Last night I went to the Israeli Embassy’s Independence Day celebration. Sixty-three years ago, President Harry Truman recognized the State of Israel within minutes of its declaring independence and the rest is history.
You might recall that ACI-NA sponsors an annual security mission to Israel for airport directors and senior airport staff. Last year we were joined by government officials from TSA and Canada. Obviously, Israeli aviation security has much to teach us, though it is not all transferable.
The main thing I noticed is that every citizen feels a responsibility for the success of the country, and they act on that sense of responsibility. Perhaps it is the military training most citizens receive. Perhaps it is living in such a dangerous neighborhood. Whatever it is, it is very impressive. And I often wish I saw more of it here.
Seated are: Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren; Director of the Office of Management and Budget Jacob Lew; House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi; Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.)
Posted by Greg 
