While watching the recent PBS series “The Roosevelts,” the American public was reminded that leadership is the essential component of every successful presidency. This leadership quality has been the hallmark of every truly successful American president since George Washington.
Being able to lead the American people forward, rather than “leading from behind,” is key to the American presidency. Today our lives, democratic ways, culture, and religion are being threatened by ISIS and other terrorist organizations. Make no mistake, the current ISIS threat, while different in many ways, is no less a threat to civilization than that of the Nazis. The current conflict may well be a war without end.
The vacillating, impractical, and seemingly ever-changing policy of the current administration is both confusing and uncomfortable to the American public. The percentage of Americans now seriously concerned with the ISIS threat grows daily. Public beheadings do not assuage this concern and only exacerbate fear. Strong leadership is needed now. Unfortunately, that leadership has appeared in short supply in Washington until just recently. Is it too little too late?
Strong leadership and pragmatism are needed in the White House in order to establish a coherent mission and set America’s armed forces on a defined path to totally defeat an ominous enemy. Time is of the essence in any adequately developed plan of attack. The seemingly diverse positions of the President and military leaders are not healthy and, indeed, rather divisive to our citizens who look to the White House for clear, well-defined policy in matters of both urgency and importance was the ISIS threat.
Recently, having been finally forced to announce a strategy and plan to destroy ISIS, the President indicated a coalition of the willing was being established to assist in this essential objective. Without leadership, such a coalition will be nearly impossible to assemble and maintain. An appropriate coalition already formed before any action is implemented most desirable. For example, in The Gulf War the United States enlisted some 30 nations before embarking on military efforts. Thought somewhat small, with various degrees of commitment, let us hope the recently established coalition holds together.
It is increasingly obvious that drones and air strikes alone will not defeat and destroy ISIS. Many military and political leaders in the nation are of this opinion. One of the traits of strong leadership is to listen. Congress needs to listen and debate in order to declare war on ISIS and terror in general.
The philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Recent history should have taught the current administration that fledgling democracies need continued U.S. support in order to survive. Creating vacuums in these nations increases the possibility of dangerous organizations like ISIS to develop. Strong leadership in the office of the president should prepare the American people for such realities. Leadership that demonstrates mission and purpose. As commander-in-chief the President certainly has the leadership role of “defending the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
Since 9/11, this leadership role of the President has taken on heightened significance. It is obvious that the current forces of evil wish to destroy democracy both abroad and in the United States.
Strong, effective leadership is currently needed and will be a major issue in the 2016 general election.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.