American Competitiveness -- A matter of national security

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Nov 28, 2012, 12:01 ET

New report sets out the key issues with our national competitiveness

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Security Project released a new report analyzing the issues of our national competitiveness. The report clearly lays out urgent social, political and economic challenges and links these with our national security.

The report details the issues with: business climate; infrastructure; national debt; labor market and immigration; defense industrial base; and, education and healthcare.

Christine Todd Whitman, ASP Board Member, Former EPA Administrator and Governor of New Jersey, said: "Our economy and competitiveness are in peril, resulting in significant impacts on our national security. Many of the solutions to our problems are strategic and long term in nature. We need a bi-partisan approach to SOLVE these issues."

"We need to think strategically, not just about solving our unmanaged debt, but also how and where we invest in infrastructure, health, and education. We will need to reform institutions, and ensure we support STEM and technology education. The American people must be brought into the discussions and support, these solutions."

Raj Fernando, ASP Board Member and CEO & Founder of Chopper Trading, said: "The United States must recognize that our place atop the world economic order is far from guaranteed. Our competitors are improving, while we are falling behind. In order to stop this slide, our leaders in Washington must act toward the common goal of economic improvement and progress, so the U.S. can reassert itself as the undisputed economic power in the world."

"In order to truly achieve this most important goal, it is critical that we consider the future of our country in terms of infrastructure, immigration, education, and innovation, while not forgetting the importance of growing our way out of our deficit."

Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret.), CEO of the American Security Project, said:

"As Admiral Mullen said 'the single biggest national security threat is our debt', but to solve our long term debt issues, we not only need to tackle the simple numbers of borrowing, we need to examine the issue systemically – and transform our competitiveness - to strengthen our economy, people and national security."

August Cole, Adjunct Fellow at the American Security Project and author of the report, said:

"This is an urgent problem - the U.S. ranking (WEF) fell from 1^st to 7^th within five years -- the rise of the BRICs demonstrate the perils of complacency - and the narrative of U.S. global leadership is shifting. Effective action starts with looking at more than military might to understand what truly makes America strong. It is an Oval Office or boardroom issue as much as a kitchen-table issue."

Read the full report here.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN SECURITY PROJECT
The American Security Project is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy and research organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of a range of national security issues, promoting debate about the appropriate use of American power, and cultivating strategic responses to 21st century challenges.

For more information, visit www.americansecurityproject.org.

SOURCE American Security Project