We all know the size of bureaucracy has been growing at an unprecedented rate, but the Washington Post recently revealed that the bureaucracy responsible for keeping U.S. citizens safe has exploded in size since 9-11-01.
Sure, we want to be secure, but do we really need over 1,200 government agencies working on counterterrorism efforts? I would bet there are all kinds of overlap and redundancy with this kind of growth.
There he is sans-necktie, behind the presidential podium from his vacation in Hawaii addressing the nation on the “alleged” terrorist who just lit his underpants on fire. By the way, this address comes three days late right before another round of golf in the Pacific haven. Had G.W. Bush done this…well, it would have been a field day for the media. Another botched opportunity for the Commander in Chief who has been a complete disappointment on national security. It seems to me that he sees this as an annoyance–a distraction from his domestic dismantling of the US economy.
Then there’s Janet Napolitano, the grossly incompetent HS Chief who flip flopped on how well the system worked, er, didn’t work to stop this lunatic from lighting himself on fire. Where’s the outrage for this hack who obviously isn’t cracked up to be the head of this very important division of government? When will we start profiling terrorists before they board flights headed to this country? Is it just me, or are these “leaders” not taking their jobs very seriously?
Terrorism can take many shapes and forms.
It is a basic tenet of conservatism that the state protect and provide security to it’s citizens. I hope this report is either false or greatly exaggerated.
It would seem that the airport at Minneapolis St. Paul is probably the safest in the country. Why? Because security has done such a stand-up job of protecting the individuals at this airport that now they can now dedicate their time to securing the bathrooms for potential gay sex. In fact, there are actual stings that have been set up to catch bathroom stall play…all at taxpayers expense. Surely, there are better things these officers can be doing.
Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff remarked that he had a “gut feeling” about an increased chance of a terror attack this summer. How exactly did the Secretary plan on quantifying a “gut feeling” to the tens of thousands of emergency responders who look to the Department of Homeland Security for direction and leadership? Apparently, this gut feeling isn’t enough to raise the terror level, but new reports show al-Qaida is at pre-9/11 levels (Chertoff also mentioned that al-Qaida is gaining strength).
Security is one of the prime functions of government. I believe most Americans expect a better descriptor than ”gut feeling” when dealing with matters of national security. If there is a credible threat, the American public should be made aware of it. Secretary Chertoff’s statement is sophomoric (and seemingly thoughtless) for a man who has a massive responsibility in keeping our great country safe.
