http://www.alternet.org/audits/98766?page=entire
QUOTE
1.) "Islamofascism" is America's biggest national security threat.
Not hardly. It's on the short list -- but so are global pandemics, loose nukes, our dependence on foreign energy, the catastrophic effects of climate change, the U.S.'s vast and bloated national debt, and our growing helplessness at producing essential goods for ourselves.
2.) We're fighting them there so we don't have to fight them here.
False. The image here is that Iraq is some kind of roach hotel for global terrorism. The truth is, it's become the international finishing school where a new generation of terrorists is getting a front-line, real-time education against the American war machine -- and perfecting low-tech ways to close the gap against a high-tech army.
3.) Military solutions are the only effective national security solutions.
Wrong. Consider all the things military force can't do. Smart bombs won't stop global warming. Battlefield nukes won't cure pandemics. Air strikes won't reduce our reliance on foreign energy sources. Sending in the Marines is no way to reduce the national debt.
4.) But -- what we're doing is working! After all, we haven't had another 9/11.
True, we haven't -- but not for the reasons you think. Which leads us to another myth….
5.) Everybody knows that "law enforcement" approaches to terrorism don't work.
False. They do work. In fact, they're about the only thing that really does work. Every single terrorist plot that's been prevented since 9/11 -- both the serious ones, and the ones that were "more aspirational than operational" -- were prevented through good old-fashioned police and intelligence work.
6.) We don't need allies: we can do this on our own.
More fatal hubris. Thomas Jefferson duly noted the new nation's obligation to have "a decent respect" for "the opinions of mankind" in the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. It's considerably less true now that we are so dependent on so many for so much. Insisting that we can go it alone in this deeply interconnected world -- where our oil comes from the Saudis, our cars come from the Japanese, and our money and everything else comes from China -- is very much like a headstrong 14-year-old who insists that they don't need Mom and Dad for anything -- except maybe housing and food and an allowance and a ride to the mall.
7.) Negotiating with "irrational" dictators is pointless, and a sign of weakness.
Catastrophically dumb. If FDR could confer with Stalin and JFK could negotiate with Khrushchev and Nixon could go to China and sit down with Mao, there's no reason whatsoever our current president can't arrange a meeting with Ahmedinejad. Bush's refusal to do this is a sign of his essential smallness of character and the narrowness of his worldview. The problem with all ideologues is that once they decide that "you're with us or against us," then no further discussion -- let alone compromise -- with the other side is possible. That's a dangerous trait in a president, and one we should watch out carefully for in the future.
8.) Government spending on national security is different than pork-barrel spending on other programs.
Another myth busted. Homeland security has grown up to become one of the biggest pork barrels in American politics. Too many of these efforts aren't designed to provide objectively effective security.
9.) Airport security is a critical part of our anti-terrorism effort.
True, but [poorly executed by Republicans]. We're still not adequately inspecting air cargo, & crew members, frequent fliers, people with security clearances, and other "trusted travelers" to bypass inspection. Most of the safety gains since 9/11 come about through just two developments: hardening cockpit doors, and passengers who now know that they may have to fight back. "Everything else -- Secure Flight and Trusted Traveler included -- is security theater".
10.) It's always necessary to give up our civil liberties in a time of war.
WRONG. Everything else can go up in smoke; but as long as we hold onto those core beliefs, we will be able to survive the worst, and find everything we need within us to rebuild the world anew.
Not hardly. It's on the short list -- but so are global pandemics, loose nukes, our dependence on foreign energy, the catastrophic effects of climate change, the U.S.'s vast and bloated national debt, and our growing helplessness at producing essential goods for ourselves.
2.) We're fighting them there so we don't have to fight them here.
False. The image here is that Iraq is some kind of roach hotel for global terrorism. The truth is, it's become the international finishing school where a new generation of terrorists is getting a front-line, real-time education against the American war machine -- and perfecting low-tech ways to close the gap against a high-tech army.
3.) Military solutions are the only effective national security solutions.
Wrong. Consider all the things military force can't do. Smart bombs won't stop global warming. Battlefield nukes won't cure pandemics. Air strikes won't reduce our reliance on foreign energy sources. Sending in the Marines is no way to reduce the national debt.
4.) But -- what we're doing is working! After all, we haven't had another 9/11.
True, we haven't -- but not for the reasons you think. Which leads us to another myth….
5.) Everybody knows that "law enforcement" approaches to terrorism don't work.
False. They do work. In fact, they're about the only thing that really does work. Every single terrorist plot that's been prevented since 9/11 -- both the serious ones, and the ones that were "more aspirational than operational" -- were prevented through good old-fashioned police and intelligence work.
6.) We don't need allies: we can do this on our own.
More fatal hubris. Thomas Jefferson duly noted the new nation's obligation to have "a decent respect" for "the opinions of mankind" in the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. It's considerably less true now that we are so dependent on so many for so much. Insisting that we can go it alone in this deeply interconnected world -- where our oil comes from the Saudis, our cars come from the Japanese, and our money and everything else comes from China -- is very much like a headstrong 14-year-old who insists that they don't need Mom and Dad for anything -- except maybe housing and food and an allowance and a ride to the mall.
7.) Negotiating with "irrational" dictators is pointless, and a sign of weakness.
Catastrophically dumb. If FDR could confer with Stalin and JFK could negotiate with Khrushchev and Nixon could go to China and sit down with Mao, there's no reason whatsoever our current president can't arrange a meeting with Ahmedinejad. Bush's refusal to do this is a sign of his essential smallness of character and the narrowness of his worldview. The problem with all ideologues is that once they decide that "you're with us or against us," then no further discussion -- let alone compromise -- with the other side is possible. That's a dangerous trait in a president, and one we should watch out carefully for in the future.
8.) Government spending on national security is different than pork-barrel spending on other programs.
Another myth busted. Homeland security has grown up to become one of the biggest pork barrels in American politics. Too many of these efforts aren't designed to provide objectively effective security.
9.) Airport security is a critical part of our anti-terrorism effort.
True, but [poorly executed by Republicans]. We're still not adequately inspecting air cargo, & crew members, frequent fliers, people with security clearances, and other "trusted travelers" to bypass inspection. Most of the safety gains since 9/11 come about through just two developments: hardening cockpit doors, and passengers who now know that they may have to fight back. "Everything else -- Secure Flight and Trusted Traveler included -- is security theater".
10.) It's always necessary to give up our civil liberties in a time of war.
WRONG. Everything else can go up in smoke; but as long as we hold onto those core beliefs, we will be able to survive the worst, and find everything we need within us to rebuild the world anew.
More at the link...
The Tom Brokaw comment alone is enough to make your blood boil.
