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As today’s anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is commemorated across the nation — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will host a remembrance at the Pentagon; Vice President Joe Biden will speak in Shanksville, Pa. — it is surprising how minor an issue national security has played in this year’s presidential campaign.
On the one hand, that’s reassuring. The administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama have made protecting the nation — and dismantling the al-Qaeda terrorist network — among their foremost priorities, and achieved much success. As the Associated Press reported this week, Americans today feel safer from potential terrorist attacks than they did even a few years ago. Military and national security experts say that’s not just perception, but reality.
On the other hand, it’s worrisome. Eclipsed by domestic concerns centered on the economy, jobs and taxes, national security has been all but nonexistent as a campaign issue. Indeed, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said almost nothing about foreign policy in his speech before his party’s national convention. Democrat Obama reminded delegates of the successful mission to kill al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and the end of U.S. military operations in Iraq, but those are challenges that are behind us, rather than ahead.
Fears of a repeat of the horrific events of 11 years ago today, when terrorists crashed airliners into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, have abated, thankfully. But there are plenty of other global hot spots awaiting the next U.S. president.
From Syria’s civil war, to Iran’s nuclear aspirations, to Afghanistan’s post-war stability, the candidates need to explain their philosophies for future engagement. Shadowy threats including cyber-attacks and insurgent terrorist factions likewise need to be addressed.
Al-Qaeda may be depleted, the economy may be decisive, but foreign policy remains a huge concern.
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