"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
It is written that as Jesus Christ took his last breath on the cross, he is said to shout – "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’) "?(Matthew 27:46?and?Mark 15:34).
Mr. Manning & Mr. Johnson – time to speak up – publicly.
Continuing my commentary on my previous post –?DHS/FEMA's Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation?(https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/dhsfemas-planning-guidance-response-nuclear-frank-ferreira/?trackingId=lnUV1SMCTUykPk91%2FG2F9A%3D%3D), I too ask two former colleagues – with impeccable professional credentials – and even mentors in senior leadership positions in the federal government – Tim Manning and Antwane Johnson – why have you forsaken me – us??
When at DHS/FEMA, Tim Manning was the US Senate confirmed Deputy Administrator for??Preparedness (National); later my professor at Georgetown and professional reference. A brilliant and funny guy. Tim is now the National COVID19 Supply Coordinator at the White House (https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/twmanning315/) and more (https://ghss.georgetown.edu/tim-manning/) and (https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/timothy-manning/). Tim is a modern Renaissance Man.?
Just as terrific, competent, and a dedicated public servant I had the honor to work with, promoted his work and collaborated with on critical programs – such as the in-coming missile alert protocol – was Director Antwane Johnson (https://www.fema.gov/profile/antwane-johnson). He had and has a pivotal role in the alert protocol. As his bio reads:?
“… As?Director, Integrated Public Alert and Warning Systems (IPAWS), … he develops alert and warning policies, represents the agency during Congressional hearings and provides expert advice on numerous legislative initiatives to ensure the President can communicate with the American people under all conditions.”
I just learned of his promotion to Deputy Assistant Administrator (Acting) for FEMA’s?National Continuity Programs (NCP) Directorate – Resilience. Under better conditions, I’d say congratulations. But these are not better conditions – not for me. Not the nation. Not for our allies. America has a national security problem.?
Both of these professionals were the architects of DHS/FEMA’s National Preparedness doctrine. They know the risks and the consequences of a nuclear attack better than any other Americans. They know how compelling it is to have both an in-coming missile alert protocol and a functional deterrence against ICBM attacks.?
I know all of this because I worked with both at DHS/FEMA, I prepared them for public and official engagements. I also reviewed, commented on and vetted their work for accuracy, along with the Agency “triad” – the Administrator, the Office of Legal Counsel, the Office of External Affairs.?
I also know – I continue to stake my reputation and name and emphatically state that I know that – and especially in his new and more authoritative role of?Deputy Assistant Administrator (Acting) for FEMA’s?National Continuity Programs (NCP) Directorate – Resilience, Antwane Johnson – would have “signed off” on this – incomplete (“draft) at best – but inaccurate and deceptive report –?Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation.??
The question is how could the Deputy Assistant Administrator (Acting) for National Continuity approve of the content – the deceptive and “whitewash” content – in the?Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation?report? Especially, the part on alert notification? My concerns as noted in my post?(https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/dhsfemas-planning-guidance-response-nuclear-frank-ferreira/?trackingId=EHOLUZW%2FQT2LXSI9glsrnA%3D%3D):
Prior to the passage of the legislation, I suggested Congress waive the implementation process – we are dealing with weapons of mass destruction.?Time is of the essence.?Ignored.
It’s 2022. Why is this report still in “draft” form??Most troubling why is a report posted online with a repeated note: “PRE-DECISIONAL DRAFT – Not for Public Distribution or Release.”
As damaging as the last bullet was, this line should make your blood boil:?“FEMA has begun work on obtaining funding and recommended approaches to implement the provisions of PL-116-92.”?“FEMA has begun …?” Are you kidding me??How can this be?
The Acting Deputy Administrator had several, detailed and robust discussions at my desk – on the eight floor, in the Office of External Affairs – on the deficiency of such an alert protocol. Yet, he moved with a draft copy of the slide deck I mentioned –?National Level Alert And Warning (https://lnkd.in/d-aijckD?&?https://lnkd.in/gnXjWcMG) – and used it to brief the then FEMA Administrator – Brock Long, and presumably – I will know more concretely once the Agency responds to my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request – who may have used it to brief the then White House Chief of Staff and former US DHS Secretary, Gen. John Kelly. Again, the presumption is that he would in turn brief the President of the United States.?
This conversation now raises another consequential question – did the current FEMA Administrator or the Acting Deputy Administrator – or their staff – brief other senior leadership – at the White House or oversight committees on the Hill on the content of this report? Given that the report is a response to the federal law –?The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, PL 116-92?– it is a legitimate question to ask. That's perjury. Will there be follow-up and corrective action taken??Accountability?
Both Mr. Manning and Mr. Johnson have the ear of the President, the DHS Secretary and FEMA Administrator. So, my God, why are we so vulnerable? Why aren’t you pressing for quicker corrective measures? Why aren’t you backing me up? Is it because I didn’t “tow the company line” as they both have? Is it because they both have been “bought out” for their silence – promoted and rewarded to higher office??
I did what the law requires all federal employees to do – (including them) – to pay allegiance to the Constitution, raise red flags – alarms – with leadership and eventually blow the whistle when not taken seriously (The Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 ("No FEAR Act") – (https://www.fema.gov/about/organization/equal-rights/no-fear-act) and DHS’s “See Something. Say Something” (https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something/recognize-the-signs?utm_source=google.com&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=rg.search-fy21.s4-english-allcit&utm_content=report&utm_term=if%20you%20see%20something%20say%20something).?
We all took a sacred Oath of Office similar to this one (Article II – Section 1 of the US Constitution – https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/):
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
National Security is one of the stated priorities, interim and national defense strategy of the Biden / Harris Administration that both of you serve:
Lest you question my patriotism – I'm not question yours, I will share with you the words of former US Senator J. William Fulbright and President Dwight D. Eisenhower:
“To criticize one’s country is to do it a service because it may spur the country to do better than it is doing. It is a compliment because it evidences a belief that the country can do better than it is doing. … Criticism, in short, is more than a right; it is an act of patriotism, a higher form of patriotism, I believe, than the familiar rituals of national adulation.” As for the later, he said: “Here in America we are descended in blood and spirit from revolutionaries and rebels – men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.”
Tim and Antwane, you are both great American. Competent leaders. Do what others are timid to do – tell the truth.?
I hope to hear from at least either one – if not both – of you. You are welcomed in my home – any time.
Please speak up as if our lives depended on it – for it does.?
Thank you.