The new “Whole-of-Government” approach, through the Coronavirus Task Force, is clearly succeeding.
For the first time since World War 2, we have a federal government focused on one existential challenge. The task force is ably headed up by Vice President Mike Pence, and includes representatives from all key federal agencies, to coordinate policy and streamline decision making.
However, we are not finished in streamlining the federal government.
Simultaneously, we must set up two new task forces, to make sure that America’s enemies and competitors do not take advantage of our extreme focus on COVID-19. In particular, we need a Red Task Force, and a Green Task Force, to address the following:
Red Task Force: Communist and socialist dictatorships (China, Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba)
Green Task Force: Islamist dictatorships of all variants (Iran; the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey and Qatar, ISIS and Al Qaeda, plus Saudi Arabia (though reforming); Domestically, CAIR/MB)
Each task force must examine all aspects of war, or what the Chinese call “unrestricted war.”
For example, we must monitor and prepare for physical war, but also biological (COVID-19) and chemical war, cultural war, economic war, legal war, demographic war (illegal immigration, students and visitors who overstay their visas, etc.), and cyberwar.
We must bring together representatives of each relevant agency, including domestic agencies like FBI and Homeland Security. These representatives must have no prior direct or indirect relationship to, or conflict of interest with, either the Reds or Greens.
Each task force will need a representative expert in cultural war and psychological warfare. Unfortunately, the U.S. government has no department or agency that focuses on these issues. Therefore, President Trump should create the new position of White House Special Advisor on Cultural Safety, whose job will be to protect our Constitution from its ideological enemies.
Each of these task forces should be headed by very high level (4-star equivalent) current or retired official, and report to the President on their findings on numerous big questions, including:
These are big, heavy issues that must be addressed.
The All-of-Government approach is the way to go. Let’s go!
Ken Abramowitz
Chairman
Citizens For National Security