America’s trouble: A complacent island

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Thomas Good
  • 48th Fighter Wing Inspector General's office
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Pondering cause and effect a 17th century poet wrote, "No man is an island." 400 years later, this insight echoes as true for nations as for mankind. Terrorism has repeatedly pained America from outside its borders -- the "Panchos" in the 1910s, the "Kaddafis" in the 1980s, and presently, radical Islamists. Undoubtedly, the greatest threat to American sovereignty in the next twenty years remains terrorism. 

Today, seven years after 9-11, Americans have conveniently forgotten the effects and ignored the causes of terrorism. To survive, our nation must fight complacency and ignorance in the Global War on Terror. 

Complacency, accelerated by short-sightedness, lulls Americans into a false sense of security. The war on terror is foreign to most citizens. A September 2006 Pew research poll reported 45 percent of Americans view the optimal way to eliminate future terrorist attacks is to reduce overseas engagements. How wrong we are! Our isolation strategies of the 1910s, 80s, and early 2000s proves complacency encourages terrorism. 

Rather, General Michael Hayden, the Director of Central Intelligence, argued, "The fact that we have kept safe for pushing seven years now has got them [Americans] into the state of mind where 'safe' is normal...'safe' is hard-won every 24 hours." 

Admittedly, the body-count of soldiers piercing 4,000 and the annual 9-11 anniversaries represent two grave reminders of terrorism; however, these and the daily war reports are now third-page stories. As complacency grows, terrorism's frightful effects remain real and without concerns over causes. 

Our campaign as social liberators and sponsors of prosperity faltered in Iraq. De-Ba'athification impoverished thousands of Muslims; without hope, this embittered most and radicalized many. Similarly, America failed to comprehend the dilapidated Iraqi infrastructure and one year after toppling the regime, America remained unable to light Baghdad for six hours a day. Moreover, supplying our "Forward Operating Bases" overwhelmed highways, stifling trade and inflating the price of ice and groceries more than four times.

History demonstrates that if we do not act aggressively to secure our enemies and counter their causes, they will attack again. From Mexico to Libya, America has forgotten we must first do battle and then reach out to forge social and economic bonds. Although our cultures may remain distinct, an understanding of liberty and its enviable ties to prosperity can overcome the causes of terrorism - even radicals. 

Terrorism remains America's greatest threat and 'no nation an island' is the correct counter-concept. This adage educates our citizens that America is not alone; we must remain vigilant, learn from our mistakes, and advertise our liberties without threatening cultures. The ignorance of causes and complacency of effects troubles America's long-term survival.