KEYC Mankato - Hagedorn Speaks Out on ISIS, 9/11 and Homeland Security

Op-Ed

By Jim Hagedorn

When President Barack Obama entered office he promised a foreign policy that would lead the world. Unfortunately, the President's "lead from behind" record has not matched his rhetoric.

During the Obama presidency Islamic radicals have sharply increased power in key Middle Eastern countries like Iraq, Egypt, Libya and Yemen. The result has been less freedom (especially for women), regional destabilization, loss of U.S. prestige and the outright slaughter of religious minorities, particularly Christians.

In a recent address to the nation, President Obama offered his commitment to defeating the ruthless Muslim extremists known as ISIS. I take the President at his word, but will watch closely to ensure our nation implements appropriate military, economic and humanitarian measures to defeat these terrorists. As President Ronald Reagan used to say: Trust, but verify.

Based on the current situation in Iraq, I do not favor reintroduction of U.S. combat troops. American forces were incredibly effective and made enormous sacrifice to give the Iraqi people a free and democratic Iraq. Sadly, the Iraqi military force we painstakingly trained and armed did not repel initial attacks by ISIS and the country's stability has deteriorated significantly.

Rather than quarrel over President Obama's decision to withdraw U.S. combat forces from Iraq in 2011, our nation must move forward and address the current threat from ISIS. However, we must come to grips with the understanding that U.S. military personnel are over-extended and our country has neither the financial resources nor political will to destroy every Islamic terrorist enemy or engage in "nation-building" to construct Jeffersonian democracies throughout the globe.

Ultimately, to be successful, our nation must reconnect with a policy of Peace through Strength, a critical component of which is to support, arm and train governments and people committed to fighting for their own freedom and building their own democratic institutions. Hopefully, President Obama will be successful in encouraging freedom-minded people in Iraq, Syria and other nations to rise up, fight and defeat ISIS.

Islamic radicalism is a global problem that threatens the lives and way of life of all who strive for freedom. As we reflect on the tragic loss of life due to the heinous acts of Muslim fanatics on September 11, 2001, we realize how a relatively few fervent terrorists can inflict devastating destruction, and forever change our American way of life.

In my view, the national leaders of both political parties seem to have missed one of the more glaring lessons from the attacks of 13 years ago -- the need to defend our homeland.

Inexcusably, America's borders remain porous and dangerously susceptible to infiltration by criminals and terrorists. The U.S. passport and visa systems are a disorganized mess, with countless thousands of visitors, students and others overstaying visas and blending into our homeland. America's ports remain poorly inspected avenues for illegal entry of both people and weapons. Lastly, many foreign nationals who visit the United States or are welcomed into our country as refugees have not been properly investigated and vetted.

Compounding all of these homeland security blunders is President Obama's reckless executive order waiving deportation and effectively granting amnesty to categories of illegal aliens who overstay visas, passports or otherwise enter the United States unlawfully. The President's non-deportation policy -- implemented by executive fiat over the objections of Congress and the American people -- has contributed to chaos on our southern border and diverted federal law enforcement resources away from border protection and criminal apprehension to, essentially, babysitting.

Given all of the above, it does not take much imagination to comprehend how a relatively few number of Islamic or other types of terrorists could infiltrate the United States and inflict severe physical, economic and psychological damage upon our nation.

The threat of terrorist networks like ISIS is indeed global, and we must address problems as they arise. However, the first responsibility of the federal government is to protect the United States and her citizens. It is time our national leaders take bold and appropriate action, both home and abroad.

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