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 Jonathan Baker First Place Gray-New Gloucester HS
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Essay Excerpts-2002
Jonathan Baker "In Defeat of Terrorism" The war on terrorism, it would appear, can be broken up into two categories. The first category is the preventative measures that will stop the hatred and mistrust of America that has served as the motive for the terrorists. The second category is the measures that the United States needs to take to diffuse terrorists after they have decided to act. These steps are reactionary and require a greater amount of diligence on the part of the American people and government. The series of preventative measures, that is, steps that can be taken to remove the animosity towards the United States, include humanitarian aid, diplomacy, and limited intelligence actions. The essential aim of these actions is to identify what religious, geographic, historical, and socioeconomic conditions contribute to terrorism and eliminate it. When these measures fail, and terrorist attacks are still planned, it is then that the more dangerous and reactionary steps need to be used. It is difficult to say which phase will be the more difficult to succeed in, for which is it harder to do: change decades of anger and misconceptions or fight a war with no front lines? Both present their own challenges on the road to victory, and it is certain that both efforts will include comprehensive steps that will take several years to implement and complete. © Jonathan Baker, 2002
Ashley Frechette Homeland security is probably the largest concern of the American people, and rightfully so. The attack on September 11th was the only major attack on American soil, barring the attack on Pearl Harbor and the American Revolutionary War period. With the accessibility of biological and chemical warfare technology in the world today, the fear of another, more devastating attack on innocent citizens becomes blatantly feasible. President Bush has proposed a $3.5 billion increase for "first responders" (police, firefighters, EMTs), a $2 billion increase for border control, $700 million for improvement of intelligence gathering agencies, and nearly $230 million to create a Citizen Corps to help communities come together and prepare for another terrorist attack. The President's plan is focused around four major points:
* Bioterrorism In addition to these, numerous new organizations will be created to help train and prepare in case of another attack; these include organizations like the Volunteer in Police Service (VIPS) program, and a Terrorist Information and Prevention System (TIPS). The proposed 2003 budget allows for nearly $37.7 billion for homeland security, raising it from the current level of $19.5 billion. It is no doubt that the office of homeland security has a considerably sizable mission ahead of them, but with the recent appropriations it is evident that the matter is being taken most seriously and being attacked aggressively. © Ashley Frechette, 2002
Elizabeth Charles While there are many facets that must be improved in order to root out international terrorism, essentially, the solution must come through addressing the basic issues that motivate terrorists. Work must be done to address the source of hatred toward the United States. Whether this nation is targeted for putting forth an attitude of superiority, political dominance, or for certain religious ideals, barriers must be broken down in order to create international tolerance. Efforts aimed at nurturing understanding between diverse groups of people is the most basic way that we can begin to eliminate the causes of terrorism and create world peace. Overall, the United States must present a strong and unified front against the issue of terrorism, for in the words of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, "I know of nothing in political or military history which supports a thesis that it is safer to be weak than strong." © Elizabeth Charles, 2002
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Copyright ©1999 Margaret Chase Smith Library. | |
