President’s Message

The decades-long era of "violent peace"—a term frequently used by then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James D. Watkins during his tour as CNO—did not end with the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the breakup of the Soviet Union, as the terrorist attack on the USS Cole once again proves. It is true that each passing day, week, month, and year seems to make the possibility of a global nuclear war less likely. But today’s world is in some respects more dangerous, rather than less, than it was during the Cold War, and that paradoxical situation is likely to continue, and to worsen, for many years to come.

For well more than a century—more specifically, ever since the Spanish American War—U.S. defense policy has been based not on defending the United States itself, and the American people, from foreign invasion but, rather, on protecting U.S. economic and political interests overseas when those interests, as well as regional and sometimes global peace and stability, were threatened by hostile powers.

To carry out this policy has required sending the brave young men and women of our nation’s armed forces overseas—first, to deter war; and second, if war does start, to bring it to a conclusion as soon as possible and with as few casualties as possible. During most of the Cold War more than a half million of these fine young Americans—Army and Air Force personnel, primarily—were stationed in Central and Western Europe and throughout the Western Pacific. A very high percentage of our former Cold War bases in Europe as well in WestPac are now closed, though, the troops have stacked arms, and those who have not been discharged are now stationed stateside.

The same is not true of the Sailors and Marines of our forward-deployed carrier battle groups (CVBGs) and amphibious ready groups (ARGs), who are now shouldering a proportionately greater share of the collective defense burden. In the Persian Gulf, in the Mediterranean, in the Taiwan Straits, and in the waters off the Korean Peninsula they are on the scene, combat-ready all day every day, and the most likely to be called on by our national command authorities in times of international crisis.

The Cole tragedy proved once again a grim truth of modern warfare that our sea-service leaders have long known: Today, when American Sailors and Marines deploy overseas, they deploy into harm’s way. The post-Cold War proliferation throughout the world of high-tech weapons and delivery systems virtually guarantees, moreover, that the threats posed by terrorist groups and by such hostile states as Iraq, Libya, and North Korea will almost inevitably become worse before, if ever, they get better.

All of which is why, as our sea-service leaders, uniformed and civilian, frequently point out, the role played by the Navy League and other patriotic defense organizations in supporting a strong national defense program is more important today—and will be for the foreseeable future—than ever before. We can help immensely by educating the new Congress and the next administration about the need for a strong defense infrastructure; for defense appropriations based on validated naval/military requirements rather than on predetermined budget ceilings; for equitable compensation—including improved quality-of-life benefits—for our men and women in uniform and their families; and for force modernization and recapitalization on a timely and continuing basis.

The men and women of America’s armed forces are the best-led and best-trained in the world—the crew of the Cole proved that by the heroic damage-control actions that saved their ship from sinking after the shocking terrorist attack in Aden. We can and must insist that that training continue, and that it be as realistic as possible—by, for example, a resumption of the vital live-fire combined-arms training possible only on Vieques. We can and must insist that the next commander in chief remembers that his most important constitutional duty is, always, "to provide for the common defense." Finally, we can and must insist that all Americans realize that loyalty is a two-way street, and that we owe the men and women serving in our nation’s active and reserve forces the same dedication and support that they so unselfishly give to us, and to the country we love, every day of their lives.

One last thought: Kitson joins me in wishing all of you a happy and holy holiday season, and in asking for God’s Blessing on the men and women of all of our nation’s armed services who are on watch around the world today. They are the forward edge of freedom for the entire world and, although far from home, remain close to our hearts. Now and forever.

Mele Kalikimaka and Hauoli Makahiki Hou.

-John R. Fisher, National President