Former NSA director: War on terror is long-term
Daily Journal
By Dennis Seid
TUPELO - Retired Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minihan, former director of the National Security Agency, said the public must realize that the war on terror will not end soon. He also said, however, that the terrorists will ultimately lose.
A day after the deadly attacks in London killed dozens and wounded hundreds, Minihan, who headed the NSA from 1996 to 1999, said similar incidents are likely in the future.
"Events like London, New York, the Pentagon, Madrid will happen over a long period of time, and we're nowhere near the end of it," he said. "So our commitment needs to be steady, thoughtful, strong and purposeful over a long period of time."
Minihan is on the board of directors for Circadence Corp., which announced Friday plans to open a research and development facility in Tupelo.
Minihan retired from the Air Force in 1999 after more than 33 years of active commissioned service. He also served as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency before heading the NSA, the combat support agency of the Department of Defense.
"We have to win not only with our military, but also with a cultural change with the people who hate us," he said. "They need to have another option in their lives other than hating Americans; the piece to make that work is growing an economy that provides the features and opportunities that people can assimilate into. So when it's all finished, people will want to compete with us on an economic level, not on the field of war."
While events like Sept. 11 and the bombings in Madrid and London are horrific, Minihan said he has no doubt who will win.
"We'll win because of our economic and cultural steadfastness, not just our military," he said. Criticism that Americans may be too short-sighted or spoiled by quick success are unfair, Minihan said. The reality is quite the opposite, he insisted.
"We have been a country of more than 200 years, having a long-term goal of democracy, economic prosperity and defending ourselves, and we have a complete history of doing this," he said. "The fact we kind of want it get it done in the right way relatively soon shouldn't be seen as a weakness on our part."
Rather, Minihan said he believes the public wants "consistent teamwork" from its national leaders.
"I don't wring my hands over the public's commitment," he said. "I think we have long history of being steady and getting things done. At the end of the day, that's what's going to win the war.
Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 7/9/2005 8:00:00 AM, section A , page 1
