Preventing a bombing

The tragedy in East Africa deepens as each body is disinterred from the rubble of the embassy buildings by emergency workers. Average citizens can feel little but helplessness as the number killed in Kenya and Tanzania exceeds 200, yet something could have been done — and could still be done to prevent similar bombings in the future.

The Pentagon has told Congress on numerous occasions since the end of the Cold War that it is terrorism — and not a direct assault from a hostile army — that the United States should fear most. This has made an impression in theory in Congress, but hasn’t resulted in a change in thinking or spending necessary to combat these types of attacks.

The two African embassies were targeted, some experts say, because they were not surrounded by the elaborate defense systems protecting U.S. embassies in traditional hot spots. Buying the large amounts of land, establishing new fortifications and supporting added military personnel for all under-protected U.S. posts worldwide could costs tens of millions of dollars. Here is where Congress, and the public, could help.

Tucked into the military authorization bill approved by Congress earlier this summer was $50 million to buy parts for a $1.5 billion helicopter carrier the Navy says it does not want. The Navy has plenty of helicopter carriers, Pentagon officials told a Senate committee, and prefers to overhaul one of those rather than buy a new one. But Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott wanted and got it because the new carrier is likely to be built in his home state of Mississippi. Tossing pork into military budgets is neither new nor unique to Sen. Lott — he just happens to be the fellow in a position these days to get what he wants.

However, the Senate could just as easily spend tax dollars on useful stuff as spend it on pork. It could — and might if voters suggested it loudly enough — listen to the military and shift a portion of its budget billions toward strengthening the defense systems of vulnerable embassies. That would make the world a little safer for Americans and allow U.S. officials there to carry out their duties more effectively.

And if Sen. Lott is really worried about losing business for his home state, he can surely find a way to pass some of the embassy upgrades along to local contractors.