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PoliticsOL.com Editorial - Week of October 14, 2001
Protecting Washington, D.C.
Fleeing the White House with her husband shortly before it was torched by advancing British troops in 1813, First Lady Dolly Madison made sure to save a valuable portrait of the nation's first President -- George Washington.
During the Cold War, Presidents and Members of Congress lived with the notion that the nation's capital could be destroyed by Soviet submarine-launched nuclear missiles with perhaps 15 minutes warning, maybe just enough time to evacuate the President and top Congressional leaders to a secure underground shelter outside of the District of Columbia.
Today, however, the threat has been reduced to a few minutes or less. Our own commercial airplanes have become potential fuel-laden missiles, capable of striking not only the Pentagon, as was shown on September 11th, but the White House, Capitol and CIA headquarters -- all just seconds or minutes off major flight paths in and out of Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Just a few years ago, a small private plane struck the side of the White House, not far from where President Bill Clinton was at the time, causing little damage. It could have just as easily been packed with high-explosives. Yet, it was not shot down when it violated restricted airspace. Why not?
Since September 11th, a few elected officials have been calling for measures to either make the Washington D.C. area more secure or put contingencies into effect if such efforts fail.
Vice President Dick Cheney has called for keeping Pennsylvania Avenue permanently closed due to its proximately to the White House. A truck bomb blast could level the old mansion.
Sen. Max Cleland (D-GA) has proposed legislation to create a national visitors' center around the Capitol complex as a means to help enhance security.
Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) has proposed a Constitutional Amendment, allowing state governors to appoint Members of the House of Representatives for up to 90-day terms if 25% of them were killed or incapacitated. This is probably a good idea. You can't have representative democracy without representation and most governors have the already ability to appoint Senators when vacancies occur until special elections can be held. A similar amendment should probably have been passed during the Cold War years, but wasn't.
Extraordinary pressure was brought to reopen National Airport after the terrorist attacks, without allowing time to put proper security measures in place. Many Members of Congress argued we shouldn't keep the airport closed for a lengthy period, otherwise "the terrorists would win."
"Win" what?
Though terrorism does derive from the word 'terror', Osama bin Laden's goal isn't to close an airport or merely cause fear throughout the United States. His objective is to create a fundamentalist Islamic state, ruled similarly to the way the Taliban rules Afghanistan, from the Atlantic coast of Africa to the Tibetan plain. If fear helps achieve that objective by causing the West to withdrawl from the region and pull in towards itself, that is only a victory towards his overall goal. National Airport was re-opened quickly because of economics, to save a weak US Airways and allow lawmakers and lobbyists quick flights in and out of the capital.
Many Members in Congress and other government officials just don't get it. Perhaps some don't want to give additional fright to an already jittery public. But, the survivability of the President, Vice President, Members of Congress and other high-ranking government officials is essential to the continuance of our government.
Not taking proper precautionary steps simply because of national pride is irresponsible.
PoliticsOL.com reserves the right to shorten or to edit letters for clarity. Only signed letters will be considered for publication. (i.e., include name, city & state of residence)
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