Republicans and Their Threat to National Security

By Brigitte L. Nacos

On December 28, 2001, 6 days after the would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid tried to blow up a U.S.-bound American Airlines flight, President Bush mentioned the incident for the first time in passing during a press conference at his Texas ranch. This is all he said,

“The shoe bomber was a case in point, where the country has been on alert. A stewardess on an American Airlines flight—where the country has been on alert. A stewardess on an American Airlines flight—or a flight attendant on an American Airlines flight was vigilant, saw something amiss, and responded. It’s an indication that the culture of America has shifted to one of alertness. And I’m grateful for the flight attendant’s response, as I’m sure the passengers on that airplane. But we’ve got to be aware that there are still enemies to the country. And our Government is responding accordingly.”

There was no criticism whatsoever by Democrats as far as the delayed timing and lack of  substance in this short remark was concerned. Contrary to Republicans during the Clinton [and Carter] administration, leading Democrats renewed their unconditional support for President Bush that they had expressed immediately after the 9/11 attacks. The following exchange between host Tim Russert, Republican Senator Don Nickles, and Democratic Senator Tom Daschle during the Meet the Press program of December 30, 2001 attests to this:

MR. RUSSERT: Do you believe Republicans would have supported President Clinton as much as Democrats have supported President Bush on a war against terrorism?

SEN. NICKLES: You bet. All of us. You know, I remember the rhetoric--of course, I was in Oklahoma City when the president made a great speech. "We're not going to allow terrorism in the United States." And he was strongly supported in that. And you bet. After the World Trade Center, after the bombings on two U.S. embassies, killed 220-some people, you bet. There'd be very strong--but it takes leadership, and now we have strong leadership. I think it's a little overdue, but I think it's been a fantastic effort to date. We just need to accelerate and keep it up. It's going to be a long haul in this fight against terrorism.

SEN. DASCHLE: Tim, I would just say, look at some of the evidence after the attacks [in response to U.S. embassies in East Africa] that President Clinton instituted in the late 1990s. He was attacked. He was criticized for those. He was accused of doing things that had nothing to do with foreign policy as he was trying to respond. So there really wasn't the kind of Republican support for the president that I wish there would have been. But, again, it's not the issue. What the issue has to be is to look forward, to try to find ways with which to work together to build the coalition that is going to be required to be successful in the future.

Compare this to the reaction to President Obama’s first, lengthy, detailed response on December 28, 2009, 3 days after the would-be underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab that is worth reading for comparative purposes :

“Good morning, everybody.  I just want to take a few minutes to update the American people on the attempted terrorist attack that occurred on Christmas Day and the steps we're taking to ensure the safety and security of the country.

The investigation is ongoing and I spoke again this morning with Attorney General Eric Holder, the Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, and my Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan.  I asked them to keep -- continue monitoring the situation, to keep the American people and members of Congress informed.

Here's what we know so far.  On Christmas Day, Northwest Airlines Flight 253 was en route from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Detroit.  As the plane made its final approach to Detroit Metropolitan Airport, a passenger allegedly tried to ignite an explosive device on his body, setting off a fire.

Thanks to the quick and heroic actions of passengers and crew, the suspect was immediately subdued, the fire was put out, and the plane landed safely.  The suspect is now in custody and had been charged with attempting to destroy an aircraft.  And a full investigation has been launched into this attempted act of terrorism and we will not rest until we find all who were involved and hold them accountable.

This was a serious reminder of the dangers that we face and the nature of those who threaten our homeland.  Had the suspect succeeded in bringing down that plane it could have killed nearly 300 passengers and crew, innocent civilians preparing to celebrate the holidays with their families and friends.

The American people should be assured that we are doing everything in our power to keep you and your families safe and secure during this busy holiday season.  Since I was first notified of this incident I've ordered the following actions to be taken to protect the American people and to secure air travel.

First, I directed that we take immediate steps to ensure the safety of the traveling public.  We made sure that all flights still in the air were secure and could land safely.  We immediately enhanced screening and security procedures for all flights, domestic and international.  We added federal air marshals to flights entering and leaving the United States.  And we're working closely in this country -- federal, state and local law enforcement -- with our international partners.

Second, I've ordered two important reviews because it's absolutely critical that we learn from this incident and take the necessary measures to prevent future acts of terrorism.  The first review involves our watch list system, which our government has had in place for many years to identify known and suspected terrorists so that we can prevent their entry into the United States.

Apparently the suspect in the Christmas incident was in the system, but not on a watch list such as the so-called no-fly list.  So I've ordered a thorough review not only of how information related to the subject was handled, but of the overall watch list system and how it can be strengthened.

The second review will examine all screening policies, technologies and procedures related to air travel.  We need to determine just how the suspect was able to bring dangerous explosives aboard an aircraft and what additional steps we can take to thwart future attacks.

Third, I've directed my national security team to keep up the pressure on those who would attack our country.  We do not yet have all the answers about this latest attempt, but those who would slaughter innocent men, women and children must know that the United States will do more than simply strengthen our defenses -- we will continue to use every element of our national power to disrupt, to dismantle, and defeat the violent extremists who threaten us -- whether they are from Afghanistan or Pakistan, Yemen or Somalia, or anywhere where they are plotting attacks against the U.S. homeland.

Finally, the American people should remain vigilant, but also be confident.  Those plotting against us seek not only to undermine our security, but also the open society and the values that we cherish as Americans.  This incident, like several that have preceded it demonstrates that an alert and courageous citizenry are far more resilient than an isolated extremist.  As a nation we will do everything in our power to protect our country, as Americans we will never give in to fear or division, we will be guided by our hopes, our unity, and our deeply held values.  That's who we are as Americans.  And that's what our brave men and women in uniform are standing up for as they spend the holidays in harm's way, and we will continue to do everything that we can to keep America safe in the New Year and beyond.”

            Contrary to Democrats’ unwavering support for  President Bush and his administration after the foiled shoe bomber incident, Republicans sharpened their relentless attacks on President Barack Obama following the would-be underwear bombing with the same recklessness that former Vice President Richard Cheney launched immediately after Obama took office and has continued in concert with other members of his family. Two weeks after Obama took office, Cheney warned of a catastrophic biological or nuclear terrorist attack and said that “the Obama administration’s policies will make it more likely the attempt will succeed.” This became the refrain of the unrelenting attacks on Obama’s counterterrorism policy.

            During his appearance on “Meet the Press” on January 10, 2010, Michael Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, was asked by host David Gregory, “Is the Republican Party guilty of politicizing terrorism right now [in the wake of the shoe bomber incident]? Steel denied this categorically, exclaiming,“Oh, absolutely not. Oh my goodness, no.” And then he added, “Dick Cheney has it dead right. This administration has not put out a clear vision of how they're going to handle national security and what--were going to, were going to stop--close Gitmo, not done. We're surprised and amazed that the dots weren't connected on what happened on December 25th. The American people don't trust the direction this is going. If you can't call a thing what is, and that is terrorism, people wonder if you know what to do with it. And that's where we are right now, and it's not the place to be.”

By charging again and again that President Obama and his administration clueless or soft on terrorism—or both--and that their policies compromise the security of the homeland, Republicans act un-American: they invite leaders of Al Qaeda Central and like-minded terrorists to strike by telling them their attacks are likely to succeed because of Obama’s and the Democrats’ soft and risky counterterrorism policies.

                                                xxxx

While I wrote this blog, a guest appearance on ABC's This Week was used by Dick Cheney to once again go on the attack and repeat his outrageous charge that Obama is soft on terrorism and puts the lives of Americans at risk as Politico reports. I'll read the full transcript of the segment as well as that of Vice President Biden's appearance on NBC's Meet the Press as soon as they are available.