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OPINIONS
Mark Caserta: Homeland security will stand as Bush's legacy
Even as the George W. Bush era winds down and his overall approval rating goes into the cellar, the accomplishments of his presidency continue to be popular among members of the GOP.
In fact, according to an article in The Washington Times, a recent Gallup Poll shows 72 percent of the GOP approve of the job President Bush is doing just one month prior to leaving office. It seems the conservative faithful remain appreciative of the track record of the administration regardless of mistakes made and the results of some poor Cabinet choices.
The objectivity and optimism of conservatives is one of viewing the glass half full and acknowledging the many accomplishments made during President Bush's term in office. Conversely, with relentless fortitude, the left has leveled harsh criticism at this president for the past eight years and conspicuously ignored even the administration's greatest accomplishment.
Our country has been safe since Sept. 11, 2001.
Ari Fleischer, Bush's first White House press secretary, said that following the attack on the World Trade Center, President Bush set out on a mission.
"It was a 100-degree turn of the ship of state," said Fleischer in an article in U.S. News and World Report. "He ran (for president) of the United States having a humble foreign policy. He did not run on a muscular foreign policy."
However, following 9/11, the president quickly realized he had better establish one.
The National Strategy for Homeland Security was released by the president on July 16, 2002. The innovative department's mission was to create a department that would unite levels of the federal government in an effort to secure the homeland and to make America stronger, safer and more secure. It put together a comprehensive plan to enhance our protection and reduce our vulnerability to terrorist attacks.
The new Office of Homeland Security initially faced a major challenge in merging 22 separate agencies into one cohesive department with centralized leadership and widespread operations with a singular reporting structure, yet the mission to protect our nation was clear.
The president initiated an unprecedented proposal to establish a department that would unify principal border and transportation security agencies and coordinate a cohesive network of disaster response capabilities. It would also provide a central point for analysis and dissemination of intelligence pertaining to terrorist threats to American infrastructure and developing proactive methods of research and development to detect and counter potential terrorist attacks.
On Nov. 25, 2002, the president signed into law the Homeland Security Act of 2002 creating a new cabinet-level department, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, with the primary mission of protecting the American people and our homeland. The DHS brings together a wide range of assets to secure our nation, including 113,000 employees, nearly 250 airplanes and helicopters, and more than 280 boats, all under the control of the secretary.
Bush supporters agree his aggressive position against terrorism will stand the test of time.
I'm just thankful this nation, under God, has been kept safe.
Mark Caserta travels the country as a business consultant. He is a native West Virginian and resides in Cabell County.
