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October 20, 2004
The Bush Admin Is Failing At Securing the Homeland
The non-profit group, Private Citizen, has put together an assessment of the current state of homeland security. Their report is broken into separate PDFs on aspects including chemical, nuclear, water supply, ports etc., along with an executive summary and an overview.
A few samples:
Regarding Nuclear Plants:
"Twenty-seven state attorneys generals warned Congress in October 2002 that the consequences of a catastrophic attack against one of the country�s 103 nuclear power plants 'are simply incalculable.' The plants were not designed to withstand the impact of aircraft crashes or explosive forces, and the government does not require nuclear plants to be secure from an aircraft attack. Radioactive waste is stored in standing pools or dry casks, making it vulnerable, and the plants have grossly inadequate security. But the Bush administration and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have resisted congressional efforts for additional security regulation. In fact, the NRC proposed weakening fire safety regulations, which would make it harder for a reactor to be safely shut down in the event of a terrorist attack."
The reasons for his failures include an aversion to regulation and a fear of upsetting the apple cart among his big money donors that are so often associated with these industries.
"'Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, President Bush has made protection of the American people from terrorism the rhetorical centerpiece of his presidency,' said Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook. 'Yet this administration has failed to use its executive powers or support legislation to mandate regulatory requirements that should be taken. Bush has abdicated his responsibility to protect America from the risk of terrorist attacks because he is fundamentally hostile to regulation of private industry, including the industries analyzed in this report, and is loath to cross his big money campaign contributors.'
Bush can fling around all the rhetoric he likes about being our great protector in his stump speeches, but his actions don't match his words. Whether it's homeland security or dragging us into a quagmire on the basis of lies, this administration continues to say one thing while doing another. The results could well be catastrophic.
Posted by amahler at October 20, 2004 05:16 PM
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