Democrats Get a New Voice on National Security

[Rose Siding]

The National Security Network, aimed at gathering the best progressive ideas on national security and providing a counter to the firepower of conservative think tanks, will officially open for business in September. But in the wake of the plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners, top officials decided to weigh in early.

Rand Beers, president of the group, said in a statement that the attacks remind us that “the United States remains behind the curve on terrorism” and catching terrorist attacks at the last minute “should not be a point of pride, but a point of departure … More must be done to improve our homeland security.” Beers was senior foreign policy adviser to John Kerry’s 2004 campaign and a former National Security Council official.

Richard Clarke, a former White House counterterrorism official who is also associated with the group, said the plot “reminds us of the failure of the Bush administration to improve our homeland security, including aviation security.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2006/08/10/democrats-get-a-new-voice-on-national-security/

I also appreciated this powerful statement from the House Democratic Caucus Chairman, James Clyburn:

“I commend British authorities for their excellent work in intercepting a plot to take down U.S. and British airplanes en route from the U.K. to America. Today’s events make evident that al Qaeda still poses a grave threat to our airways and our way of life, and we must devote adequate attention and resources to fighting the war on terrorism.

“A similar plot, hatched by Ramsey Usef, to take down airplanes over the Pacific Ocean with liquid explosives was thwarted ten years ago. Our aviation system was attacked by al Qaeda five years ago on September 11. The 9/11 Commission recommended improving security screening to detect explosives at the checkpoint four years ago. And knowing of al Qadea’s affinity for repeating patterns like this, we have had ample reason to screen for these threats. It’s time for a new direction in homeland security which includes next generation technologies at our airport screening checkpoints that detect liquid explosives and plastic explosives.

“It’s also time to assess how much progress we’ve made in the war on terrorism. With resources diverted to an ongoing civil war in Iraq, Osama bin Laden still at large, a nuclear arms race in Iran and North Korea, the Taliban regaining strength in Afghanistan and escalating violence in the Middle East, are we safer than we were five years ago?”

http://www.housedemocrats.gov/news/librarydetail.cfm?library_content_id=847