Do you think that we are safe/aware as a Country?

What do you think is the first step that we need to make to help increase awareness, and to protect our nation, SSgt Alex Robinson ?

One of the biggest problems we have in our nation is we are too self-centered. People think about what's in it for them. We need to change this mindset.

SSgt Alex Robinson - That is a good first step. I still believe though that the Government makes it difficult for all of us to work together by not sharing the truth about what is going in the world. We hear half-truths that we later find out to be not entirely accurate (if not straight out lies). We NEED to know what we are up against.

PVT Robert Gresham - Sergeant; I doubt that the military is getting any better intelligence than it has been getting since the end of WWII. Mostly this is due to the need to spend large amounts on political infighting to ensure that it is "your guys" that are getting the biggest slice of the budget pie and partly it is due to the unfortunate tendency of many people to act on the theory "Everyone in the whole world is just like Americans - and if they aren't they want to be.".

The first step in understanding "the other guy" is to internalize the fact that they are "the OTHER guy" and that they are NOT "JUST LIKE US".

As well as an Executive, Legislative and Judicial branch problem!

Good advice. You can train for one perfect situation for years, but as soon as you try to execute your plans you have to be able to read the situation, adapt, and overcome obstacles. A lack of intel can, however, be a real "Achilles heel", SSG Michael Scott, when pinpoint planning and execution is required.