Comments on: The Oval Office Facebook Group http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/ Progressive approaches to science policy Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:33:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Edward http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/comment-page-1/#comment-3331 Edward Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:26:53 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/#comment-3331 The EP-3 incident and 9-11 (September 11, 2001) all occurred before President Bush had a full national security apparatus in place. These and many other incidents around the world do occur at strategic times. Contrary to common thinking a new President often takes months to fully staff and organize his administration. The sooner they get started the better. Frances Townsend, former Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism Advisor to President Bush said, "I worry about the period of vulnerability between the time we have nominees for each party through and just after the inauguration of a new President. I think that’s a particular period of vulnerability, because of what we know about Al Qaeda’s attempts to influence the elections in Spain. We’ve seen the attacks after Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister in the U.K. We see in the 2004 election where they were issuing videos days before the [United States] election, including bin Laden talking about the streets in the United States running with blood. We know from their history that Al Qaeda wants to influence elections and have political influence." Terrorists recognize the period before and after an election as an opportunity to attack nations with electoral systems. So I'm hoping that President-elect Obama will continue what he has been doing for months. I also hope Obama will discuss creating a Joint Presidential Transition National Security Coordination Council with President Bush. Of course, Bush would still be in charge until January 20th but this would go a long way in keeping President-elect Obama and the key members of the Obama-Biden Transition National Security apparatus informed and prepared to react decisively on the first day Obama is in office. The EP-3 incident and 9-11 (September 11, 2001) all occurred before President Bush had a full national security apparatus in place. These and many other incidents around the world do occur at strategic times. Contrary to common thinking a new President often takes months to fully staff and organize his administration. The sooner they get started the better.

Frances Townsend, former Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism Advisor to President Bush said,

“I worry about the period of vulnerability between the time we have nominees for each party through and just after the inauguration of a new President. I think that’s a particular period of vulnerability, because of what we know about Al Qaeda’s attempts to influence the elections in Spain. We’ve seen the attacks after Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister in the U.K. We see in the 2004 election where they were issuing videos days before the [United States] election, including bin Laden talking about the streets in the United States running with blood. We know from their history that Al Qaeda wants to influence elections and have political influence.”

Terrorists recognize the period before and after an election as an opportunity to attack nations with electoral systems. So I’m hoping that President-elect Obama will continue what he has been doing for months. I also hope Obama will discuss creating a Joint Presidential Transition National Security Coordination Council with President Bush. Of course, Bush would still be in charge until January 20th but this would go a long way in keeping President-elect Obama and the key members of the Obama-Biden Transition National Security apparatus informed and prepared to react decisively on the first day Obama is in office.

]]> By: Mark Drapeau http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/comment-page-1/#comment-3317 Mark Drapeau Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:41:58 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/#comment-3317 Justin - Thanks. There are definitely examples of all sorts of incidents from around the world, including assassinations. Mark Justin – Thanks. There are definitely examples of all sorts of incidents from around the world, including assassinations. Mark

]]> By: Justin http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/comment-page-1/#comment-3314 Justin Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:36:54 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/#comment-3314 Understandable Mark. I understand that the Clinton transition was the longest in recent history, but didn't understand the length of time it actually took. Another example (I believe) could be the EP-3 incident with China, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainan_Island_incident), which was the first crisis of the Bush term (April 2001). Not sure if/how transition affected how that was handled, but might be something to look at. Understandable Mark. I understand that the Clinton transition was the longest in recent history, but didn’t understand the length of time it actually took. Another example (I believe) could be the EP-3 incident with China, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainan_Island_incident), which was the first crisis of the Bush term (April 2001). Not sure if/how transition affected how that was handled, but might be something to look at.

]]> By: Mark Drapeau http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/comment-page-1/#comment-3310 Mark Drapeau Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:04:22 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/#comment-3310 Justin, thanks. But in the literature on the topic, the "presidential transition" generally includes everything starting with the campaigns and runs until political appointees and such are mostly in office. Nine months into a presidency, many key people are often not in place because of the Senate confirmation process or other delays. Mark Justin, thanks. But in the literature on the topic, the “presidential transition” generally includes everything starting with the campaigns and runs until political appointees and such are mostly in office. Nine months into a presidency, many key people are often not in place because of the Senate confirmation process or other delays. Mark

]]> By: Bob Gourley http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/comment-page-1/#comment-3309 Bob Gourley Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:01:50 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/#comment-3309 Mark, That is another great article which really stirs the thoughts on Web2.0/Gov2.0/Collaboration and the benefit of Social Media. Thanks. I totally understand your point about Black Hawk Down, and a transition might have contributed to some of our strategic flailing, but the actual battle was 3 and 4 October 1993, so maybe it isn't the best example. And the cause of failings there were deeply embedded in human nature, in my opinion, vice a problem resting totally on an administration adrift (but that's a little off topic, sorry). The Bay of Pigs is probably a good example, since JFK and his administration were presented with something they really didn't create. But anyway, your points are all right on and I hope they are being widely read by the team that will need to start work 5 Nov. v/r, Bob Mark,

That is another great article which really stirs the thoughts on Web2.0/Gov2.0/Collaboration and the benefit of Social Media. Thanks.

I totally understand your point about Black Hawk Down, and a transition might have contributed to some of our strategic flailing, but the actual battle was 3 and 4 October 1993, so maybe it isn’t the best example. And the cause of failings there were deeply embedded in human nature, in my opinion, vice a problem resting totally on an administration adrift (but that’s a little off topic, sorry).

The Bay of Pigs is probably a good example, since JFK and his administration were presented with something they really didn’t create.

But anyway, your points are all right on and I hope they are being widely read by the team that will need to start work 5 Nov.

v/r,
Bob

]]> By: Justin http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/comment-page-1/#comment-3308 Justin Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:42:32 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/11/the-oval-office-facebook-group/#comment-3308 The Battle of Mogadishu happened in October 1993, nearly a year after Clinton was elected and 9.5 months into his term of office. Not really in the transition period. The Battle of Mogadishu happened in October 1993, nearly a year after Clinton was elected and 9.5 months into his term of office. Not really in the transition period.

]]>