Success (at Expanding the State) is Meeting Opportunity (Such as Terrorism) Well Prepared (With New Laws and Edicts)

A familiar maxim known and recited by many motivational speakers, especially football coaches, is some version of a rather timeless observation attributed to Benjamin Disraeli, namely, that "success is meeting opportunity well prepared."

The basic thrust is also heard frequently in business school lectures on leadership and organizational management. Executives who anticipate crises before they arise, thereby enabling themselves to suggest practical responses even as events are occurring, will gain important influence over the direction and operation of their organizations.

The truth of this adage has never been made manifest in more hideous glory than with the actions taken and instant policies proposed by the federal government in the aftermath of the events of September 11. While countless pundits have commented on how unprepared the American people were, few have noticed how ready their leaders appeared to be. Indeed, some responses were so smooth as to seem rehearsed.

To be certain, many, if not most, government officials were caught off guard by the specifics of the attacks. It is unclear how much the intelligence agencies knew beforehand and precisely when they knew it. Needless to say, the top Pentagon brass were not prepared to have their own edifice serve as a landing site for a hijacked commercial jet.

But inside the Beltway, a high probability of a terrorist attack on U.S. soil has been common knowledge, at least among some groups, for at least a decade. While the masses may have been stunned by the mere occurrence of the attacks, those paid to defend America could have been surprised only by the timing, method or place. No one with any ties to intelligence or defense could possibly have been surprised.

No matter who was responsible for them, the attacks offered a unique opportunity for the Bush administration and its main supporters. What these folks have long wanted, as much as anything, has been to gain control of the government of Afghanistan. They must have a guarantee that their proposed oil pipeline across that country will not be subject to terrorism or blackmail. With the Taliban in power, a pipeline is risky.

Osama bin Laden is far from the only anti-U.S. terrorist in the Middle East; he is only the wealthiest. Capturing or even killing him would not end the threats to a pipeline, which is why overthrowing the Taliban government is a much higher priority for the Bush administration than bin Laden, a point inadvertently conceded by Donald Rumsfeld.

But there are other factions in Washington with major influence over government policy, most of which do not much care about an oil pipeline in the Middle East. Getting their support for this dangerous war in Afghanistan has required such broad support that politicians are unwilling to question the effort. In addition, the pipeline faction (i.e., the White House) has had to be willing to buy them off with other legislation.

Unfortunately, this is precisely what has been happening. Bills stalled by Congress have been dusted off and tacked onto anything vaguely related to the "war on terrorism." A host of new police powers, previously defeated and all with the potential for politicization and abuse, have been presented as if they were brand new responses to this unprecedented emergency. Airlines, steel companies, and many other shameless recipients with working relations with the pipeline crowd, are also getting theirs.

Of course, nothing is more exciting in the executive branch, regardless of the party in power, than a new federal department with a vast potential for growth and influence. Hence, the formerly rejected proposal for a Homeland Security agency was rushed into existence, again, as if it were a new solution carefully crafted to solve some new problem. Gov. Tom Ridge had probably discussed the job with the White House long ago.

As long as the news media continue efforts to heed and read only the official reports and releases on the war, thereby keeping citizens effectively uninformed, the government will continue to use this opportunity to expand its power. And if the other political factions can be brought into this free-for-all through bailouts and other schemes, becoming equal beneficiaries with the pipeline crowd, the situation will worsen.

As for those appallingly few who refuse to be spoon fed, let it be well understood that almost nothing in the entire episode is exactly as it has been presented. Mainly, it is opportunism run amok.

October 30, 2001