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The start of a new year, a new century, and a new millennium is obviously a time to look forward--with renewed hope for the future
and a strong determination that tomorrow will be better, not only for each of us as individuals but for the entire world.
The prudent man will not embark blindly on this exciting voyage to the brave new world of tomorrow, though, without taking a final
instructive look at the not-so-distant past: the world as it was just 50 years ago, say, or even 100 years ago.
Those particular points in time are particularly appropriate from the Navy League's perspective. Because 100 years ago there was no
Navy League of the United States. But in November 1900 President William McKinley was reelected. His running mate was
Theodore Roosevelt, the charismatic and immensely popular leader of the Rough Riders who became president less than one year
later when McKinley was assassinated. A former assistant secretary of the Navy and a vigorous advocate of the seapower principles
enunciated by Alfred Thayer Mahan, Roosevelt saw the need for a nonpolitical organization such as the Navy League to help educate
the American people about the need for strength at sea, both naval and commercial. As president, he did everything he could to
"make it so," as the saying goes. He also took the politically and economically difficult steps needed to build a Great White Fleet that
helped make the United States a maritime power "second to none."
Very little on the world stage that the United States accomplished as a nation during the 20th century would have been possible
without the prescience, the vision, and the forceful advocacy of Theodore Roosevelt. The powerful fleets of naval and merchant ships
that he fought for provided the winning edge in both world wars.
But by 1950, the century's midpoint, the United States had once again lapsed into complacency. Even the signing of the Sino-Soviet
pact on 15 February of that year was not enough to shake the habit. It took the outbreak of the Korean War on 25 June 1950 to
convince the American people, and their elected leaders in Washington, that the Cold War was a real and present danger and that
peace can be guaranteed only by eternal vigilance.
Now another 50 years has passed. The Cold War is over, and the United States is unquestionably the most dominant naval/military
power in the world--which is why so many Americans have once again lapsed into complacency insofar as national security is
concerned.
The Navy League itself, now only two years from our 100th birthday, has become the effective educational and advocacy
organization envisioned by Theodore Roosevelt and the other farsighted founders of the Navy League. But we face new and
extremely difficult challenges in continuing our support of the nation's sea services. The first priority must be to support increases in
the budgets of all of the sea services, with particular focus on shipbuilding. The immediate goals in this area are to maintain a fleet of
over 300 ships, to rebuild the attack submarine fleet to a minimum of 70 ships, and to convert four Trident SSBNs (ballistic missile
submarines) to the SSGN (guided-missile submarine) configuration.
The Navy League also supports the development and deployment of sea-based area and theater ballistic missile defense systems, full
funding for the Coast Guard's "Deepwater" recapitalization project, additional funding for the Marine Corps' "strategic triad" of
LCACs (landing craft, air cushion), AAAVs (advanced amphibious assault vehicles), and Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, and whatever
measures are needed to renew and revitalize the U.S.-flag merchant marine.
Increased funding for readiness, for all of the nation's armed services, also is required, and for both recruiting and retention--here the
Navy League can and should take the lead in showing the individual Sailor, Marine, Coast Guardsman, and Merchant Mariner how
much their fellow citizens appreciate their service.
We face a major challenge--but also enjoy a unique opportunity--during this election year: Doing everything possible to ensure that
national defense becomes a major election issue. This is a particularly demanding challenge because all polls and surveys show that
national security is very low on the priority list not only of most candidates but of the American people as a whole. Only a small
percentage of candidates for national office--and even fewer of those running for state or local offices--have ever served in the
military or have been exposed in depth to defense issues. It is the job of every Navy Leaguer to write and talk to these candidates, at
all levels, to inform them about why national defense must be at the top of the priority list this and every election year.
That is a daunting challenge indeed. But Theodore Roosevelt showed that it can--and must--be done. All we have to do, really, is
follow in his footsteps. |
