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Obsession for national security and the rise of the national security state-industry: a pastoral-psychological analysis

Obsession for National Security and the Rise of the National Security Industry: A Pastoral-PsychologicalAnalysis.
Security is vital to every state. It ensures a state’s political stability, development and general well being. America has been on the forefront in capitalizing her security and the security of its friends and allies. In a world where global terrorism and nuclear proliferation has heightened, there is need to step up security details in the country. As a result, America has a defense burden that primarily focuses on increasing domestic security. Her military budget includes foreign military aid intended to reinforce her allied states. The budget also recognizes peace keeping operations geared towards intensifying collective security. America’s superior military plan complements her military power. However, excessive focus on security is a slippery slope. Obsession with national security makes it hard to differentiate genuine need for security and unnecessary mistrust and suspicion among the countries of the world. Also, by overemphasizing national security, the government undermines other sectors that require funding. Additionally, it leads to wars and portrays America’s expansionist tendencies.
In Obsession for National Security, LaMothe offers a Pastoral-psychological perspective on America’s hunger for security. He portrays America as mistrustful and insecure, which makes her overly suspicious of other states, especially those which do not support her ideologies. He points out how America has disregarded God in her pursuit for security. According to LaMothe, America idolizes national security, an act which promotes bad faith. He recognizes the need for America to use other means to protect her security, and the need to be tactical about her national security. America needs to intensify her security. America should do whatever it takes to ensure maximum security.
Events of 9/11 triggered the need for America to beef up her security. (Thomas, 392) analyses the effects of 9/11 and notes that America, being the power of powers, must provide security. As the sole super power, America has the mandate of providing security. (Cordesman, 208) provides a risk assessment of global terrorism and highlights the great responsibility America has towards achieving the same. (Thomas, 440) supports this argument and commends America’s role in weakening Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. He points out that America needed to achieve total success in the mission because partial success would only come back to haunt her.
The pursuit for security requires great compromise. America’s obsession with national security has made her compromise her citizen’s privacy. (Baker and Kavanagh, 208; and Howard, 265) highlight the thin line between liberty and security. (Harris, 1-100) describes the government’s surveillance powers following 9/11. The government has updated spying technology that advances its security but infringes on people’s rights. It has come up with high-tech spy-craft which includes extensive surveillance on citizen’s phone calls and e-mails.
In conclusion, the threats America faces have made security its top priority (Cothran, 208). However, defense spending must be justified. Appropriating huge chunks of money in defense is not enough to ensure national and international security. (Gardner, 203) notes that America should shift gears and use other strategies such as diplomacy and strengthening the United Nations to achieve national security. The war on terrorism should not only be based on the obvious methods of eliminating terrorists. (Clark and Graeme, 303) identify terrorists as political criminals who can be prevented from committing crimes by denying them opportunities that enhance their activities. National security should not be an obsession to the extent that it makes America compromise by giving financial aid to her enemies (Gertz, 208). In addition, the desire for national security should not portray her goals as expansionist.
Works Cited
Barnett, Thomas P. M. The Pentagon’s New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-First Century. New York: Putman, 2004.
Baker, Dean. The Economic Impact of the Iraq War and Higher Military Spending, Washington, D. C: Center for Economics and Policy Research, May 2007. 10pp. http://www. cepr. net/documents/publications/military_speinding_2007_05. pdf. Retrieved April, 6, 2012.
Baker, Stewart A., and John Kavanagh, eds. Patriot Debates: Experts Debate the USA Patriot Act. Chicago: American Bar Association, 2004
Ball, Howard. The USA Patriot Act of 2001: Balancing Civil Liberties and National Security: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara. 2004.
Barnett, Thomas P. M. Blueprint for Action: A Future Worth Creating. New York: G. P Putman’s Sons, 2005
Barnett, Thomas P. M. The Pentagon’s New Map: War and Peace in the 21st Century. New York: G. P. Putman’s Sons. 2004
Clarke, Ronald V., and Graeme R. Newman. Outsmarting the Terrorists. Westport: Praeger Security International, 2006.
Cordesman, Anthony H. The Challenge of Biological Terrorism. Washington, DC: CSIS Press, 2005.
Cothran, Helen. Ed. National Security: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004.
Gardner, Hall. American Global Strategy and the War on Terrorism. Burlington: Ashgate, 2005.
Gertz, Bill. Treachery: How America’s Friends and Foes are Secretly Arming Our Enemies.
New York: Crown Forum, 2004. 280
Harris, Shane. The Watchers: The Rise of America’s Surveillance State. San Fransisco Chrinicle,
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