The Wisdom of Insecurity

The next time it could easily be a disease outbreak. Or a terrific earthquake on the Western coast. Or even, perhaps, a massive terrorist attack from an international network of extremists. Regardless of the specifics we can be certain that another disaster will befall the United States in the next number of years, and the collective federal might of the United States government will be called upon to respond.

The Apollo missions to the moon, the Berlin airlift, the World War II mobilization - even the Panama Canal debacle and the recent cleanup of southern Manhattan in the wake of 9/11; these episodes are a testimony to the logistical prowess we are capable of in our best moments. The are situations (often precipitated by disaster) when we got our collective act together and moved forward with startling ingenuity and resolve. We planned around the problem.

We're all shocked and distraught by the suffering in the South-central states, and it's easy to get distracted by blame exercises and pointless sidebar discussions about race, global warming, or any of the flavor-of-the day causes that animate political partisans. The fact is we have to act fast, act cleverly, and act in cooperation to mitigate the worst effects of this disaster before they case several waves of shock to out national well-being.

And we need a grim imagination, and a group of government officials who spend all day wargaming disaster response. Where in St. Louis would you house 10,000 anthrax victims? Where would be a staging area to deploy water in the even the supply was poisoned in Charlotte? Where can we get 300 helicopters if the roads are impassable around Phoenix? As soon as disaster strikes many of these plans will be overtaken by events, or will need adjustment - but we will have trained our agencies in the practical arts of readiness.

As you watch the news, are you pleased with the capabilities of our government today? Because it really could be you there in New Orleans or Mississippi, homeless, overtaken with hunger, and faced with the possibility of disease. Basic human compassion asks us to imagine us in their shoes. But wisdom and foresight demand that we recognize the need to act preventively, to be more prepared in the future.