Ripon Forum


Vol. 40, No. 4

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A Note from the Chairman Emeritus

Amidst all the despair and uncertainty that gripped the nation following September 11, 2001, there remained a feeling of resolve: resolve to fight terrorism; resolve to defend freedom; resolve to put the tragedy behind us and continue down the more than 200-year old path of democracy.

A Vigilant Nation

Five years after the attacks that changed our Nation, America remains on alert.

A Patient Enemy

On 9/11, American entered a war that the terrorists had already begun.

The Battle Abroad

Today, the greatest threat to our military does not come from armed forces, but, rather, from moral ones.

A Key to Our Security

America’s ability to field and deploy new technology is critical to the Long War.

A Challenge that Remains

Our Nation’s first responders still have trouble communicating among themselves.

Q&A with Clay Sell

The Deputy Secretary of Energy discusses the Bush Administration’s Global Nuclear Energy Partnership and how it will keep the Nation – and the world – more secure.

Stuck on September 10th

While the Congress acted promptly on Commission recommendations to restructure the Executive Branch, and while we have so far succeeded in preventing any further terrorist attacks in the United States, Congress has done little to reform itself.

The Super Solution to Government Dysfunction

Federal workers in particular need this kind of help, as well. Unfortunately, this is a fact too often ignored by Federal managers, who are restrained by a structure and system that was designed to meet the needs of the past century, not the current one.

Never Forget

The Pentagon Memorial broke ground on June 15th. This was a significant day — a day that marked the beginning of construction of the memorial and gave us a view of the finish line, which will be a ceremony to dedicate the completed memorial in the fall of 2008.

Reforming FEMA

It should be an independent agency with a direct line to the President.

Reforming FEMA

We should focus more on what it does than where it goes.

Ripon Profile of Bill Frist

“I am conservative. I believe the free enterprise system can do a better job at most things than the government can. People should learn to be self-reliant; when they are self reliant, they will have self-respect.”

The Backpage

Like Lincoln, President Bush leads a political party in which many candidates are trying to distance themselves from him as the fall elections draw near.

A Note from the Chairman Emeritus

Amidst all the despair and uncertainty that gripped the nation following September 11, 2001, there remained a feeling of resolve: resolve to fight terrorism; resolve to defend freedom; resolve to put the tragedy behind us and continue down the more than 200-year old path of democracy.

Five years later, America now finds itself engaged in what President Bush has called “The Long War.” There can be no doubt the war for America began the day we were attacked. But as Dr. Walid Phares argues in his essay, “The Patient Enemy,” the war actually began after the Cold War concluded, when Jihadi terrorists determined that U.S.-led democracy was now the enemy.

We take a look at America’s enemy in this issue of The Ripon Forum, but not before Homeland Security Chairman Peter King gives us an update on what’s being done to keep America more secure. In addition, the Pentagon’s future-warfare czar, Terry Pudas, takes a look at one of the main threats facing our military today, while Parney Albright, the Department of Homeland Security’s first-ever Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology, examines one area that is keeping us safer today. And James Gass discusses a challenge that remains in the effort to keep our Nation more secure.

In addition, two veteran lawmakers identify big organizational problems in both the Executive and Legislative branches. Former Senator and 9/11 Commission member Slade Gorton finds Congressional oversight wanting, while former Congressman Bob Walker demonstrates the need for Executive Branch reform. And Jim Laychak talks about the effort he is heading up to build a 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. Finally, Clay Sell, the Deputy Secretary for Energy, discusses the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership and how it will keep us, and the world, more secure.

We hope you enjoy this issue of The Ripon Forum and remember not only those who lost their lives on September 11, but also those who have given and continue to risk their lives in defense of our liberty today.

Bill Frenzel
Chairman Emeritus

Ripon Society