The Security Czar
by Mary Pitt
The much-lauded ''independent commission on terrorism'' has finally come to an end and, based upon their judgement of
the information that they gathered, have come forth with ideas regarding ''ways to prevent future attacks''. First and
foremost of these recommendations is that our nation is in desperate need of a "security czar", one person to whom all
the "chimneys" lead, who will recieve all the reports from and be responsible for the efficiency and utility of every
department of the government having to do with national security. Based upon the discoveries and recommendations
regarding these several departments. this "czar" is to recommend to the President and the Congress, when asked, what
steps could and should be taken in order to safeguard the lives of our citizens and the security and treasure of the
United States of America.
In order to implement this grandiose plan it will, incidentally, be necessary to build a huge "security complex" to
contain all these various departments. Gone will be the J.Edgar Hoover building, home of the FBI and the impressive
complex which is now the home of the CIA would become "surplus propety" to be sold to the highest bidder or used to
house some of the many rapidly-expanding departments of government of which the Bush administration is so fond. Instead,
the American taxpayer will be required to dig ever more deeply into the ballooning deficit to pay for another huge
boondoggle by an administration that has no qualms about mortgaging the future of the nation.
President Bush has been quick to jump into the breach and announce his own plan for just such a "czar" but his plan
would include only some of the recommendations. He wants the power to fire this "czar" in order to maintain toal control
over him/her; he wants the "czar" to have no budgetary control, preferring to keep this prerogative to himself, and he
wants the reins of decision to remain in his own hands as the "supreme commander" of the actions and the behavior of all
sections of the government.
Just what duties he does envision for the holder of this position is, as yet, unclear. Does he plan to put him,
initially, in charge of one department and then, gradually, absorb the other agencies under the umbrella or is it his
task to merely re-assess all the information that has been gathered and assessed by the several departments? Will he be
responsible for the recently-disclosed misfeasance and malfeasance that has been alleged in the interpretations division
of the FBI/CIA? Will this person have the authority to hire and fire within the departments in order to maintain
efficiency and accuracy? Will he be able to end the nepotism and favoritism that has recently come to light? Will he be
able to say, "Shove it!", in response to an "Office of Special Plans" who may be sent by the office of the
Vice-President or the Secretary of Defense? Or will it just be another "honorarium" such as the Secretary of Homeland
Security?
But, wait! This concept of having one person to whom all law enforcement and security departments of the government
report in detail of the state of the security and needs of the nation does ring a distant bell. It seems that, at some
point in our history, we had such a person! This person received daily briefings from the head of the CIA and the FBI as
well as periodic reports from the Departments of Interior, from Health and Environment, and even chats now and then with
the Surgeon General regarding such health issues as immunizations and poverty. This man collected all the data,
considered it in depth, and made decisions as to the best course to take in the interests of the American people Based
on this collection of information he set priorities and suggested to Congress the steps he suggested that we take to
cope with problems.While it may not be long in calendar years, with all the things that have happened in recent times,
it seems forever. But if we strain our memories, we could remember such a person, who considered all this information in
a studied manner and, with the welfare of the nation in mind, made serious, wise, and well-thought proposals for
legislation to implement the safety and continuation of the Union.
Now I remember! We called him the President!
Mary Pitt is a septuagenarian Kansan who is self-employed and active in the political arena. Having three generations
of descendants, she feels obligated to leave them with the same rights and freedoms which she has so enjoyed.
ENDS