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Hawaii’s World
THE new century is going to be far different from the old one -- and the federal government simply isn't flexible enough to cope. I take this as gospel after hearing a former top Defense Department official who now heads the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Coping with new
century’s challengesCSIS has the Hawaii-based Pacific Forum as part of its structure. John J. Hamre, new president and CEO of CSIS, explained his assessment to Pacific Forum directors and guests.
He said CSIS will suggest ways to fix things by branching out from its traditional military and political policy recommendations. One new focus will be high-tech challenges, where security needs partnerships and know-how that don't now exist. For example:
In cyberspace, where our vulnerability was shockingly exposed by the Love Bug computer virus.
With multiple nations involved, he said, our export controls, a key reliance in the past, can become an obstacle. A further CSIS concern will be how to reconcile the Third World need for genetically altered, quality-of-life-improving products such as super-rice with the aversion to genetic agriculture within rich nations.
To Hamre, our export control mechanisms are rigid impediments in a world of lightning advances. Example: Some Sony toys now include chips with capacities once ranked as super-computers.
With tools like these, the bad guys can have a real edge.
Legislative solutions can be the worst, Hamre said, because they remain locked in the law books after times change. Administrative flexibility will serve us better, he contends.
But that runs up against deep biases. For example, government bureaucrats are sure businessmen are out to screw the government. They erect all sorts of barriers against them.
On the other hand, business people tend to look on bureaucrats as stuffed shirts who just don't understand the situation and need help. Trust is needed between such types, Hamre says, to build international security partnerships. No trust, no partnering, no progress and the bad guys win.
Hamre thinks we should change our outdated government structure quickly. The old way is the vertical way with lots of federal departments -- State, Defense, Commerce, etc.
The 20th century need for departmental cooperation was and still is met with inter-agency task forces. The trouble here, says Hamre, is that each task force member sees it as his first job to protect his department's turf. This stands in the way of both real partnering and fast response.
THE need for an international dimension to all of this makes things even worse for the good guys and better for the bad guys, Hamre believes. He would like CSIS to harness great brains to propose ways out of these challenges.
Hamre looked directly at Japanese Consul General Gotaro Ogawa and said he understands why many Japanese are concerned that U.S. overtures to China could weaken the U.S.-Japan relationship.
The worry is misplaced, Hamre said. America and Japan are allies and will continue to be. The U.S. and China never can be allies, but we would like to be friends.
He ventured that the similarities between America's two major presidential rivals, Bush and Gore, are much greater than their differences. Both are able men. Both have strong teams of advisers. Either would do well. Hamre predicts a close election.
A.A. Smyser is the contributing editor
and former editor of the the Star-Bulletin
His column runs Tuesday and Thursday.