Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: A report made too late

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2001 | 8:32 a.m.

"Securing the National Homeland" was the report's section that first caught my attention. The open threats to our country had been spelled out in an even earlier report, which warned that "attacks against American citizens on American soil, possibly causing heavy causalities, are likely over the next quarter century. This is because both the technical means for such attacks, and the array of actors who might use such means, are proliferating despite the best efforts of American diplomacy."

The report also points out that our nation's physical borders are full of holes and that our "cyber borders" are even more porous. It adds that, "The United States is today very poorly organized to design and implement any comprehensive strategy to protect the homeland." It then goes on to lay out methods and organization changes to fix these shortcomings.

The report gives three essential instruments that must be improved and used to protect the homeland:

* U.S. diplomacy and adequate intelligence sharing with friendly nations and cooperation with their police agencies.

* The second instrument of homeland security consists of the U.S. diplomatic, intelligence and military presence overseas.

* Vigilant systems of border security and surveillance are a third instrument that can prevent those agents of attack who are not detected and stopped overseas from actually entering the United States.

The report recommends that a single person, accountable to the president, be responsible for coordinating and overseeing homeland security. The recommendation that this person head up an agency has not only been followed by the White House but has been given the full status of a Cabinet position.

Also, a recommended stronger role in homeland security to be given the National Guard is being followed by the president. Next he will be required to reorganize the relationship of several federal agencies and departments. The report says that the authors are skeptical that our present government organization "can respond effectively to the scale of and damage that may come upon us during the next quarter century."

As we turn inward to protect the homeland, the report reminds us that in addition to diplomatic and intelligence activities overseas, we can't overlook additional deterrence. It notes that:

"Preventing attacks on the American homeland also requires that the United States maintain long-range strike capabilities. The United States must bolster deterrence by making clear its determination to use military force in a preemptive fashion if necessary. Even the most hostile state sponsors of terrorism or terrorists themselves, will think twice about harming Americans and American allies and interests if they fear direct and severe U.S. attack after -- or before -- the fact. Such capabilities will strengthen deterrence even if they never have to be used."

It's a good report that all Americans should take time to read, and then we must ask our elected officials what they are doing to protect the homeland.