There are truly moments that define a generation. For our parents, it was the wall coming down in West Berlin in 1989. At long last the world could finally see the collapse of an evil and oppressive system and the people of Eastern Europe could have a chance to breathe the air of liberty. For our grandparents, the baby boomers, it was the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The day when people from all over America were universally upset and shocked by what had happened, and if you doubt me ask anyone who was old enough to remember and chances are they will be able to tell you exactly what they were doing and where they were. This Sunday, commemorates possibly the defining day for us, the millennials, 9/11. I personally have a very indistinct memory from that day, but there are many who will forever have the images of the twin towers collapsing, or the Pentagon disintegrating into rubble, or a field smoldering in Shanksville, PA.
It was without a doubt one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the United States of America, and few will also forget in the days after the resolve that each and every American had to protect our beloved nation. We as a nation came together as one people and said in a unified voice “never again”. Today that battle continues to rage on in far off fields and distant deserts of foreign lands. However, 15 years later I think it is important to do two things: ask if we are any safer than we were then, and reflect on how to change the future.
To the first point of whether we are safer, the answer is unfortunately, no. Currently, there are multiple civil wars being raged across the Middle East and many including and especially Syria have seen the deaths of thousands of civilians and there is still no end in sight. Also stemming from this power vacuum is the emergence of ISIS, a radical and depraved organization that must be stopped at all costs.
Unfortunately, as it stands the United States military is only marginally prepared to accomplish its strategic objectives around the world. For example, because of the sequester the United States currently has the smallest number of conventional troops since before World War 1. Also the Air Force is currently working with the smallest and oldest fleet of aircraft in its history.
All of this comes at a time when as previously mentioned, there is increased instability in the world. I say this not out of reactionary fear, nor out of blind pride, but because I believe our system is worth fighting for. Just as it has fallen to previous generations to defend America, it is our turn now. We made a promise that never again would someone attack America, and we must always remember this promise. As Ronald Reagan said in his speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of D-Day “We will always remember, we will always be proud, we will always be prepared, so we will always be free.”
