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RAND did not invite Mary Catherine Kelly to describe her 9/11 experiences at “The Long Shadow of 9/11: America’s Response to Terrorism” conferences in either Washington DC or Santa Monica CA . After 10 years, Kelly is still eager hear RAND’s justifications for treating her so drastically different than other RAND employees. Mary Catherine is RAND’s only employee located in ground zero at the Pentagon. No other RAND employee was located either in the World Trade Center, Shankesville or the Pentagon or traveling on either United Airlines Flights 175 and 93 or American Airlines Flights 11 and 77 to Kelly’s knowledge.
The Long Shadow of 9/11: America’s Response to Terrorism (The Long Shadow) includes an examination of the events and decisions leading to the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and bourgeoning of Islamic terrorism both overseas and homegrown in the United States. The authors “benignly neglect” to mention the full range of the United States’ own homegrown terrorism by extremists: Oklahoma City; the Weathermen; Klu Klux Klan; anti –abortionists bombings; Centennial Olympic Park bombing; and Aryan Nation.
The United States had been concerned about the growing phenomenon of
Terrorism since the late 1960s and had played a major role in international efforts to combat it. (Page 3 The Long Shadow)
Also missing from this particular RAND reflection is any copious assessment of Public Law 111-347, The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act January 2, 2011 (The Zadroga Act) which is fundamentally an extension of the 9/11 Victims’ Compensation Act. Generally, The Zadroga Act services the identical population of first responders and family members who lost loved ones mostly in New York City.
RAND’s President and Chief Executive Officer’s {James (Jim) A. Thomson} pens the Foreword to The Long Shadow of 9/11 in June 2011; just five months after The Zadroga Act became law. James (Jim) Thomson advises the reader that:
(m)ore than a policy primer, this book turns a constructively critical
eye toward America itself in the years since 9/11. The authors offer
informed commentary on the larger social, cultural, military, and other
implications of U.S. policymaking, while still remaining grounded in
a solid research foundation. The hope is that these commentaries will
lend a uniquely broad and farsighted perspective to the national dialogue
on the legacy of 9/11. (Page IV Foreword – The Long Shadow)
How is The Long Shadow an “informed commentary” if the authors do not acknowledge Mary Catherine? Where is the “constructive critical eye“ toward RAND? What is RAND’s 9/11 “legacy”?
Since the events of 9/11, RAND’s researchers have developed an extensive portfolio of reports concerning all aspects of 9/11. Yet, not one RAND report in the public domain discusses RAND’s own 9/11 experiences including how the FFRDC and venerable research institution continues to blatantly discount and discredit Mary Catherine’s .
In The Long Shadow’s Part Five: Inspired to Build a Stronger America - Chapter Fifteen the Link between National Security and Compensation for Terrorism Losses. Insightfully, RAND’s researchers write:
(t)he compensation system for losses following another large attack
remains undeveloped and highly uncertain. We are left with a system
that provides clear signals neither on what actions private firms and
public agencies should take to mitigate the risk of terrorism nor on what
losses they may be required to cover should another attack occur.
(emphasis added – Page 171 The Long Shadow)
Is the lack of a coherent national policy RAND’s rationalization for its treatment of Mary Catherine? RAND provided company sponsored healthcare for all of its employees impacted by 9/11 (those not located in ground zero) except Mary Catherine.
Is RAND furtively testing the waters for businesses and future federal policies by its treatment of Mary Catherine?
RAND representatives strongly advised Mary Catherine to seek medical care for her “invisible wounds” due to her location in ground zero at the Pentagon on 9/11. Kelly only wanted to heal and receive the same medical treatment as all of the first responders and other injured survivors/victims. Obviously, with such an unprecedented attacked in Washington and New York, the health and scientific communities still do not know the ramifications of survivors/victims exposure to falling debris and contaminants and impact of “things” hitting buildings. Is it similar to shaken babies syndrome? This perhaps explains the CDC’s monitoring of New York’s first responders and certain “walking survivors “ in The Zadroga Act of 2011.
That means a compensation system can now be crafted to promote social cohesion and national unity, rather than legal and financial wrangling, in the event of future terrorist attacks.
In this way, compensation policy can contribute to social and economic resiliency. Promoting solidarity through compensation policy could even help deter future terrorist attacks “by causing terrorism to be less effective in achieving its strategic goals of inciting fear and division.” (Page 172 ,The Long Shadow – emphasis added.)
Is RAND’s treatment of Mary Catherine a test case for promoting a new “social cohesion” and “national unity”? Who will be included in this new “social cohesion and nation unity”?
Largely overlooked in efforts to enhance national security has been
a basic question: When Americans are injured or killed or when
their property is damaged by terrorists, who, if anyone, should pay to cover the losses (injuries and loss)? (Page 186 The Long Shadow – emphasis added.)
If none of the above (terrorist, government or insurance), the burden would fall on the victims themselves, but that could exacerbate the economic and psychological effects of the attack and serve the terrorists’ interests. (Page 186 The Long Shadow – emphasis added.)
Both the economic and psychological burden has fallen on Mary Catherine. Since September 12, 2001, Kelly has paid out of pocket for her entire 9/11 medical treatment . No one believes that RAND would ever treat a 9/11 victim or cast aspersions on her character as management has done.
The authors neglect to clarify that not all 9/11 victims (survivors and first responders) especially many victims located in Washington have not received the same level of assistance as those in New York. The authors’ very general discussion about 9/11 compensation is misleading. Absent in The Long Shadow discussion is a comparison of 9/11 programs in New York, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. The 9/11 Victims Compensation Act limited those who could apply and receive compensation. RAND offered free medical care for its employees who witnessed the events but no one instructed Mary Catherine how she could receive similar care. Management ignored her. Mary Catherine has been forced to pay for her own medical care since September 12, 2001 . RAND informed Mary Catherine Kelly that she would have the wonderful opportunity of investigating new employment opportunities less than 15 calendar days after 9/11. RAND management remains cognizant of the fact that Kelly had been immediately diagnosed with “invisible wounds”. The Pentagon’s E-Ring on 9/11 was analogous to a battle field.
Is RAND using Mary Catherine’s 9/11 experience to compare and contrast which survivors/ victims of man-made and natural disasters should be diagnosed and treated?
Unfortunately, the unpredictable tort system is fraught with expense, delay,
and lack of meaningful precedent. The absence of legal precedence or
clear guidance from government, either through legislation or otherwise,
virtually guarantees future legal wrangling about liability and
damages following terrorism events. (Page 190- The Long Shadow)
QUESTIONS for the Authors of THE LONG SHADOW OF 9/11
1. “DID (AMERICA AS A NATION) RAND OVER REACT TO 9/11?
WHAT DID (AMERICA) RAND DO RIGHT?
WHAT DID (THE COUNTRY) RAND GET WRONG?
HAVE THERE BEEN LOST OPPORTUNITIES OR UNWISE APPROACHES?
WHAT LESSONS HAVE BEEN LEARNED? WHAT MIGHT (THE COUNTRY) RAND NOW DO DIFFERENTLY? ……AND HAS 9/11 CHANGED RAND (US AS AMERICANS)?” (Pages 2-3 The Long Shadow- emphasis added)
2. WHICH CRITERIA WAS USED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PROVIDING RAND SPONSORED MEDICAL CARE FOR THOSE RAND EMPLOYEES WHO WITNESSED THE EVENTS OF 9/11 FROM THEIR OFFICES OR ON TELEVISION WHILE OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE TO MARY CATHERINE? DID OTHER FFRDC’S AND GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS TREAT ALL OF THEIR 9/11 SURVIVORS/VICTIMS SIMILARLY TO RAND’S TREATMENT OF MARY CATHERINE?
3. WILL BRIAN JENKINS REVEAL RAND’S INTERNAL RESPONSE TO 9/11 OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS - NOT JUST AMERICA’S?
4. WILL BRIAN JENKINS EXPLAIN WHY RAND’S EXTERNAL RECOMMENDATIONS AFTER 9/11 TO US & INTERNATIONAL POLICY- & DECISION-MAKERS DIFFER SO GREATLY FROM RAND’S INTERNAL POLICIES ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF MARY CATHERINE?
5. WILL JENKINS DIVULGE HOW RAND’S INTERNAL POLICIES TOWARDS MARY CATHERINE KELLY APPEAR TO BE DRIVEN BY RAND’S OWN CULTURAL, POLITICAL & SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS?
6. WILL JENKINS REVEAL HOW RAND BENEFITTED FROM POST 9/11 ?
RAND AUTHORS (CONTRIBUTORS) of THE LONG SHADOW
Kim Cragin Lloyd Dixon James Dobbins John Paul Godges
Todd C. Helmus Brian A. Jackson Brian Michael Jenkins Seth G. Jones
Fred Kipperman Eric V. Larson Arturo Muñoz Christopher Paul
Angel Rabasa Robert T. Reville K. Jack Riley Jeanne S. Ringel
James A. Thomson G.F. Treverton Jeffrey Wasserman Frederic Wehrey
Editor and contributor Brain Michael Jenkins is special advisor to RAND President James (Jim) A . Thomson and Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute's (MTI) National Transportation Security Center of Excellence. From 1989-98, Mr. Jenkins was deputy chairman of Kroll Associates, an international investigative and consulting firm.
REVIEWERS of THE LONG SHADOW
“Those who reviewed the entire draft were Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III, the Honorable Richard J.
Danzig, and Suzanne E. Spaulding.” (Page XI The Long Shadow )
Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III
RAND Advisory Center for Middle East Policy Advisory Board; Presidential Envoy and Administrator
of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq; Former Ambassador-at-Large for Counter-Terrorism,
U.S. Department of State (Member until May 5, 2003)
The Honorable Richard J. Danzig
RAND Board of Trustees; Chairman, Center for a New American Security; Former U.S. Secretary of the Navy; Senior advisor at the Center for New American Security, the Center for Naval Analyses, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Consultant to the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security
Suzanne E. Spaulding, JD
RAND staff member to Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism
Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (Gilmore Commission 20003 ; and Executive Director for
Ambassador Bremmer’s National Commission on Terrorism;
SAMPLING OF RAND’S 9/11 REPORTS
· The USC/LAUSD/RAND/UCLA Trauma Services Adaptation Center for Resilience, Hope and Wellness in Schools, a community-based research partnership and member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
· PTSD, Depression Epidemic Among Cambodian Immigrants . Cambodian refugees continue to have high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression--more than 2 decades after the end of the Cambodian civil war and resettlement in the United States, said Grant N. Marshall, Ph.D., of the Rand Corp., Santa Monica, Calif., and his associates.
· The ISTSS/Rand Guidelines on Mental Health Training of Primary Healthcare Providers for Trauma-Exposed Populations in Conflict-Affected Countries . Journal of Traumatic Stress, Vol. 19, No. 1, February 2006, pp. 5–17 ( 2006)
· Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services To Assist Recovery Edited by Terri Tanielian and Lisa H. Jaycox, The Rand Corporation.
A Presidential Commission have been convened to examine the care of the war wounded and make recommendations. Concerns have been most recently centered on two combat-related injuries in particular: post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. A Presidential Commission have been convened to examine the care of the war wounded and make recommendations. Concerns have been most recently centered on two combat-related injuries in particular: post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and traumatic brain injury, not only because of current high-level policy interest but also because, unlike the physical wounds of war, these conditions are often invisible to the eye, remaining invisible to other service members, family members, and society in general. All three conditions affect mood, thoughts, and behavior; yet these wounds often go unrecognized and unacknowledged.
· February 11, 2011 RAND Wins Award for Invisible Wounds of War.
Pentagon The RAND Corporation and senior social research analyst Terri Tanielian have won the Academy Health Impact Award for the study, Invisible Wounds of War, which assessed the psychological impact of U.S. service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The project led to policy action by Congress, the Pentagon and the Veterans Administration.
The HSR Impact Award is also given to an individual whose research has been successfully translated into health policy, management, or clinical practice. Academy Health presented the award to Terri Tanielian, senior social research analyst and co-director of the RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research. She is co-author of Invisible Wounds and also completed a congressionally-mandated evaluation of a TRICARE demonstration to expand access to mental health counselors.
Tanielian, T. and L.H. Jaycox, Editors. Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences and Services to Assist Recovery. MG-720-CCF. RAND Corporation. April 2008.
Tanielian, T., L.H. Jaycox, T.L. Schell, G.N. Marshall, M.A. Burnam, C. Eibner, B.R. Karney, L.S. Meredith, J.S. Ringel, M.E. Vaiana, and the Invisible Wounds Study Team. Invisible Wounds of War: Summary and Recommendations for Addressing Psychological and Cognitive Injuries. MG-720/1-CCF. RAND Corporation. April 2008.
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