Politics | 01/28/2009 9:55 am

Ladies in the Know Offer Obama WMD Advice

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Frances Fragos Townsend and Ret. Maj. General Donna Barbisch have some advice for how President Obama should approach the war on terror: Don’t underestimate the threat, and don’t just throw money at the problem.

In New York to talk about weapons of mass destruction at a Center for Security Policy event on Tuesday, Townsend, former homeland security adviser to President Bush, and Ret. Maj. General Donna Barbisch, former Defense Department director of the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear program integration, stressed that while Obama could usher in a new era of diplomacy and fence-mending when it comes to how the U.S. deals with terror threats, he can’t let up on hunting the terrorists down — whether they be Al-Qaeda or anyone else.

Obama’s decision to give his first formal presidential interview to Al-Arabiya was "really smart," Townsend said, but "even if people around the world like us better, let us make no mistake: We are not going to prevent an attack by being liked more."

Barbisch cited particular concern with biological weapons, also known as "the poor man’s weapon of mass destruction."

"You can make ricin in your bathtub," she said, stressing the need for the public-health community to be involved in any preventative security efforts here at home.

Her advice to Obama as to how to handle this particular threat? Don’t put up a "false wall" and pretend we’re safe from biological warfare if we’re far from prepared. "We’re spending way too much money on things that don’t make a difference," she said.

155 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Wow military people with common sense—hire them Obama— put them in charge of the Pentagon. Maybe then we’ll see some cost-cutting and down-playing of new military toys.

By f p on 01/28/2009 9:03 am

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Hello, With all due respect, most military people have good common sense. Moreover, some of our most brilliant minds are found in the Officer Corps. from our military academies. High-ranking military officers with decades of experience, are fantastic strategists, very pragmatic, well versed in history, cautious and calm, loyal, fierce, and often keen philosophers. We civilians sometimes lack common sense when we ponder foreign policy.

By Rhonda C. on 01/29/2009 3:48 am

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I’m sure some of them have some great experience to help us.

By Grande Camper on 01/28/2009 9:25 am

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Great advice and I am sure President Obama will heed their warnings. It is a two pronged way of attacking the subject of terror attacks (I am taking the advice of something I heard on the news about eliminating the word terrorist from my vocabulary). We need to be open and communicative with the Middle East AND at the same time make sure we have safeguards in place to be prepared should a terror attack occur. A lot of the reasons why people in certain parts of the world hate us, have been eliminated. Their arguments for why we are so awful have now eroded with the departure of Bush and his ideology, our new President and his “permanent sun tan” which they never believed could happen in America, and our financial hardships. Gone is the argument we are just a bunch of money hungry, capitalistic pigs!

By Belinda Joy on 01/28/2009 9:29 am

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Belinda - That is an interesting and debatable statement about removing the world “terrorist” from one’s vocabulary. My initial instinct is to disagree because the world “terrorist” is so apt in describing folks who blow up buildings, kill the innocent in order to make a political point ….whether they be the 9/11 murderers or McVeigh of Oklahoma. The word “terrorist” is not an automatic link to the Middle East. Mayhap the website will start a discussion about this subject. Should be most informative.

By Bonnie Oliver on 01/28/2009 5:36 pm

Hi Belinda, I respectfully disagree that our enemies in the Middle East have lost their reason to hate us simply because President Bush has departed office. All of the terrorist attacks against American and European targets happened before Pres. Bush took office, with the exception of 9/11 and it’s aftermath in Iraq and Afghanistan. Islamic fascists have the stated mission to destroy Israel, and hurt the “West” as often as possible. Their misguided goal is to have a global Muslim world. The main reason they can recruit so readily is the economic disenfranchisement of many populations. Diplomacy is vital. Military supremacy and due diligence on the part of all U.S. citizens is also vital. We all wish to live in peace and embrace our Mid-East neighbors, but we must not turn our backs on murderers.

By Rhonda C. on 01/29/2009 3:37 am

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“All of the terrorist attacks against American and European targets happened before Pres. Bush took office, with the exception of 9/11 and it’s aftermath in Iraq and Afghanistan. By Rhonda S. Carsten on 01/29/2009 4:37” Rhonda, If it wasn’t for the fact we are discussing a serious issue, I would think you were joking. I kept expecting to see a smiley face after your sentences. It is stunning how misinformed and ill-informed you are on the issue of terrorism worldwide, the reasons behind the acts and the people who are perpetrating them. Truly stunning. Step away from your allegiance to the Republican Party and doctrine and allow yourself to be educated on the truth and not just political spin regurgitated to you by your conservative brethren. I am providing you a link that illustrates ALL of the terror attacks that have taken place around the world. The listing is by years and they break it down by country and terror attack, along with numbers killed and/or injured. From this information you can research further online specifics to verify that the information is indeed correct. Because I am sure you and those that believe as you do will question the source of the data as being “liberal” so it is always good to do your homework. And a last note. I have posted MANY comments on this site that were grounded in speculation and data that was flawed. Assuming at the time I was speaking the truth only to find out upon further research or because a fellow blogger provided clarification, the truth. In this instance you are wrong, woefully misinformed. However now that you have been provided the truth, my hope for you is that you will use this as a stepping stone to change the rhetoric you are buying into on this site from right wingers and rabid Republicans that pollute this website with their hate speech and lies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents,_2004

By Belinda Joy on 01/29/2009 8:54 am

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By Belinda Joy on 01/29/2009 8:54 am

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Hello Belinda, I appreciate your concern about my ignorance of foreign affairs, political policies, etc. You, however wrongly have labeled me as having allegiance to the Republican Party, and as someone who listens to “regurgitated political spin by my conservative brethren.” You offend me by labeling me at all. You don’t even know me. I never label anyone. Very bad form, indeed. I have no “conservative brethren.” I have never, and shall never be a member of the Republican nor Democratic Parties, as both are too big, too corrupt. My news sources are: NPR, C-SPAN, the BBC, various newspapers, personal accounts from friends around the globe, and my own experience. I have lived abroad and been the target of terrorists. One of my best friends has helped form democracies in Ghana and Guyana. My polical affiliation is The Modern Whig Party. I listen to heads of states, elected officials, world-recognized experts, military officers, intelligence officers, and others. First hand. Fairly reliable sources, I believe. And, not that it’s your business….I voted for President Obama. I also speak two languages other than English, so I also rely on foreign press services. I have friends in Istanbul, and will be traveling to that (mostly Muslim) country within the next few months. Never underestimate someone. Never label someone. It doesn’t bode well.

By Rhonda C. on 01/30/2009 6:08 am

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Based on your response to my last post, you seem to be a very accomplished, well traveled and well informed individual. Especially given that all of the news outlets you indicate you utilize to gain information on national and global news, are the same outlets I use. You speak foreign languages and have friends in high places from the standpoint of those who have helped build foreign nations. Good for you, much to be respected. It is with this in mind that makes your lack of information in regard to terror attacks that much more disturbing. You said: “All of the terrorist attacks against American and European targets happened before Pres. Bush took office, with the exception of 9/11 and it’s aftermath in Iraq and Afghanistan.” This is rhetoric that comes strictly from the right. This is an opinion that is held by most Republicans and those that follow and hang on the every word of Limbaugh and Hannity. I have provided you proof that your assertion is wrong….woefully wrong. Anyone listening to NPR is privy to the information I provided you, it is discussed on a daily basis. However, for someone as well traveled and supposedly well versed in the global situation of the world, and if you do not indeed lean toward the right, many would wonder why you wouldn’t have already knew the facts I provided you, therefore making the statement you made above moot? As for labeling you, given that you and I do not know one another, I can only judge you on your printed words, the posts you have made on this site. In reading your posts your opinions and those that you agree with most on this site, and the subjects you agree with them on, happen to be the most right wing, racist and divisive people (in my opinion) on the wOw site. Therefore my assessment of you stands. When you start speaking up for President Obama and his administration (as you did for the bush administration) and stop bashing Speaker Pelosi and other Democrats, maybe that will lend some credence to your claim that you are not Republican. As it stands now you are coming across as many on this site, claiming to be independent out of one side of your mouth and espousing typical right wing ideology out of the other.

By Belinda Joy on 01/30/2009 8:54 am

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Hello Belinda, Ok….I give you that I REALLY misspoke regarding the terrorist attack comment. But you miss my point. So, here is the corrected, better-written version….”terrorist attacks by Islamist Extremists against Western targets happend long before President Bush took office.” Of course I am well aware of all the terrorist attacks that occured around the world during his two terms in office. (That was the “aftermath” reference regarding 9/11.) My original point was to your ignorant opinion that certain terrorists groups now have little reason to hate America because Barack Obama is now President. This is absurd. Such groups are not concerned with who is in the White House any more than they care who heads Israel. Their aim of destruction remains. I wish President Obama all the best. I did vote for the man. I do not, shall not, EVER listen to Rush Limbaugh. He’s a t.v./radio entertainer, not a reliable source of news or political commentary. People like Rush and their hate speech are destructive, but, really, it’s all about ratings….not much else. Noone of any political merit ever follows Rush Limbaugh. As a Missourian, he’s an embarrassment to me and my home state. I support intelligent, hard working leaders, who are pragmatic, honest, and tough when it counts. I believe, and hope our new President has all of these traits. I’m never concerned with which political machines put them in office. That’s just how the game is now played. I supported Republican Senator (MO) Jim Talent, but have no use for Republican Senator (MO) Kit Bond. I have no use for Democratic Senator (MO) McCaskill. And so on. So….let’s engage in healthy debate. No slander, no labeling, no assumption. Peace. Rhonda

By Rhonda C. on 02/02/2009 6:23 am

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Salut Rhonda After a while, you will discover who you can have a conversation with and the matrons to avoid! Welcome to the site!!!!! :-)

By sibelle daubigne on 01/30/2009 10:11 am

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Merci bien Sibelle, J’adore ecouter tous les gens ici. Meme ceux qui m’attaque! N’importe. C’est la vie, non? C’est vraiment drole, parfois. J’ai trop d’annes de m’inquiete d’ignorance. Quoi ‘que je fasse, on va dire quelque chose de mal. Tant pis…toujours interessant, nous femmes. Je suis heureuse que tu aimes mon petit chat. Bonne journee. Rhonda

By Rhonda C. on 02/02/2009 6:36 am

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So glad I have my little translator widget. Hope you don’t mind … Oops, that is: Je suis si heureux que j’aie mon petit gadget de traducteur. J’espère qu’il est okay avec vous que je l’ai utilisé. [How did it do?]

By rocky rocky on 02/04/2009 11:42 am

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Tres bien, rocky rocky, tres bien! Non, c’est une bonne idee d’apprendre une langue etrangere. Je suis contente que vous avez lit mon poste. Il n’etait pas tellement interessant! Je suis desolee. Votre petit gadget de traducteur a bien fait. Bravo! Une note….si vous etes une femme….on dit: “je suis si heureuse”……”heureux” est pour les hommes. Le francais utilise les gendres. Mais…..mon francais ecrit est vachement “rusty,” donc, si vous voulez une experte….il vous faut demander a Sibelle. A la prochaine!

By Rhonda C. on 02/05/2009 4:25 am