November 2000 President's Corner

Bob Bush '65, USNAAA Atlanta Chapter President

There can be no more important topic for me to put at the top of this column than to honor the sacrifice of those sailors on the USS Cole (DDG 67) whose lives were suddenly ended by that terrorist attack in Aden, Yemen on October 12. It is equally important that we acknowledge the suffering of those survivors who were injured in that attack, and salute the bravery, skill and determination of their shipmates whose two-day battle with flooding in extremely hazardous conditions ultimately saved the ship.

Attacks such as this one serve as grim reminders that the world remains a dangerous place, that we as a nation must never let our guard down, and that when our troops and sailors go to foreign shores and hostile lands, they do so as volunteer patriots, worthy of our deepest respect and appreciation. As a token of that appreciation, your Board of Directors has voted to send a contribution to Cole’s Morale and Welfare Fund from the Chapter’s treasury.

Of course nothing puts our troops more at risk than to be perceived by our real and would-be enemies as being weak or lacking resolve. I do not believe that any thinking individual would argue that we have seen a significant reduction in military strength and defense expenditures over the last several years. This trend must be reversed soon or there will be hell to pay down the road.

Around the date that the November newsletter is published the American people will go to the polls to elect a new Commander in Chief. There are many issues being debated in this year’s election, but absolutely none I think more critical than that of our national security. I do not think it is appropriate for your Atlanta Chapter, or it’s leadership, to endorse one candidate over the other.

I do think, however, that each of us has a vested interest in the status our military and a better appreciation of the importance of that issue than do the vast majority of Americans. I also believe that we each have an obligation not just to vote, but to vote for the ticket that we honestly believe has the greatest knowledge, experience and commitment to that issue. Please make the welfare of those who serve with our armed forces the most important issue in your decision and then vote the ticket you believe best meets that criteria. Thanks.

On a lighter note, I have been challenged by one of our colleagues from West Point to put together a flag football team for a game later this fall. If anyone out there is interested in organizing a response to that challenge, please contact me and I’ll help set it up. I’ll also cheer, but that’s about as close as I’ll get to the action...

I’m off to Annapolis tomorrow for Homecoming Weekend and the Class of ‘65’s 35^th Reunion. Maybe we can get Roger Staubach to dress out and whip up on Rutgers. Anyway, BEAT ARMY!