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Senator Pat Roberts Remarks at 2002 Navigator Dinner

11 July, 2002

Remarks as prepared for delivery.

Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) Navigator Award Potomac Institute for Policy 11 July 2002

I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to the Potomac Institute for their work on behalf on the defense science and technology. One of the greatest challenges facing our national security S&T enterprise is bringing together all of the stakeholders and steering them in the right direction. Considering the players involved - military leaders, scientists, politicians and bureaucrats - its about as easy as herding cats. But the Institute - through the Out of the Box, Into the Future conference and other efforts - has accomplished this. And in the process they have made a tremendous contribution to our national security.

One of the “truths” in my experience is that Science and Technology is the “seed corn” that moves us ahead. That is true whether the discussion is about agriculture or defense. It is always a little disconcerting and frustrating when leaders seem to loose sight of that imperative and look for short cuts or use S&T a funding source. Initially as chair and now as ranking member of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee of the Armed Services committee, I have had responsibilities for the S&T budgets of the services as well as “Homeland Security.” It is this joint responsibility and focus that I will address this evening. It has been an astounding year for this Nation. We have been witness to a year where world events have changed not only our professional lives, but those events also have changed our world, our nation and our culture. For example, the security environment facing this Nation is so different than it was last July that it is practically beyond calculation: • We are now a nation at war – a global war on terrorism, • The world has been closer to the exchange of nuclear weapons between two nuclear powers than it was anytime except during a few dark hours of the cold war, • The hostility between Israel and the Palestinian’s runs the danger of expansion into other regions of the Middle East, • The very real risk of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups that would not hesitate to use them against us continues to grow. Unfortunately, that list of world security challenges is not all inclusive but does represent the some of the complexity facing those responsible for maintaining world stability. None of us, whether you are an member of the military, in industry or a member of a prestigious institute such as our host tonight, can escape the reality of the impact the events of this astonishing year will have on your professional and personal lives. It has become almost trite to say United States was changed forever following the attacks of 11 September 2001. But understanding how America has changed and how those changes impact each of us is a complex issue. We are in a tough fight in Afghanistan and through out the world as we seek to identify and eliminate pockets of terrorist. Our support for our warriors in this role must be unwavering. But let me be clear, it is just not those in uniform that are on the front lines of the war on terrorism – every American citizen is a combatant in this war. The war on terrorism, unlike any war that America has fought since the Civil War, will take place on American soil as well as on the shores of distant lands. Sadly and as we have seen too clearly, casualties of this war will include innocent American citizens at work or at home. For the first time in American history, our military strength may not protect our citizens from threats to our national security. For the first time in our history, the oceans are no longer a deterrent or an obstacle to an enemies ability to attack our home land. For the first time in our history, it will be the fireman, the policeman, the emergence medical teams and the average citizen that will be the first responders and the ones that protect our communities during an enemies attack. For the first time in our history, the military will play a supporting role following an attack on our nation. Let me offer this caution: neither the United States government, the United States Congress, the American people nor our military have fully grasped how a war on terrorism fought on the soil of our homeland as well as on distant shores will alter every aspect of American life. I do not proffer solutions or pretend to have grasped all of the implications of the challenges facing our nation but I know there is much work to be done to prepare to win this war on terrorism. This work is for all segments of our society. – Our federal government is struggling with the reorganization required if we are to have a chance to detect, deter, or even respond to the consequences of any future attacks: • Without question our intelligence community faces tremendous cultural and structural changes if they are to provide warning in this shadowy terrorism war, • The proposed Department of Homeland Security is a move in the right direction but will prove a difficult change to effectively implement. – State and local communities must make timely and expensive changes to prepare their first responders and medical response team to manage the consequences of a terrorist attack. – The United States Military must reform to face the realities of the asymmetric threats we will confront in this new security environment. The military must embrace the supporting role they will play in homeland security. – The National Guard and the United States Coast Guard will have crucial roles to play if we are to detect threats to our national security . If detection and deterrence fail, they will be key to responding to the consequences of a terrorist attack. This new mission represents a significant change in traditional roles and missions of both the Guard and Coast Guard. – Every citizen must understand that the threat of further terrorism on our soil is real and they must not become impatient or complacent. We, as a nation, may have to tighten our security belts with some impact on personal freedom if we have a chance to prevent further terrorism against our citizens. The Congress of the United States does not have its act together either. We remain as unfocused as we were before 911. Numerous committees and subcommittees have jurisdiction – even if only perceived jurisdiction – over the topic of homeland security. The Congress must create a single committee with oversight over homeland security with we are to be part of the solution to the problems facing the country in the war on terrorism. Regretfully, there has been great reluctance to make the required changes in the Senate. Hopefully the creation of the Department of Homeland Security will force the Congress to make changes to match its structure. Even as serious as the threats are and as complex as the solutions will be, there is much to be proud of in the way the country has responded to the tragedy of 911. Michael Kelly, in his 2 January 2002 Washington Post article, summed up this thought nicely: "..... We know again what we knew in 1941. That we Americans are capable of the most extraordinary victories. We do not have to suffer our enemies; we can defeat them. We do not have to endure terrorism; we can destroy the terrorist. We do not have to listen to the self-haters and self-doubters whose eternal cry is that it is our fault and that it cannot be done. We just need to do what needs to be done. ....." I doubt that I need tell this audience how invaluable how crucial, and how significant of a role our S&T communities will play if we are protect the American people from future incidents of terror: • The ability to detect a WMD – whether it is chemical, biological or nuclear – before it crosses our borders is a must but we don’t have the technology to do so today. • Our medical defenses and capability against some of the pathogens potentially available to terrorist is minimal at best and significant research is essential. • The ability to protect our vast port of entry system from infiltration or sabotage is fundamental but non-existent. These just a few of the glaring short falls in our national armor that has to be solved if we hope to stop another major terrorist attack. Our technological prowess will be tested. I am confident with the support and funding of critical research we will find the tools we need to protect our citizens. I’m grateful to people and organizations like the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies for their tireless work in this area. Your efforts in pulling together the stakeholders and thinking out of the box - through the establishment of the International Center for Terrorism Studies - is so important to meet these challenges. I appreciate your recognition and look forward to continuing to work together on the hard problems in the future. Again, thank for the privilege and the honor of this prestigious award.