Maritime and National Security Blog

Happy Birthday Chiefs - 2011

When a group of individuals bound by trust, tradition, heritage and unselfish service celebrates over a century of that service they must do two things.  First and foremost they must celebrate.  Then they must also look inward in order to look ahead.

First, celebrate.  All who know you wish a Happy Birthday to each and every Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy, wherever you are serving today.   The title of Chief Petty Officer will remain eternally connected to that day in 1893.  The Chief Petty Officer rank will also carry the happy burden of all those intervening years.  It is up to those currently wearing the Anchor to maintain and grow the CPO community ahead of where the Navy needs you.  You are leaders after all.  It is also incumbent on those who wore the Anchor to stand by to provide the ready store of knowledge and experience for those in uniform.

Secondly examine.  Are you better as Chiefs, individually and as a community today than you were a year, two or five years ago?  Have you lost or gained ground as a leadership group?  Are you setting the standard or complying with one set for you?  Is your experience and leadership put to work and respected or do people work around you?  Are you well served by those senior enlisted above you?  Have you identified the problems the Navy has now and may have later?  Are you working as a group to get ahead of those problems?  Is each and every Chief living the tradition, heritage and principles that define the CPO?

The Chiefs Community has many traditions, and a substantial heritage. For example, Chiefs traditionally do not stand still and let the Navy pass them by, Chiefs lead.  That leadership is not bound by the confines of the ship, sub, squadron, staff or team, but is bound only by what makes the Navy a better fighting force. Tradition is a fine thing, but the Navy needs CPO leadership, tempered and guided by that tradition not restrained by it.

 Happy Birthday!!

Still Defining National Security

Defining National Security is an important first step in forming a strategy to actually secure a nation.  The elements contained in most definitions refer to survival and safety of a nation and the protection and well being of its citizens.  The country must use various means to accomplish this secure national condition from threats that are overt or covert and originate from within or from without. Therefore a succinct definition might sound something like the following one.

National Security is both a condition secured by national action and a country’s ability to act to protect its national identity and independence from overt or covert attack by any nation or group whether domestic or international through the use of appropriate hard and soft power.

It is important to include elements other than strictly military action; this is accomplished by adding soft power (economic aid, diplomacy, etc.).  It is also important to establish that National Security is both a condition and an action.  Including both independence as a nation and the identity of that nation goes more completely to securing a wide range of conditions that may be important to any country’s citizens.

Independence certainly includes the safety and well being of citizens from foreign or domestic tyranny, but the inclusion of national identity also includes the values inherent in that nation.

There was a lot missing in the other definitions of the term National Security.  It certainly is more than just keeping enemies at bay.  National Security must account for keeping the nation true to its founding or rebirth as would apply to formerly colonial nations.

This blog and how it comments on National Security depends on a complete definition and the above one may just fit the bill.  Your comments are invited.

 

The Problem with Defining National Security

The definition of National Security is most often associated with military or diplomatic action performed outside the United States. The problem is this definition does not account for every possible threat and may elevate problems that are not threats or may ignore problems that are threats.

According to Joseph J. Romm in the book “Defining National Security”, the term national security was little used until after World War II.  He states a possible origin from Defense Secretary Forrestal’s testimony before a Senate Hearing in August 1945.  In this context the Secretary used security in place of defense, though he intended a wider definition.  The military nature of this term remains as the foremost aspect of any definition.  Therefore, the ability to keep foreign enemies at bay and preferably by action well away from U. S. shores generally characterizes most definitions, as you will note.

WordIQ:  National security is the measures taken by a state to ensure its survival and safety. National Security includes the deterrence of attack, from within and without, as well as the protection and well being of citizens.

Free Dictionary.com:  A collective term encompassing both national defense and foreign relations of the United States. Specifically, the condition provided by: a. a military or defense advantage over any foreign nation or group of nations; b. a favorable foreign relations position; or c. a defense posture capable of successfully resisting hostile or destructive action from within or without, overt or covert.

Wikipedia:  National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the nation-state through the use of economic, military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy.

Encarta:  Protection of (a) nation from danger: the protection of a nation from attack or other danger by maintaining adequate armed forces and guarding state secrets.

There is a lot missing in the working definition of this term from a number of sources, the above sampling demonstrates the overwhelming military slant.  National Security is more than just keeping enemies at bay.  National Security must certainly account for keeping the nation true to its founding, the values and welfare of its citizens and its economic prosperity.  To properly secure the nation, it is important to understand what that means and act accordingly.  This blog and how it comments on National Security depends on a complete definition.  More to follow and your comments are invited.

Navy Birthday 2010

Greatness is not a hollow accolade when applied to the men and women of the United States Navy, now or in the past 235 years.  A fledgling nation needed a Navy, a reluctant but pragmatic government provided one.  When the job of the Navy was done, that same government disbanded it, distrustful of military force.

A nation that relies on the sea must likewise rely on Sailors to protect the nation’s seagoing capability.  It was not long before President John Adams realized that the United States would need its “wooden walls” to protect commerce and those who ply their trade upon the sea.

Since that time we have not been without the Navy. Today the men and women of the Navy not only protect the sea-lanes, but also provide support to nations in crisis.  Our Sailors serve and sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Our Sailors serve ashore in numerous places around the world probably little realizing how much this nation needs them, depends on them and treasures them.  It remains a fervent hope that the our citizens recognize this need, appreciate the dependence and value the treasure they have in the service of a United States Navy Sailor.

Happy Two-Hundred and Thirty-Fifth Birthday

 

Hezbollah in the United States

Hezbollah is setting up shop in the United States according to a recent news article.  A congresswoman from North Carolina has also sent a letter the DHS Secretary Napolitano asking for a Task Force to investigate this issue.  The real sticking point it seems is where Hezbollah is entering the U.S. – from Mexico and allegedly in concert with Mexican Drug gangs.

 

Foreign agents entering the nation illegally and setting up an operation is nothing new to this country.  It is now only a few days since 10 sleeper agents for Russia were returned to that country after having been rolled up by the FBI after a decades long operation.  The nation is also not unfamiliar with sabotage.  This may be another tactic to heat up the immigration debate and if so, it is poorly chosen.

 

As a matter of policy we should take a more aggressive role in defending our borders, but no security professional would ever guarantee that we will ever be 100% secure.  What we must take seriously is the possible infiltration of extremists – no matter where they enter the country.  Certainly tightening the Southern border is a good thing, but professionals will gain entry.  The nation must continue to ensure it has a security protocol that is defensive, offensive and presents a layered approach since no single filter will stop the extremist contagion. This will necessarily involve every citizen.

 

It is important therefore to detach extremist activity from immigration law debates.  It is also important to understand if there is any relationship between Mexican drug gangs and Islamic extremists.  It would not be a good combination in any case.

 

Islamic extremist desire to bring chaos to the United States in the form of spectacular terror attacks likely timed and geographically dispersed at some point, with some single incidents in the short term.  As they gain experience, more dedicated people and better local intelligence their actions will increase in lethality.  We have been the subject of spies from friends and enemies, saboteurs during wartime and extremist violence in this century.  WE must work against their plans in every way possible and not be distracted by politics.

 

 

Hezbollah in America

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,244002,00.html

 

Nazi Spies in the United States

http://www.americainwwii.com/stories/nazispiescomeashore.html

 

Nazi Saboteurs in the United States

http://www.fbi.gov/libref/historic/famcases/nazi/nazi.htm

 

Chinese Spying

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Commentary/2005/05/Legion-of-Amateurs-How-China-Spies