Doing What's Necessary
Iran must be dealt with, but it is just the most obvious nuclear menace. We must also step up the efforts to secure all nuclear weapons and weapons-usable materials and put them beyond the reach of terrorists and criminals who would sell them on the black market. We must find ways to preclude national capabilities for the enrichment of uranium or reprocessing of plutonium, the essence of our struggle with Iran. And we must do all we can to cap the number of states with nuclear weapons.
Along with depriving the terrorists of potential weapons, we must eliminate their freedom to murder. We must help fragile governments better serve and protect their people and have no compunction about pursuing terrorists living in failed states or in states taken over by lawless dictators sailing under the false flag of statehood. We should recognize that, in this new twilight world of global terrorism, conventional standards of government conduct will have to be rethought as we adapt our security agencies and our laws to the threat. Pre-emption is better than punishment. Much better.
To assist and coordinate these efforts, the United States should advocate a special international commission to build a consensus for protecting civilization. Let us coordinate the arrest and prosecution of sleeper cells, agree on how to prosecute terrorist supporters, and come together on making counterterrorism the highest priority for law enforcement. Winston Churchill's counsel is more relevant than ever today. "It is not enough," he said, "to do one's best. What is required is rather that one do what is necessary for success."
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