As Threats to Our Nation Increase, There are Fewer Heroes Available to Protect Us
Seems we've forgotten 9/11
Do you remember what happened directly after the Twin Tower attacks 21 years ago? We stood as united Americans (most of us did, anyway) as a deep sense of patriotism poured from our veins.
And we vowed to Never Forget. It’s a phrase that continues to surface this time of year, yet it seems to have lost its meaning.
We’ve since added security safeguards at airports and other venues, and have law enforcement agencies effectively working to thwart future terror attacks.
Yet is it enough?
Threats to our nation now originate from a growing number of sources and have intensified in recent years. And at the precise moment we’ve become more vulnerable, the barriers that protect us have been severely weakened.
Some of the Biggest Threats We Face
The attacks on our country are multi-faceted and have the power to destroy us.
In brief:
Crime Surges
Crime has not only increased, but may actually be worse than is being reported. Perpetrators have been emboldened, most notably by the demoralization and neutering of law enforcement; and the decriminalization of crime via measures like bail reform.
New York City is a prime example of how bail reform legislation has disrupted our way of life, as Jim Quinn of the Manhattan Institute recently explained:
“For 27 years, from 1993 to early 2020, under the “old” bail laws and the “broken” criminal justice system, index crime in New York City steadily declined by nearly 76%. In just two years of the new bail laws and other progressive reforms, index crimes in New York City rose 36.6%. There are many reasons for the rise in crime, but as the analysis below will demonstrate, it is not coincidental that the sudden, massive increase in city crime came at precisely the same time as the release of 2,000 career criminals from city jails.”
Insecure Borders
Border Patrol agents are on pace to arrest two million migrants (originating from 150 countries) on our southern border by the end of this September. These numbers dwarf those of previous years.
Criminal cartels -who’ve been emboldened by easier access to our country- have fueled the proliferation of human and narcotics trafficking & smuggling. Drugs like fentanyl have unleashed an unprecedented opioid epidemic that has claimed more than 100 thousand victims and destroyed the lives of thousands of others.
At least 66 people on a terror watch list were arrested at the Texas southern border during the period between October, 2021 and July of this year. For perspective, there were 15 apprehensions during fiscal year (FY) 2021, three in FY20, and zero in FY19. These numbers don’t represent the estimated half a million migrants that we essentially know nothing about who’ve escaped untraced, into our country.
Threats From Other Countries
Before continuing, I want to make a clear distinction between the governments and the people of any given nation - because I certainly wouldn’t want to be judged as a human being based on the actions of U.S. politicians.
While our government is rightfully monitoring activities in countries like Iran and Russia, the biggest threat, arguably, is the Chinese government (CCP).
The means they’re using to acquire global dominance -including intellectual property theft and espionage- threaten our security, sovereignty, and financial foundation. They’ve also reportedly expedited efforts to influence U.S. policy via our lawmakers, business leaders, and academia. Those who align with the CCP’s policies are apparently financially rewarded; dissenters are either blackmailed or experience broken business deals.
The U.S. is at a clear disadvantage because a large portion of our consumer goods, from our clothes and electronics, to our cooking wear and aspirin are now made in the CCP. (A commitment to U.S. manufacturing could have helped prevent this. Those few pennies saved weren’t worth it, were they?)
The CCP also dominates cobalt, the metal used in the production of lithium-ion batteries, which propels our gadgetry, appliances, electric vehicles, and military equipment. (Most cobalt, consequentially, is mined in the DC Congo, which has been linked to human rights abuses, as well as wildlife exploitation.)
They’re the primary manufacturer of the fentanyl pouring into our borders, upending and claiming lives.
Who Will Save Us From These Growing Threats?
As threats against our nation have grown, the barriers designed to protect us from them have been weakened.
There are markedly fewer heroes left to run into burning buildings and take bullets on our behalf.
Law Enforcement
Police departments continue to hemorrhage trained officers and are failing to meet their quotas. Departments, like NYPD, are experiencing records in resignations and retirements.
As Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch explained:
"This exodus is the result of cops in the prime of their careers deciding they have had enough," said Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch in a statement posted Sunday on social media. "They are leaving for other opportunities where they're paid better, treated better and have a better quality of life."
The cops left behind are expected to pick up the slack left by this exodus. It’s resulted in exhausted cops and longer wait times for service (including for life-threatening calls!) in cities across the country, including New Orleans; Philadelphia; and Chicago which has recorded wait times of one to two hours for high priority calls.
Even if the trajectory changes, it takes, on average, a couple of years to attract, screen, and fully train police officers. What do we do in the meantime?
Moreover, cops are losing control of the streets they patrol. Not only have their numbers been diminished, but they’ve been demoralized and neutered, or don’t receive the backing of their departments.
Criminals know all of this and take full advantage of it.
The U.S. Military
Branches of the U.S. military are also experiencing a recruitment crisis. To give you an example of how dire the situation is, the U.S. Army reached just 23% of its recruiting goals (for active duty) during the first five months of its fiscal year.
Additionally, there are fewer Americans interested in, or who are qualified for military service.
Per The Hill,
“Of the nation’s 31.8 million 17- to 24-year-olds, only 9.1 million meet the initial requirements. Of those, only 4.4 million meet academic requirements. The pool is further reduced by those who have police records, drug/substance abuse issues, or are obese. These factors rapidly shrink the initial pool of 31.8 million to about 465,000 attractive recruits, many of whom will have opportunities in the private sector.”
Border Patrol
Similar to law enforcement, the men and women who secure our borders are exhausted, understaffed, and have been demoralized.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is currently unable to maintain minimum staffing levels of border patrol agents. Moreover, fewer than 3% of applicants successfully complete the hiring process.
Inner Turmoil
Perhaps one of the greatest threats to our nation comes from within. We no longer have passionate, civil discourse, which is essential to a free nation. Instead, everything has become adversarial, and we’re content to treat each other as mortal enemies.
By being in a constant state of war with each other, we not only hurt ourselves as individuals - we weaken our country. How can we solve problems, ensure that every American (who wants to) has the tools necessary to achieve, fight our real enemies, or promote American exceptionalism? As Americans in-fight and degrade each other, our enemies are taking note.
Previous generations did indeed experience challenges. The 1960s and early 1970s, for example, were a period of deep civil unrest. The battles are harder to overcome now, however, because we’re at a distinct disadvantage on different fronts- the American family is disintegrating; Big Tech has replaced genuine human interaction and helped create damaged psyches; and more of us are depressed, anxious, and feel isolated.
None of this is pleasant to hear (or write about!). Yet we can’t solve our problems if we don’t fully understand what they are.
For the Blue is a solutions-based initiative. I’m just an American patriot asking questions. I don’t work with any political party and I answer to nobody. For me, the health of the nation, due process (including for police officers), the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties, will always transcend party affiliation. I welcome your thoughts, even if you disagree; though personal attacks will be ignored. You can reach me at fortheblue@substack.com.