To defeat terrorism is a pro-active, not a reactive, business. Lives are already lost if you wait until terrorists strike.

I propose a large government program - perhaps as large as the US Army though not as large as the entire Department of Defense.

I call it the Angels of Mercy.

I want to be able, in times of natural disaster, to have 30,000 or so of our young men and women in the field with food, fresh water, and the equipment to help.

Imagine if, during the recent Iranian earthquake, the US could have deployed 30000 of its citizens to help clear rubble and save lives. How then, in 20 years time, could an Iranian man [today a young Iranian boy] hate the US? We came when he needed - we saved his family members. He has seen first hand that we are not an 'evil empire' despite what he is told.

The first 48 hours are critical. To deploy that many people and their support appartus [food, water, toliets, communications, bulldozers, tents, shovels, etc.] is an EXPENSIVE undertaking.

Working under the auspices of the State Department, command and control could move to FEMA in times of national crisis - much as the Coast Guard moves from Dept of Transportation to Navy during wartime.

By offering training and scholarships, 18-to-20 year olds who don't want to join the military would have another way to serve their country. They could learn every conceivable skill - food prep, interpreter, pilot, bulldozer operator, security, etc. Following a 9 week 'boot camp', you'd do a two-year hitch just like the military. The UCMJ would even be a good start on rules and regs.

So the basic ideas are: rapid worldwide deployment, massive manpower capabilities, short engagement spans [a month would be considered a long stay].

Funding? Its a problem - but by reopening closed military installations for AoM housing, training, storage, etc. It wouldnt be too hard to get Congressional reps in those districts with the closed bases to sign on. California - with its earthquakes, forest fires, mudslides, etc. etc. - signs on unilaterially. Other Congressmen can be bought by assuring that food clothing equipment etc comes from their district. Remember - the only way the Space Shuttle ever got approved is parts from EVERY single Congressional district.

And this isn't just foreign aid - it helps Americans too. Flood victims, hurricane victims, 9-11 or Oklahoma City, earthquake victims, forest fires. And its a job training program to boot.

Much of 'our' problem overseas is perception. Americans are fat, lazy, self-centered, self-righteous and uninterested in my problems. By sending over fresh-scrubbed, happy, not-fat, not-lazy kids to help people they don't even know, we destroy that perception in less than a generation. And terrorist recruiting withers on a vine and dies.

-MF

Hmmm, citizens of the United States seem to come up with the best solutions for problems, I like it..........

I mean if we are going to be the police of the world we should also at least be the world's hospital......

The whole problem with your scenerio is that those people who don't like us, feel that way because...

Quote: How then, in 20 years time, could an Iranian man [today a young Iranian boy] hate the US? We came when he needed - we saved his family members. He has seen first hand that we are not an 'evil empire' despite what he is told.

EASY. It is because we are the richest, most powerfull country on this planet.

Even if we did what you proposed (which I think would be a tremendous program) those less fortunate than us would still not like us. Why? Because even if we save their bacon repeatedly, that will only happen at most once a year (God willing), yet they have to live their lives in the conditions they are in EVERY DAY. They will still envy us, and want what we have. And if they can't have it, why should we?

Hell, they may even resent us even more due to the fact that we have the capacity and the ability to help them when they can't even help themselves.

Actually, this very topic is discussed in the book "Avenger" by Frederick Forsythe

http://www.bookfinder.us/review1/0312319517.html

which I enjoyed and covered many of these issues.

Quote: It is because we are the richest, most powerfull country on this planet.

We are far from the richest country and truthfully we are not the most powerfull either..If China wanted to they could walk all over us and not much we could do..I do also believe that Canada and the UK have a great deal more money than we do..

that would be a very charitable thing to do and a great idea even if only in theory.

Quote: Originally Posted by Im_gumby ...those people who don't like us, feel that way because... EASY. It is because we are the richest, most powerfull country on this planet. ...

I'm not picking you individually 'Gumby, so don't take this personally - I've heard this opinion espoused over & over again by US citizens.

The US _has_ to get over this idea that terrorist attacks again the US and the Western world in general are because of jealousy, if we are going to beat this threat - know your enemy.

The reason terrorists feel justified is that in their twisted minds, they view the Wests foreign policy as being opposed to their ideals, specifically the intervention in Iraq and Afganistan, and before that, globalisation and supply of materiel to various countries to safeguard Western interests.


If anyone wants to flame me, I want them to bear a few things in mind first:

If I had a problem with the US, I wouldn't be working for a site based in the US, would I ?

I knew 2 people who were in the WTC on the morning of 9/11 - one got out uninjured against all the odds, the other got a 737 in the face (he worked for Cantor) minutes after emailing me.

In my youth I worked in a department store - conducting searches for bombs & incendiary devices was a regular part of my job, and I came very close to being a victim of an IRA bomb myself.
Some of the IRA's materiel might have come from Libya, but some of the money to buy it _definitely_ came from US citizens, who were duped into thinking they were donating to a cause dedicated to politcal reform (not blowing people up).


Btw - great idea Funki

Quote: Originally Posted by Monsignor Funkibut To defeat terrorism is a pro-active, not a reactive, business. Lives are already lost if you wait until terrorists strike. -MF

There already is one, its called The Red Cross

The Red Cross is a great organization no question.

But they'll never put 30,000 people on the ground. My guess is [and I'm only guessing] 1000 in any one place would stretch them.

Also, the Red Cross is an INTERNATIONAL organization. The Angels of Mercy would be unabashedly and unashamedly American - no UN dollars here. They would be the embodiment of the good will of the American people - a sign that Americans care.

-MF

Quote: Originally Posted by Monsignor Funkibut The Red Cross is a great organization no question. But they'll never put 30,000 people on the ground. My guess is [and I'm only guessing] 1000 in any one place would stretch them. Also, the Red Cross is an INTERNATIONAL organization. The Angels of Mercy would be unabashedly and unashamedly American - no UN dollars here. They would be the embodiment of the good will of the American people - a sign that Americans care. -MF

Approximately 1.2 million people volunteer for the American Red Cross, and volunteers make up 97% of all American Red Cross staff
They have over 3,000 mental health volunteers counseling the families of airplane crash victims

Quote: Originally Posted by biohazardpc We are far from the richest country and truthfully we are not the most powerfull either..If China wanted to they could walk all over us and not much we could do..I do also believe that Canada and the UK have a great deal more money than we do..

China could except for a couple of things:
1. China is rapidly becoming part of Globle economy (i.e. money).
2. We still have nukes.
3. The Russians and numerous other countries hate China. (even though Russia is broke, I'm sure they'er not totally defenseless (like they have "totally" complied with the STARK treaty).
4. Most countries depend on U.S. spending (i.e. their economy).

Whatcha think.......

Well i agree on a lot of the things, but china does have nukes..So if they really wanted to they could cream us,, We have a lot of enemies also we arejust more powerfull than most of them.. If china joined forces with a few others it would be one hell of a WW3..

3000 people in one place at one time counciling airplane crash families? That's impressive. I'd love to know the logistics involved in getting 3000 volunteers counselers to one place - I'm sure it would blow my mind.

But that's still an ORDER of magnitude less than I'm talking about.

Let's say Kyoto had another devastating quake. I want to put 30,000 people IN KYOTO IN 48 HOURS OR LESS. How you do that would require engineering and management feats as yet unimagined. Reinventing from the wheel up is almost required.

30,000 isn't the size of the entirety of the Angels of Mercy. That's one crisis team.

And 30,000 is just a round number. How many people can be effective in a given situation is gonna vary. If you're missing 100 people in an availache, 30 with dogs might be more effective than 30000 without.

I am certain that the Angels of Mercy and the Red Cross would respond organically and synergistically to many of the world's crises.

-MF

Quote: Originally Posted by biohazardpc Well i agree on a lot of the things, but china does have nukes..So if they really wanted to they could cream us,, We have a lot of enemies also we arejust more powerfull than most of them.. If china joined forces with a few others it would be one hell of a WW3..

Yeah...but if they launch some.....we launch some......it's kinda a no win situation for both countries (nukes tend to be messy, even if only one goes off).

I disagree with you Johnny most of the terrorist people don't have any idea what our foreign policy even is, they just want to attack the "great satan" heck I don't think it would even matter if we just completely ignored these countries they would still hate us.
Maybe the leaders know our policies but I doubt that suicide bombers know much of anything In my humble opinion
just my 2 cents

Going to EVERY emrergency in the world would make AoM go bankrupt quick I think.
What would justify as an emergency to go and what would not ?? Pretty soon the countrys' that felt they should recieved help and didnt would start to get testy.

that would be a great idea. except for one small problem...money. where would all the money come from? i think most americans would really like to do it but who is going to pay for it all. i my self would rather see countries help them selves than to rely on some one else for help. leaders around the world know what they need to do in an emergency, they just don't prepare for such things untill its too late.

people are also to blame for the lack or emergency care in their lives. how many people do you know who even have a fire extingwisher in their house? let alone a box of bandaids. yes ther are less fortunate countries in the world. i think it should be their problem to help their people not ours. we have enough problems of our own.

take thoe 30,000 people and make them teachers, we need better education in some cities of our great nation. education is the key to life.

Quote: Originally Posted by campy6 I disagree with you Johnny most of the terrorist people don't have any idea what our foreign policy even is, they just want to attack the "great satan" heck I don't think it would even matter if we just completely ignored these countries they would still hate us. Maybe the leaders know our policies but I doubt that suicide bombers know much of anything In my humble opinion just my 2 cents

That's the problem... terrorism is like a riot.. it only tkaes a few key people to start, and decide what to do, and more and more people join in.

Funk, wonderful idea... sadly, like most utopian theories, they are just that, theories. To be able to rise up to being the world's caretaker, I think America needs to look inward first, and clear up it's own problems.

I believe one problem our aid has is that we try and 'modernize' people... we take a way of life, that while may not be 'modern', has been serving them for centuries, tell them its all wrong, and feed them western culture.

It is a great idea in theory, but theres a few issues. major one being the where is the money going to come from.

another is it probably will take a bit longer then 48hours to get people overseas. If these are normal working people it takes a little longer to get up and go unlike active duty military

Much of that stuff is already done by the National Gaurd, and Red Cross.

the united states has more purchasing power than china, canada, or the us danbanger. we also could walk over china due simply to pure technological power, they have a lot of stuff, yes, but it is outdated compared to our mostly cutting edge military. if we keep republicans in power, both of those statements will remain true

We would not walk over China..Granit some of our technology is more up to date but still they have good technology and a huge force.. We are outnumbered by atleast 5 to one.... Technology is not always the anwser when it comes to War.. Look at vietnam.. We hade greater technology yet we still were beaten.. It comes down to military tactics and gurilla warfare is far better than the standard warfare most of the world uses..