Our gravest threat since World War II

Dear American Legion Family members and friends,  

America is facing its most significant threats since World War II.

That isn’t simple conjecture, or a political talking point. Multiple ongoing crises — compounded by the brutal Hamas terrorist attack against innocent men, women and children in their Israeli homes — bear this out.

While we continue to pray for Israel and especially for our fellow Americans who have lost their lives or are still being held hostage by terrorists, it's become increasingly clear that the world requires leadership to prevent these crises from spiraling into a world war. Among the threats:  

• The heartbreaking crisis in Israel created by Hamas terrorists. More than 30 Americans have been killed. American hostages are still fighting for their freedom. And let us not forget the innocent Israeli lives lost in the most barbaric and reprehensible of circumstances.

• The role of Iran and Hezbollah. Iran’s role in the Hamas terrorist attack is somewhat unclear but there are likely ties. Hezbollah, a stronger and more dangerous terrorist group than Hamas, is funded by Iran. The implications of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations becoming more engaged in the war is extremely troubling as it could spread into a larger conflict. “Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine, and it's supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region," President Biden said last week. 

• The targeting of U.S. troops. Anti-American sentiments and threats are growing in the Middle East just as there is an increase in U.S. troops in harm’s way abroad.

• The Russia-China alliance. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to further strengthen their anti-America alliance. In a new Foreign Affairs article, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates argues that both leaders believe America and other big democracies "are past their prime and have entered an irreversible decline." It doesn’t take a defense expert to understand that when enemies sniff a weakness, they attack. 

• The uncertainty of North Korea. Kim Jong Un, the volatile leader of North Korea, often orders testing of long-range, nuclear-capable missiles. Consider this from the article by Gates: in just two years, Russia, China, Iran and North Korea combined will have twice as many nuclear weapons as America. 

Let me be clear: we are not in the business of fear mongering. America remains the safest nation on earth, and we have your service to thank for that. 

While the United States plays an important role in deterring the next world war, America needs steadfast leadership from its elected representatives in Washington, D.C., to ensure our nation's security from overseas threats.

These volatile situations are coalescing at a time when our Congress is engaged in politics over working for the good of the nation. The failure of the U.S. House to elect its speaker and the potential for a government shutdown in a matter of weeks is deeply troubling. It is imperative that the House of Representatives immediately push aside politics and elect a speaker so they may act against these threats. 

Let’s be steadfast in our support for America. Lend our voices to the chorus of those voicing support for our military. Call on Congress to lead, not squabble. And, most of all, join me in praying for the safety of our servicemembers — and their families — who are defending our nation as this cacophony of alarm bells grows even louder. 

 National Commander   

Daniel J. Seehafer