CONFUSING TIMES

On December 19th, 2009, President Obama authorized a military budget plan that set a record. 663 Billion dollars would be allocated to defend America. Shortly after this so called "strategic" declaration, al-Qaeda attempted an attack on an American Airliner carrying 278 passengers. Following this, seven CIA agents and a Jordanian were killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

Even with our enormous defense budget, we still have a serious security problem globally. Adding to our security dilemma is the fact that al-Qaeda is steadily advancing their efforts and strength in select countries such as Pakistan and Yemen as well as across North Africa in places like Somalia where we essentially have no presence to thwart the growing numbers of al-Qaeda.

Perhaps the powers that be should carefully think about the allocation of this proposed defense budget in such a way that it does not mirror any past conventional strategies that many would consider antiquated, but plan for this new asymmetrical enemy we are at war with. An ememy that is willing to go to any length to accomplish their goals.

Maybe we should use technology and advanced weaponry for what they are worth, but not forget to include the human factor. That is the HUMINT (Human Intelligence) element. This is one of the key factors that made a country like Russia a force to be reckon with back in the Cold War days. Admittedly this alone will not win this war on terror, but it may better strategically assist our Intelligence Agencies in their global efforts to thwart attacks.