HISTORY TRUMPS HYPERBOLE

Published on Newsmax.

The outrage over foreign meddling in America’s political system is justified.

Declaring it the worst ever experienced is not.

Since its founding, America’s principles and civil culture have been a major influence across the world. Undermining or redirecting America’s influence has been a magnet for meddling.

Initially, England and France tried to manipulate America. The leaders of the French Revolution funded Philip Freneau to undermine Alexander Hamilton. Anthony Murray, British Minister to the United States, conspired with Vice President Aaron Burr to establish a rival country in parts of the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican southwest.

Several European nations were ready to intervene in America’s Civil War, until Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation morally isolated the South.

When World War I erupted, Germany’s main concern was keeping America out of the war. Their meddling in America’s politics successfully delayed U.S. involvement from August 1914 until April 1917. President Woodrow Wilson staunchly maintained American neutrality, despite German U-Boats sinking U.S. vessels. The reason was Germany’s highly successful strategic effort to turn Mexico into a credible threat. 

The Mexican Revolution provided the perfect environment for German mischief. Germany armed various factions and promoted the “Plan of San Diego”, which detailed Mexico’s reclaiming Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Even before the war, Germany promoting fears of a Mexican invasion pulled America into a bloody confrontation in Veracruz in April 1914.

There are indications that Germany funded and inspired Pancho Villa’s March 9, 1916 raid on Columbus, New Mexico. This led to the U.S. invading northern Mexico (March 1916 - February 1917) to hunt down Villa. The invasion further diverted America’s attention away from Europe and soured U.S.-Mexican relations.

Germany’s most creative method for keeping America out of World War I was a fifteen-part “Preparedness Serial” called “Patria”. In 1916, the German Foreign Ministry convinced William Randolph Hearst to produce this adventure story about Japan helping Mexico reclaim the American Southwest.

“Patria” was a major production. It starred Irene Castle, one of the early “mega-stars” of Hollywood and Broadway. Castle’s character uses her family fortune to thwart the Japan-Mexico plot against America. The movie played to packed houses across America and ignited paranoia about the growing menace on America’s southern border.

“Patria”, along with other German machinations, clouded the political landscape and kept America neutral until April 1917. These elaborate ruses, along with the invasion chasing Pancho Villa, may have continued to keep America out of WWI except that Germany’s next move was intercepted by British Intelligence. The infamous “Zimmermann telegram” exposed German support for Mexico invading America. The British delivered this incendiary message to President Wilson on February 24, 1917. Even then, Wilson’s obsessing over Mexican expansion delayed America’s declaration of war on Germany until April 6, 1917.

In the 1930s, the rise of Nazism in Germany led to a new round of foreign meddling in America. The German-American Bund, funded by the Nazis, established local organizations, including youth summer camps, across the U.S. Their goal was to mobilize the 25 percent of American’s with German heritage into a political counter-force. They also wanted to deflect concerns of Nazism in the hopes of delaying American involvement in the coming world war.

During the “Cold War” (1945-1989) the Soviet Union spent over $1 billion on creating and supporting political movements designed to undermine American resolve. This included various “Peace Councils” advocating for the U.S. to end its nuclear program and disarm.

Soviet meddling in U.S. politics peaked during the Vietnam War, when they launched dozens of front groups to turn American opinion against the war. Many of these group raised doubt about the legitimacy of America’s political system. John Kerry’s “Vietnam Veterans Against the War” was used to alienate Americans from veterans in order to demoralize the country.

Soviet-backed groups tried to stop President Ronald Reagan’s deployment of Pershing II Missiles in Europe in the1980s. In 1985, even Time Magazine admitted that the apocalyptic “nuclear winter” arguments were developed by the Soviets to “give antinuclear groups in the U.S. and Europe some fresh ammunition against America's arms buildup.”

The collapse of the Soviet Union and its empire gave America a brief respite from foreign meddling. Then the information age brought easier access to America. Today, China, Russia, Radical Islam, Iran, and an array of minor players, are using cyberwarfare to disrupt America, including efforts to “hack” our voting systems. They are becoming increasingly adept at filling social media with fake news, fake events, and fake commentary.  

Major General James Jackson, the longest serving of George Washington’s officers in the American Revolution, issued the immortal warning that should guide us today:  

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. 

Let the sentinels on the watch-tower sleep not, and slumber not.”

[Scot Faulkner advises corporations and governments on how to save billions of dollars by achieving dramatic and sustainable cost reductions while improving operational and service excellence. He served as the Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served on the White House Staff, and as an Executive Branch Appointee.]

AMERICAN HERO

Clarence Edward “Ki” Faulkner

September 14, 1923 – April 3, 2017

How does one summarize such an impactful life?

My Dad, Ki Faulkner, saved lives in the middle of a war, saved lives by making airports safer, and saved entire species from extinction.

An Eagle Scout with Troop Number 1 in Brewer, Maine, Ki Faulkner devoted his life to the outdoors.  He loved to hunt and fish, and to simply walk in the woods teaching others about the wonders of nature.

He left after his Freshman Year at the University of Maine, Orono to volunteer for the Tenth Mountain Division.  He quickly rose to acting Platoon Sergeant of 3^rd Platoon in the 86^th Regiment.  The Tenth Mountain Division was specially trained for mountain warfare and led the Allies’ final push in Northern Italy during World War II.

Ki was known for his leadership skills and his acts of bravery.  He earned two Bronze Stars, for rallying his men in turning back a German counter-attack on Riva Ridge and for leading the capture of the German Headquarters in Torbole during the battle for Lake Garda. 

Yet, he was most proud of his Soldiers Medal.  On February 10, 1945, his Platoon was staying in a warehouse readying for a patrol.  A pin popped out of a grenade during distribution of ammunition.  As others froze, Ki rushed forward, grabbed the grenade, and threw it through a ceiling skylight to explode in the air.  He saved the lives of eighteen of his comrades.  The commendation reads:

By his quick thinking, instantaneous initiative, and selfless heroism endangering his own life to save the lives of the other eighteen men, Sergeant Faulkner has earned the highest commendation and praise for his gallantry and valor.

Ki returned home and earned a BS in Wildlife Biology from the University of Maine.  Just as he was starting his career, he was called to duty during the Korean War.  His former Commanding General in Italy, Mark Clark, wanted veterans to “season” new recruits bound for the Korean War.  My Dad designed and led highly challenging field exercises for the 101^st Airborne on Okinawa.

Once back in America, Ki began a 36-year career as the first Wildlife Biologist hired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  On October 4, 1960, he came to national prominence developing bird safety procedures in the wake of the deadly air crash at Boston’s Logan Airport.  His guidelines for removing bird habitats near run ways remain the global standard to this day.

While leading the Midwest Region in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ki developed and led teams who saved entire species from extinction.  His Wolf experts developed the world’s first radio collars, including inventing batteries, transmitters, and plane based tracking technology, to better understand Wolf behavior, ultimately saving the Eastern Timber Wolf from extinction.  His Eagle experts, collected eggs from healthy birds in Minnesota, then used hot water bottles to keep them warm as they flew to other parts of America to replace soft eggs laden with DDT, thus restoring Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states.  His bird experts perfected ways to drive away Cowbirds in order to save the Kirkland Warbler from extinction.

Ki’s most ambitious effort began with the chance discovery of a Black Footed Ferret in a Prairie Dog town.  Ferrets were thought to be extinct since the 1920s.  His teams charted the tiny population and began a captive breeding and release program that continues to this day in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution.  In 2015, a male Ferret born in captivity was named after him in honor of his role.  “Ki Ferret” is now happily making little Ferrets after being released into the wild in Colorado.

My Dad’s greatest desire was to have young people, for generations to come, discover their own love for nature and the outdoors.  He founded the first co-educational Explorer Post for Wildlife.  In his final years, he donated all his collections, photos, and papers to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Museum at the National Conservation Training Center near Shepherdstown, West Virginia.  These include his hand tied fishing flies and hand carved decoys, all amazing works of art.

I was incredibly blessed to have Ki Faulkner as my father, and to be guided by him throughout my life, up to just a few days ago.  His legacy lives on through the descendants of those he saved in Italy, the animals who still thrive in the wild, and the generations of young people who will view his collections and be inspired to love the outdoors as much as he did.

Ki married Irene MacDonald Faulkner on June 22, 1946.  She passed on November 6, 2013.  They will both be memorialized and interred during a private family gathering in Maine later this year.

Those wishing to honor Ki Faulkner should make a donation to the Harpers Ferry Park Association; P.O. Box 197; Harpers Ferry, WV 25425.  Make checks payable to “Harpers Ferry Park Assn. Ki Faulkner”.

Scot Faulkner

Son