Donald Rumsfeld: Memories of Pearl Harbor Day

I remember Dec. 7, 1941. Our family was at home in Illinois. Around midday, my mom, dad, sister and my grandmother and great-grandmother gathered in front of the old radio in our living room. I was nine, so I suspect I didn't really understand the news about Pearl Harbor. And yet I knew this much: Something important, something truly momentous, had happened to our lives, and to the lives of our friends and neighbors.

My father's generation learned from Pearl Harbor and built new postwar defenses like NATO, SAC (Strategic Air Command) and Norad (North American Aerospace Defense Command) -- and dozens of other acronyms. In doing so, they prevented nuclear attack and made the Cold War victory possible. President Bush believes that similar planning now can help prevent future events like Sept. 11. Preparing for "asymmetric threats" and "forward deterrence," pursuing "capabilities-based strategy" to defend the nation while defeating our adversaries -- these are the technical terms designating a transformation that the president believes can help assure our children a safe and free uture.

This is a good article but I want to point something out. Please do not think I am bashing President Bush. I am very proud of him, proud that he is the president, and proud that he has such a magnificant team that he can draw counsel from. The paragraph I pasted above stated that Secretary Rumsffield generation learned and that the president wants to make if nearly impossible for someone to attack the United States of America. He must learn then that the first big step in this direction is to close the borders. A five year ban on legal immigration until we have a system in place that can handle the load. Everyone - not just the mid east people but start with them first - but everyone with an expired visa must be immediately deported from this country. Use some part of our armed forces to patrol both the Canadian and the Mexican border. Until our borders are secure and until we have a sane and safe immigration policty, we will be in danger of something like 9/11 happening again.

I really like this guy! He's a straight thinker, has a clear grasp of what is happening and what to do about it, commands and gets respect just by his demeanor, has a sense of humor, is comfortable with himself and so much more!

He has taken his memories and the situation we found ourselves in, those so many years ago, (I remember them, too) and effectively tied them to events today.

God bless all those souls affected by 12/7/41, God bless those affected by 9/11/01, and God bless Donald Rumsfeld.

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