National Security

La Tercera, Saturday, November 16, 2019

Dear Director:
In light of recent events that have put national security at risk, I would like to highlight what the 1997 defense book defined as national security:

“National security is essentially a political issue, considering the areas it encompasses. Indeed, the dimensions of security include, first, internal security, regarding the maintenance of internal order and public tranquility in the country; second, economic security, concerning the establishment of basic development conditions for all productive sectors; third, social security, in relation to equality of opportunity and the most equitable access possible to the fruits of development; and fourth, external security, regarding the maintenance of national independence, state sovereignty, and territorial integrity. In this external dimension, security is primarily achieved through diplomatic and defense functions.”

It would have greatly benefited us if the concept of national security, as indicated in this letter, had been respected, as it might have spared us the deaths and destruction that we Chileans have suffered due to not adhering to the wise definitions that were established at the time.

Richard Kouyoumdjian Inglis
Vice President of AthenaLab