Crisis Phone call at 3:00
Introduction:
A significant amount of media attention has been generated by the Clinton advertisement on her ability to respond to a crisis phone call at 3:00. Let me make several points: 1) The advertisement was successful 2) Obama’s inability to respond effectively to this advertisement indicates some deficiencies on his part and his senior advisors 3) The advertisement totally fails the reality test: that is, the ability to respond to crisis during my lifetime did not take place from instantaneous split-second decision-making in the middle of the night. Instead, our government responded in a series of days bring in top experts before the president opted for his preferential choice 4) I cannot think of one crisis during the Clinton presidency that required an early morning call.
Dealing with a Crisis
Effective dealing with a crisis requires 1) careful developed contingency plans for possible “hot spots” 2) establishment of command centers 3) appointment of delegated leaders with clear lines of authorities 4) Establishment of Supervisory committee to hear timely on the ground problems 5) Establishment of appropriate manpower, equipment and funding levels for expected problems.
Historical Crisis during my lifetime
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Berlin airlift-1948
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North Korean invasion-1949
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Firing of General Douglas MacArthur-1951
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Hungarian Revolution-1956
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Sputnik-1957
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Bay of Pigs-1961
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Erection of Berlin Wall-1961
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Cuban Missile Crisis-1961
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Assassination of Diem Brothers-1963
10) Assassination of John Kennedy-1963
11) Watts Riots-1965
12) Six Days War-1967
12) Yom Kippur War-1973
13) Richard Nixon Watergate Scandal, Saturday Night Massacre, Nixon Resignation-1972-1974
14) Fall of Shah of Iran-1978
15) Iranian Hostage Crisis-1979
16) Contra Affair-1987
17) Attempted Assassination of Ronald Reagan-1981
18) Fall of Berlin Wall-1989
19) Attempted Coup against Michael Gorbachev-1991
20) Iraq invasion of Kuwait-1990
21) Persian War-1991
22) Attack on Twin Towers-2001
23) Katrina-2005