Jim Ramstad: Above the political fray Homeland security must be an all-out, bipartisan effort

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | August 7, 2004 | Jim Ramstad

[rhema]

Rep. Martin Sabo's partisan attack piece ("GOP hypocrisy on homeland security," Aug. 1) is disappointing and counterproductive to improving homeland security.

As the 9/11 commission report reveals, our security vulnerabilities and intelligence community shortcomings are much too serious for "politics-as-usual." To charge the administration with "double-talk" and "hypocrisy" unfortunately politicizes government's most critical function.

Congress and the president need to act expeditiously on the commission's recommendations in a bipartisan, pragmatic and common-sense way to fix homeland security deficiencies and strengthen intelligence capabilities.

We know Al-Qaida plans to attack us again soon, and time is not on our side. It's imperative we immediately strengthen the security of our borders, seaports, rail lines, airplane cargo, and chemical and nuclear plants.

< snip >

The 9/11 commission concludes, "We are safer now than before September 11, but we are not safe." And we will never be "safe" until members of Congress put forth an all-out, bipartisan effort to strengthen the security of our homeland.

The American people deserve nothing less!

Jim Ramstad, a Republican, represents Minnesota's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

[TomGuy]

And we will never be "safe" until members of Congress put forth an all-out, bipartisan effort to strengthen the security of our homeland.

Nice sentiments, but it won't happen---not until another big attack kills thousands of Americans on American soil. Regrettably, only if the attack is 'big enough' or smaller attacks are numerous enough to elicit absolute rage in the majority of Americans, to the point of striking fear--making the elected more afraid of the American populace than al-Qaeda -- will the bipartisanship be shelved for a while.

Politicians in Washington have been playing politics with terrorism for 20+ years. They knew al-Qaeda was a threat a decade ago. They did little about it. They knew Saddam Hussein was a threat. They did little about it. They knew Hamas was a threat. They did little about it. On and on and on. Politicians deal in whatever is expedient for their personal gain today. Not tomorrow. Not yesterday. Today.

We marvel at John Kerry's uncanny ability to flipflop and show up on every side of nearly every issue. Sadly, he is expert at it, but most other politicans are adept at the practice, as well--some much better than others.

Politicians don't deal in problem solving; rather, they deal in political expediency.

[Valin]

Jim Ramstad = RINO

[carriepultz]

Real security of our homeland SHOULD involve the entire country.

There are two problems. One, half the country doesn't want the America I grew up with to survive. Two, a high percentage of those charged with homeland security are incompetent and have higher priority agendas.