9-11 Caring Carolina

Government Changes

The National Guard now provides security in SC airports

                Our state and national governments have many new challenges since September 11, 2001. Finances, military improvements, and security are the most important. One estimate states that the cost of the war on terrorism will cost between $500 million to $1 billion dollars a month. This alone will cause many changes to be made by our legislatures and leaders.  On the three-month anniversary of September 11^th, President Bush visited the Citadel in front of cheering Citadel cadets. He outlined the role of the military. It is weird that on September 23, 1999, Bush promised at the Citadel to defend Americans against terrorism and to start “the military of the next century.” The events of September 11^th made this happen sooner than he might have planned.

                President Bush said he would be going to the Citadel on December 14, 2001 “to describe the new capabilities and technologies we will need to wage this broad war on terrorism for years to come. We will need intelligence to find the enemy where he dwells and the means to strike swiftly across the world. We must have a military organized for decisive and total victory.”

                Bush’s speech at the Citadel was also aimed at Congress. Both parties must work together in South Carolina and Washington to fund new defense and research into new military technologies. Members of the South Carolina delegation had these comments:

  US Representative Jim DeMint a Greenville Republican

“I suspect he’s going to re-emphasize a need for a missle defense system and spending on technology to keep people off of the ground and out of harms way.

US Representative Lindsay Graham a Seneca Republican and also on the House Armed Services Committee

“He’s trying to get Congress involved in terms of force needs and structure: stealth technology, …Navy needs, how many bases we should have”

US Republican Henry Brown, a Hanahan Republican

“In the past wars were fought, you line up your tanks and we line up ours… this is a different enemy, and the military needs different tools to fight this new enemy.”

                Governor Hodges sent a letter to President Bush requesting a 15-minute meeting.  Governor Hodges wanted to discuss South Carolina security and defense.

                 Governor Hodges and North Carolina Governor Mike Easely met at Winthrop University in Rock Hill. They discussed how our two states can help each other in the event of an emergency or a terrorist attack. Both states share 400 miles of border, share highways, and waterways. By meeting, both states will have a plan of action to prepare and handle manmade and natural disasters. Public health and safety officials from both states said security has increased on the roads, in airports and seaports. Governor Hodges said, “This is part of an effort on both our parts to make the Carolinas the most secure. September 11^th brought a whole new approach to safety, security, and health.”

                Changes, changes, changes are what we will see more and more. Never did we think three planes would be grounded in Columbia, twelve at Charleston International, and Greenville-Spartanburg had about a dozen planes grounded on September 11^th when all air traffic was stopped in the United States. Never did we think college and pro games wouldn’t be played. Everything has changed and we must be thankful to our government, and leaders like President Bush and Governor Hodges, for serving and protecting us all.