US Capital Building

HHS Secretary Janet Napolitano coined the term “man-caused disasters” shortly after taking control of the White House in 2009. At the time, the Obama Administration used it to replace the word terrorism. According to Secretary Napolitano,

“In my speech, although I did not use the word “terrorism”,I referred to “man-caused” disasters. That is perhaps only a nuance, but it demonstrates that we want to move away from the politics of fear toward a policy of being prepared for all risks that can occur.”

I was in the AF in 2009, stationed at the Pentagon, and remember how angry everybody was at the absurdity of the term. It followed another ridiculous Obama Administration term, “Overseas Contingency Operations” which replaced “War on Terror”.

The true irony of “man-caused disasters” is only now coming into complete focus; perhaps it was foreshadowing. America’s southern border is a disaster, as thousands of illegal immigrants, gang members, drug cartels, and maybe dare I say terrorists, flooding across the border. America’s debt is spiraling out of control. Over regulation is strangling our economy. President Obama continues to act unilaterally, as if he is an authoritarian president. Iran is collapsing. America’s allies no longer trust, or admire us. America’s enemies no longer fear us. The original term needs redefinition.

“Man-caused disasters” now tragically refers to the aftermath of the Obama, Reid, Pelosi “progressive” democrat agenda both domestically and around the world.