The U.S. Constitution affirms that “the President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States.”
Although there are new dangers since the Constitution was crafted, particularly with terrorism, the responsibility of the president to protect the homeland is unending.
It will be the responsibility of the new president, to protect our democracy by upholding the principles of our Constitution. This is detailed in the oath of the president:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Founding Fathers Directive: Protect the Homeland
The principal reason that the Founding Fathers came together with the states to create our nation is clear.
It is memorialized in the Preamble of our Constitution as to “provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and to secure the Blessings of Liberty.”
The nation must be protected and America’s new president must abide by these sacred principles.
This will only be possible when character is the heart of the presidency, and the principles of an ethical protector are exemplified by our new Commander in Chief.
Only character has the persuasive power to unite the nation, remedy the challenges we face, and forge collaborative partnerships within the nation, and throughout the world.
Safeguarding Our Homeland: Securing the Nation
America’s security will be a daunting task for our new president.
The continual threat of terrorism by radical extremists that are either inspired, enabled, or directed from abroad remains. Most likely, the dangers of terrorism will intensify before the threat is remedied. These are individuals with no conscience, sense of moral decency, or respect for life. They would desecrate the sacredness of every faith by committing the most horrific atrocities against innocent members of society.
The threat of a terrorist attack is always a possibility and can take place anytime, not only here on our homeland, but abroad as well.
The very real threat is memorialized on the FBI website as their “top investigative priority.”
Terrorism Defined: The U.S. Code
Terrorism is best understood as detailed in the United States Code as follows:
“International terrorism” means activities with the following three characteristics:
- Involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that violate federal or state law;
- Appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
- Occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate or seek asylum.*
“Domestic terrorism” means activities with the following three characteristics:
- Involve acts dangerous to human life that violate federal or state law;
- Appear intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination. or kidnapping; and
- Occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S.
18 U.S.C. § 2332b defines the term “federal crime of terrorism” as an offense that:
- Is calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion, or to retaliate against government conduct; and
- Is a violation of one of several listed statutes, including § 930(c) (relating to killing or attempted killing during an attack on a federal facility with a dangerous weapon); and § 1114 (relating to killing or attempted killing of officers and employees of the U.S.).
Final Reflections
America has elected a new Commander in Chief whose principle responsibility is to safeguard our nation.
The new president must exemplify character and stand as an ethical protector “to provide for the common defense” of the nation.
Each person privileged to call America home must also exemplify the qualities of character and remain vigilant.
The challenges of terrorism are upon us, and we shall prevail with courage, dedication, and commitment.
Protecting our democracy, freedom, and way of life will be the primary responsibility of the new Commander in Chief. Each of us privileged to call America home must also rise to the occasion.
Vincent J. Bove, CPP, is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America. Bove is a recipient f the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for combating crime and violence and is a former confidant of the New York Yankees. His newest book is “Listen To Their Cries.” For more information, see www.vincentbove.como
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