By Matt Hurley for the TIB Network:
Source:
Fascinating stuff from Kerry/Edwards today.Destroy and Disrupt Terrorist Networks. John Kerry and John Edwards will use direct military action when necessary to disrupt and destroy terrorist networks. Under John Kerry's leadership, American military operations will be precise and deadly. Kerry and Edwards will cut off the flow of terrorist funds by strengthening our anti-money laundering laws and imposing tough financial sanctions against nations or banks that fail to act against money laundering. And they will shut out of the U.S. financial system any nations that fail to respond.This sounds a bit like Kerry/Edwards is back to calling the War on Terror a law enforcement issue. Don't get me wrong, eliminating the financial network is a big part of winning this war but mentioning the legal strategy in the same paragraph with the military option is not a good sign. Destroy and Disrupt is a good idea, but I think the American people deserve a bit more substance than a fancy slogan and a soundbite.
Keep WMD Out of Terrorist Hands. John Kerry and John Edwards will launch a new initiative to prevent the world's deadliest weapons from falling into the world's most dangerous hands. They have a plan to secure vulnerable bomb-making materials, prevent the production of new materials for nuclear weapons, and work to end nuclear weapons programs in hostile states like North Korea and Iran.A new initiative? Well, let's hear it! Who has signed on to it? What is it all about? Who is going to pay for it? How are Kerry/Edwards going to secure bomb-making materials? How are they going to prevent the production of new nukes? And what kind of work are they talking about when it comes to ending the nuke programs in North Korea and Iran? These statements end up asking more questions than they answer...
Prevent New Terrorist Havens. John Kerry and John Edwards will work with our allies and the international community to stabilize and secure Iraq and Afghanistan to ensure that these newly freed nations and other weak states around the world do not become havens for terrorists.Kerry/Edwards will bow to the United Nations, France, Germany, and Russia. But especially the UN and France. Kerry/Edwards is under the false impression that the UN has a successful peacekeeping record. They do not. And France is not interested in doing anything that involves the United States. France won't even support sanctions against Sudan while a genocide is going on because the US supports it.
Prevent Recruitment of New Terrorists. John Kerry and John Edwards will work to win the war of ideas and the future of a young generation with a strategy to break down economic and cultural isolation in Arab and Muslim countries and support local efforts to promote democracy, trade, tolerance, and respect for human rights. The strategy includes a major initiative in public diplomacy and an international effort to improve education.This is just laughable. Kerry/Edwards thinks a handout will make the terrorists go away. How typically uber-liberal. This isn't about cash or schooling; they want us DEAD.
Maybe Kerry/Edwards can impress me with their ideas to transform the military and intelligence services to meet today's threats:
Transform the Military. John Kerry and John Edwards will transform the world's most powerful military to better address the modern threats of terrorism and nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, while ensuring that we have enough properly trained and equipped troops to meet our strategic and regional missions. To accomplish this, they will: (1) expand our active duty forces by 40,000 soldiers, (2) double America's Special Forces capability and increase other specialized personnel, (3) complete the process of technological transformation, and (4) redirect the National Guard for homeland security.I'm actually impressed with these ideas. (1) I'm not real sure that we need an additional 40,000 soldiers, but I'll leave that to the milbloggers to sort out. I'd like to know how he plans to pay for it though. (2) I do think our Special Forces capabilities could use reenforcement. I'd be curious to know just what exactly he is proposing. And how he plans to pay for it. (3) "Technological transformation" kind of sounds like new weapons programs. Kind of like the ones John Kerry has spent most of his Senate career voting down... (4) I fully support redirecting the National Guard to Homeland Security functions provided we have sufficient force projection throughout all theatres of operation. The only we Kerry/Edwards could do this is if they got the 40,000 mentioned earlier. Question: what sort of mission would the National Guard have in homeland security? Border patrol? Immigration enforcement? Don't we have these missions covered by other agencies? Do we really want the military taking these functions over? Who pays for it all?
Reform National Intelligence Services. John Kerry and John Edwards will reform our intelligence services so we can get the critical information we need to defeat the terrorists and prevent another attack. They will create a cabinet-level Director of National Intelligence to strengthen the leadership and accountability of our intelligence community. They will reorganize the community into issue-oriented task forces based on the threats we face to maximize coordination and integration and ensure that all available resources are brought to bear on the most pressing threats. John Kerry and John Edwards will ensure we have more people with the right training and resources on the ground around the world, including by more than doubling the number of personnel on our clandestine services, so that we are getting the intelligence we need to win the war on terror. And to ensure that we are fully prepared to conduct vital counter-terrorism operations at home, they will make certain that a fully separate professional track for domestic intelligence is created within the FBI.The Acting Director of the CIA says we do not need a cabinet-level intelligence position. He seems to think that would add an unneccessary layer of beauracracy. I'm not real sure that I agree with him, but I'd like to hear more about why Kerry/Edwards would disagree with an intelligence professional. (I'm sure they'll cite the 9/11 Commission...and I'm not real sure I agree with them either.) "Increasing the personnel" sure doesn't sound like trying to eliminate the CIA that Kerry's Senate record reflects. Why the change of heart? "Domestic intelligence within the FBI"...but what about Gorelick's Wall and the legal ramifications of a law enforcement agency engaging in intelligence operations? And how are they going to pay for it?
How about homeland security?
Better Coordinate and Integrate with Local Law Enforcement. To better coordinate with local law enforcement, John Kerry and John Edwards will establish 24-hour operations centers in every state to give law enforcement personnel immediate access to watch lists and other intelligence from federal databases, and break down the bureaucratic barriers that prevent vital information- sharing -- including granting security clearances to local officials where appropriate. They will ensure that we have a single integrated and effective federal watch list that is readily accessible all across the country so that the intelligence we need to protect our homeland never again slips through the cracks.Wouldn't it be easier to have access to watch lists and whatnot via the Intenet? Information could be continuously updated and maintained centrally. I could be mistaken, but don't we already do this? And again, Kerry/Edwards doesn't tell us how they are going to pay for all these centers and personnel, but wishes will keep us safe...or so they'd have us believe.
Improve Border Security. John Kerry and John Edwards will improve security at our borders, seaports, and airports. They will improve the detection equipment in our shipping systems, ensure that private companies obtain adequate information about items they are shipping, and work with other nations to increase inspections of seaborne cargo. Kerry and Edwards will adopt tighter controls on air cargo, increase perimeter inspections at airports at home and abroad, work with our neighbors to strengthen border controls, and use better technology and more personnel to improve inspections while speeding up commerce.It's great that they are thinking along these lines, but who isn't? Tell us how you are going to do it and how you are going to pay for it. Otherwise, you're not telling us we need to know. What about immigration policy? Will Kerry/Edwards make any changes there?
Harden Targets: John Kerry and John Edwards will launch a major effort to harden our critical infrastructure and most vulnerable targets - from chemical and nuclear plants to rails, tunnels and key cyber networks. Kerry and Edwards will require new security standards at chemical plants, including more guards, better fencing, and use of less dangerous chemicals where possible. They will improve railroad and subway security by providing biological and chemical agent detectors.Same questions. This stuff is rather vague and there isn't any indication of how Kerry/Edwards would pay for all of this.
Domestic Readiness: John Kerry and John Edwards will make sure first-responders have the training and equipment to respond to any attack with all the speed, skill, and strength required. A Kerry Edwards administration will modernize our emergency warning system to provide localized warnings and provide assistance to police and fire departments to end severe and growing shortages in manpower, training, and equipment. And they will ensure that complying with the requirements of our national alert system does not impose an unfair financial burden on state and local authorities. They will protect America against bioterrorism by putting one person in charge of the national response strategy, working with state and local leaders to increase local preparedness, revitalizing our public health system, and encouraging anti-bioterrorism research.Okay. This is starting to get a bit annoying. Can't this campaign tell us anything about the funding for these projects? Words are nice, but if there isn't a plan to pay for this stuff, the only reason to talk about it is to mislead the American people in to thinking that Kerry/Edwards will be able to accomplish something they can't deliver.
Guarding Liberty: John Kerry and John Edwards understand that terrorists do not just target our lives; they target our way of life. A Kerry Edwards administration will be on constant guard not to sacrifice the freedom we are fighting to protect. They will strengthen some portions of the Patriot Act, like the restrictions on money laundering, but change the portions of the Patriot Act that threaten individual rights, such as the library provisions. A Kerry Edwards administration will believe in an America where freedom is what we fight for - not what we give up.The Patriot Act has NOT been abused. There is judicial review built in. If knowing what a potential terrorist checked out at the library will help catch this guy before he acts, then I'm all for it. If Kerry/Edwards isn't...well, I think that speaks for itself doesn't it?
