "Ask your doctor" is the way they sell you medicines to fix everything from weight loss to eliminating natural minstrel cycles. Advances or future problems? Only time will tell.
Iran and its turmoil within has slowed its ability to create problems elsewhere. Iraq seems to have begun to feather out its rough edges although there is still an underlying potential for future problems. Afghanistan is questionable at this point as we don't seem to really know what the situation there is. Pakistan has to be of concern as those in government and the military seem to play a chess game of who really has control of the Nuclear weapons that they already have. And the biggest problem on the international scene today is North Korea and its continuous threats against the United States. This is one of the poorest nations in the world and yet can cause us to flinch at every step.
We need to make some changes that are real and stop the bleeding. This is not our fathers America anymore. We no longer lead as we can only react to each situation as it comes forth. This forces us to jump from situation to situation never solving or fixing the root causes to the problem and only using temporary band aids that soon fall off due to neglect.
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