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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

Crisis and Emergency Management

February 2005 Volume 8 - Number 1

Perspectives...

Bush’s Freedom Agenda Must Look Beyond the Tsunami

By Bridger McGaw

President Bush’s inaugural address would seem to breathe new life into America’s future contributions to the global community if he acts now while the world is focused on U.S. relief actions in Indonesia. Photos and news stories of the aftermath of the catastrophic devastation of the tsunami of 2004 continue to showcase the great work being done by our military and relief efforts continue unabated despite some controversy over the basing of U.S. Marines. But sadly news of this tragedy has begun moving off the front pages delegated to special interest pieces involving students raising money to give to the victims. Presidential action is needed now.

We should all applaud all the nations that have pledged aid to the affected region as well as be grateful that despite its initial pathetically ill-advised “stingy” response, the Bush Administration changed its reaction to the tragedy by sending the Marines, an aircraft carrier, and a pledge of $350 million dollars. But America is ignoring the plight of the developing nations more generally by missing broader opportunities to build good will to win what the 9/11 Commission called “the battle of ideas” against jihadist perversion of Islam.

The effectiveness of the response to the tsunami by governments, militaries, and non-governmental organizations is only now being evaluated and definitive recommendations will take some time to develop. The Washington Post reported that the relief effort “has brought food and medicine to most large population groups but continues to be hampered by insufficient coordination nearly a month after the tragedy.” In reality, coordination problems are not a new challenge. The capabilities and response needed for the tsunami-hit areas are similar to those required to respond to any other major disaster. Effective response comes down to leadership.

In his inaugural address, President Bush boldly asserted that America will stand with freedom-loving people everywhere, “Americans, at our best, value the life we see in one another and must always remember that even the unwanted have worth.” Setting out an effective policy that seeks to address the “unwanted” is a significant undertaking that requires national investment – but this engagement with far flung corners of the globe cannot be reserved for emergency response only.

Bush’s 2000 campaign promise and conservative belief against “nation-building” has given way to neo-conservative policies of preemption, invasion, and waging a global war on terror. With American forces now the tip of the spear against radical Islam, President Bush should ask Americans to sacrifice something for their country and way of life – perhaps by providing the personnel and funding within the government to appropriately support a “Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Force” within the Defense and State Departments with additional expertise being contributed from FEMA through the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.

It is a waste of time, political capital, and money to continue to debate whether U.S. military forces should be involved in reconstruction efforts in other countries or only deployed to “fight and win wars.” President Bush has clearly committed America’s military for the foreseeable future to spreading freedom – most recently as the Get-Out-The-Vote field workers and election monitors in Iraq. Congress needs to have an honest debate about the role of America and its possible contributions in the developing world. In order to win the war on terror, President Bush would be wise to lead a sustained commitment responding to challenges in the developing world with the generosity of the American spirit and the capabilities of our military forces. Time is of the essence.