Naval captain's speech urges Americans to "wake up" and act decisively in battling terrorism.
That's what we think we heard on the 11th of September 2001 and maybe it was, but I think it should have been "Get Out of Bed!" In fact, I think the alarm clock has been buzzing since 1979 and we have continued to hit the snooze button and roll over for a few more minutes of peaceful sleep since then.
It was a cool fall day in November 1979 in a country going through a religious and political upheaval when a group of Iranian students attacked and seized the American Embassy in Tehran. This seizure was an outright attack on American soil; it was an attack that held the world's most powerful country hostage and paralyzed a Presidency. The attack on this sovereign US embassy set the stage for the events to follow for the next
America was still reeling from the aftermath of the Viet Nam experience and had a serious threat from the Soviet Union when then, President Carter, had to do something. He chose to conduct a clandestine raid in the desert. The ill-fated mission ended in ruin, but stood as a symbol of America's inability to deal with terrorism. America's military had been decimated and downsized / right sized since the end of the Viet Nam war. A poorly trained, poorly equipped and poorly organized military was called on to execute a complex mission that was doomed from the start.
Shortly after the Tehran experience, Americans began to be kidnapped and killed throughout the Middle East. America could do little to protect her citizens living and working abroad. The attacks against US soil continued.
In April of 1983 a large vehicle packed with high explosives was driven into the US Embassy compound in Beirut. When it explodes, it kills
Soon the terrorism spreads to Europe. In April 1985 a bomb explodes in a restaurant frequented by US soldiers in Madrid. Then in August a Volkswagen loaded with explosives is driven into the main gate of the US Air Force Base at Rhein-Main, 22 are killed and the Snooze Alarm is buzzing louder and louder as US soil is continually attacked. Fifty-nine days later a cruise ship, the Achille Lauro is hijacked and we watched as an American in a wheelchair is singled out of the passenger list and executed. The terrorists then shift their tactics to bombing civilian airliners when they bomb TWA
The terrorists decide to bring the fight to America. In January 1993, two CIA agents are shot and killed as they enter CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. The following month, February 1993, a group of terrorists are arrested after a rented van packed with explosives is driven into the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City. Six people are killed and over 1000 are injured. Still this is a crime and not an act of war? The Snooze alarm is depressed again.
Then in November 1995 a car bomb explodes at a US military complex in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia killing seven service men and women. A few months later in June of 1996, another truck bomb explodes only
The terrorists are getting braver and smarter as they see that America does not respond decisively. They move to coordinate their attacks in a simultaneous attack on two US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. These attacks were planned with precision, they kill 224. America responds with cruise missile attacks and goes back to sleep.
The USS Cole was docked in the port of Aden, Yemen for refueling on
And of course you know the events of 11 September 2001. Most Americans think this was the first attack against US soil or in America. How wrong they are. America has been under a constant attack since 1979 and we chose to hit the snooze alarm and roll over and go back to sleep.
In the news lately we have seen lots of finger pointing from every high official in government over what they knew and what they didn't know. But if you've read the papers and paid a little attention I think you can see exactly what they knew. You don't have to be in the FBI or CIA or on the National Security Council to see the pattern that has been developing since 1979. The President is right on when he says we are engaged in a war. I think we have been in a war for the past
America has to "Get out of Bed" and act decisively now. America has changed forever. We have to be ready to pay the price and make the sacrifice to ensure our way of life continues. We cannot afford to hit the Snooze Button again and roll over and go back to sleep. We have to make the terrorists know that in the words of Admiral Yamamoto after the attack on Pearl Harbor "that all they have done is to awaken a sleeping giant."
Thank you very much.
Dan Ouimette
Biography:
CAPTIAN DANIEL L. OUIMETTE
UNITED STATES NAVY
Captain Ouimette, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, graduated from St.
Following training at Air Anti-Submarine Squadron FORTY ONE, the S-3 Viking Fleet Replacement Squadron, Captain Ouimette reported to Air Anti-Submarine Squadron THREE TWO and deployed aboard the USS AMERICA (CV-66) for two Mediterranean and Indian Ocean deployments. In 1985, he returned to Air Anti-Submarine Squadron FORTY ONE as a flight and tactics instructor.
Captain Ouimette was then assigned to the USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64) as the Aircraft Launch and Recovery Officer. In 1990, he was assigned to the Sea Based Weapons and Advanced Tactics School as the Director of Training. Captain Ouimette then reported to Sea Control Squadron THIRTY EIGHT where he served as the Operations Officer and Tactics Officer. Deploying aboard USS RANGER (CV-61), he participated in Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, and Provide Hope.
Selected to attend the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, Captain Ouimette received a Masters of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies in June 1994. In August 1994, he reported to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, National Airborne Operations Center in Omaha, Nebraska, and served as the Strategic Operations Section Chief for Operations Team One. During his tour at the Joint Staff, Captain Ouimette completed the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. Captain Ouimette detached from the Joint Staff in June 1996 and reported to Training Squadron EIGHTY SIX in Pensacola, Florida, as the Executive Officer and assumed command of the squadron in July 1997.
After a highly successful command tour, Captain Ouimette reported in August 1998 to the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67) as the Assistant Air Officer (Mini Boss) and became the Air Officer (Air Boss) in 1999. Deploying to the Arabian Gulf and participating in Operation Southern Watch, the ship broke all fleet records for flight deck operations, completing over 10,300 arrested landings during the deployment. In August of 2000, Captain Ouimette reported to the United States Air Force's Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, where he earned a second Master of Arts Degree. Upon graduation from the War College, he proceeded to Naval Air Station Pensacola where he served as the Executive Officer. In June 2003, Captain Ouimette assumed command of Training Air Wing ONE.
Captain Ouimette's personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, Aerial Achievement Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals, Navy Achievement Medal and various other personal and unit awards.
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