{"id":17881,"date":"2019-09-11T02:43:34","date_gmt":"2019-09-11T02:43:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=17881"},"modified":"2019-09-12T10:48:48","modified_gmt":"2019-09-12T10:48:48","slug":"dont-ignore-serious-nonmilitary-threats-to-us-national-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/dont-ignore-serious-nonmilitary-threats-to-us-national-security\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t ignore serious nonmilitary threats to US national security"},"content":{"rendered":"

Richard Forno<\/a>, University of Maryland, Baltimore County<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Almost two decades after thousands died in the attacks of 9\/11, there remain many active efforts underway to protect America from international terrorism.<\/p>\n

Since 9\/11, American domestic and international security policy has been focused on individual terrorists<\/a>, terrorist groups<\/a> and rogue countries<\/a> as the primary threats. The country\u2019s defensive response has been focused on the military and law enforcement capabilities. That\u2019s natural, because the military knows how to shoot<\/a>, drop and launch<\/a> things at threats like that. And those dangers still exist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, as someone<\/a> who routinely analyzes threats, vulnerabilities and risks, I see the U.S. again falling prey to a decades-old problem, which the 9\/11 Commission termed a \u201cfailure of imagination<\/a>.\u201d That\u2019s when leaders miss important, relevant connections or alternatives to what they\u2019re focused on.<\/p>\n

Specifically, there are other, equally, if not more, dangerous risks to American national sovereignty and security, not to mention citizens\u2019 peace of mind that they are able to live and work in a safe and secure society. The economy, climate, transportation and public utilities are all vulnerable to nonmilitary threats. Unfortunately, those weaknesses tend to receive little attention from elected officials \u2013 much less any meaningful efforts to solve them. I believe this is because dealing with such concerns isn\u2019t immediately evident, easily profitable, politically expedient or exciting to show on TV.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The U.S. Treasury Department, where debts come due.<\/span>
\nLux Blue\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Borrowing weakness<\/h2>\n

I see America\u2019s growing indebtedness as a huge economic vulnerability.<\/p>\n

The United States government is US$22 trillion in debt<\/a>, its highest level ever, and $2 trillion more than in 2017. The national debt is expected to rise<\/a> to just below the amount the entire nation\u2019s economy produces in a single year by 2029.<\/p>\n

If an external adversary intentionally caused or worsened U.S. economic problems, the effects in the U.S. and on the global economy could present extremely significant risks to American security, domestic stability and peace of mind.<\/p>\n

Many countries invest some of their national treasuries in U.S. debt, such as Treasury bonds or government-backed mortgage securities, because they are viewed as low-risk<\/a>. However, a country holding large amounts of American national debt might decide to suddenly sell some or all of its bonds, as Russia threatened<\/a> to do in 2008. Certainly, nations like Japan hold significant amounts of debt<\/a>, but presumably these countries are not likely to sell it for political leverage. By contrast, Russia or China, who also hold large quantities<\/a>, may be more inclined to do so, especially during a prolonged trade war.<\/p>\n

A bulk sale of American debt would roil U.S. and global financial markets, slow economy grown by raising the costs of borrowing and rattle global investors\u2019 confidence in the stable value of the U.S. dollar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Admittedly, if China or Russia sold significant amounts of their American debt, it would hurt them<\/a> too. For example, the U.S. dollar likely would weaken, making multinational companies more competitive, and American bond prices would fall, reducing the value of those countries\u2019 remaining holdings.<\/p>\n

To put this in perspective, the 2008 financial crisis gave Americans a taste of economic unrest, with job losses, evictions, billions lost in retirement accounts and citizens of all ages forced to reassess<\/a> their personal financial, career, family or life plans.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Parts of the Marshall Islands are threatened by sea-level rise.<\/span>
\nEdpats\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Climate threats<\/h2>\n

In recent years, hurricanes, blizzards, summer storms and flooding have all gotten worse both in the U.S.<\/a> and around the world<\/a>. The changing climate is affecting cities and nations, as well as entire industries and supply chains, like food production<\/a>, transportation<\/a> and the energy sector.<\/p>\n

As climate effects worsen, both in the United States and around the world, flooding and storm damage may drive some people from their homes. Many others may suffer from poor air quality, higher commodity prices, grocery prices or even outright food shortages. Moreover, the consequences of climate incidents, such as flooding, can threaten public health<\/a> with poor sanitation, diseases and epidemics, and disrupt global supply chains.<\/p>\n

Climate change also affects the U.S. armed forces. Drought, heat, flooding and wildfires are all increasing global worries<\/a> for the Pentagon. A 2019 Pentagon report found that climate change is affecting military operations<\/a>, including threatening two-thirds of the 79 critical military bases the report\u2019s authors surveyed.<\/p>\n

Beyond creating problems for U.S. military operations, parts of coastal Florida are looking at multi-billion-dollar costs<\/a> just to build sea walls to protect against rising ocean levels. The city of Honolulu is planning to reduce development near its coastline<\/a>, in an organized retreat from rising seas. And it\u2019s not just the United States that\u2019s affected<\/a> by climate change, either.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
In 2001, a major highway bridge in Minneapolis collapsed, killing 13 people and injuring more than 140 others.<\/span>
\nmiker\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deteriorating roads, bridges and buildings<\/h2>\n

According to a 2017 report<\/a> from the American Society of Civil Engineers, America\u2019s roads<\/a>, bridges, railways<\/a>, levees, air traffic control systems, schools, and power<\/a> and water distribution<\/a> networks are in significant disrepair<\/a>, and have been for years.<\/p>\n

None of this damage has been caused by an outside enemy, but rather by neglect on the home front.<\/p>\n

It could cost trillions of dollars<\/a> to fix everything that needs fixing \u2013 but money to fix these problems always is in short supply and often diverted<\/a> to other priorities. Politicians can\u2019t even agree<\/a> to commit the dollars needed to fix roads and bridges \u2013 which means the repairs won\u2019t come anytime soon, and the risks to everyday life and business will worsen.<\/p>\n

Looking more broadly at all threats<\/h2>\n

The United States remains vulnerable not only to foreign terrorist attacks and mass shootings by domestic terrorists, but to many other problems that people may not think of as seriously as they do terrorism. Unfortunately, the \u201cmilitary-industrial complex<\/a>\u201d that former President Dwight Eisenhower warned about in 1961 continues to dominate U.S. security thinking.<\/p>\n

If the United States is to remain a leading world power into the future, it must continue to be economically productive and competitive on the world stage in ways beyond military firepower. Its planning to meet the contingencies described above must embrace a wider perspective that provides citizens and companies alike peace of mind \u2013 namely, assuring them a safe, secure and stable future society.<\/p>\n

At some crisis point, Americans will be forced to confront the effects of these other vulnerabilities within their lives, families, communities and companies. The solutions to these problems won\u2019t come from more aircraft carriers, fighter jets, airport body scanners and upgraded nuclear weapons. Rather, they will come from objective research, evidence-based planning and investment in long-term projects at home to address these critical problems and ultimately provide lasting security<\/a> in return.<\/p>\n

[ Deep knowledge, daily.<\/em> Sign up for The Conversation\u2019s newsletter<\/a>. ]\"The<\/p>\n

Richard Forno<\/a>, Senior Lecturer, Cybersecurity & Internet Researcher, University of Maryland, Baltimore County<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Almost two decades after thousands died in the attacks of 9\/11, there remain many active efforts underway to protect America from international terrorism. Since 9\/11, American domestic and international security policy has been focused on individual terrorists, terrorist groups and rogue countries as the primary threats. The country\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":17878,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[538,139,172,1749,6922,6921,6920,6919,513],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17881"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17881"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17881\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17884,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17881\/revisions\/17884"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}