Atlas, a New York resident, reacts to the stories about DHS’s homeland security spending in her most recent vlog. She is unimpressed with what she says is too much whining and crying from those who insist that New York was denied the money it desperately needs. Watch it now. She’s really good.
New York and Homeland Security Spending
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Kim Priestap
Wife. Mom. First and Second Amendment enthusiast. Gun owner. I train often. ***** He can't even run his own life, I'll be damned if he'll run mine.
Here’s a couple of relevant stories:
The Homeland Security bureaucrat who shortchanged New Yorkers’ safety by $80 million implied yesterday that guarding a Nebraska cornfield from an Al Qaeda attack is the same as putting a cop with a gun on the Brooklyn Bridge.
“When you are protecting agriculture in the Midwest, you are protecting the citizens of New York City,” Assistant Secretary Tracy Henke told C-Span’s “Washington Journal.”
Henke – a political appointee in charge of doling out $1.7 billion in security grants to cities under the highest threat of attack – cut funds to New York City and Washington by 40%, even though both are considered Al Qaeda’s top terror targets.
—
“The whole DHS agro-terrorism theory doesn’t hold,” the official said. Asked if he had ever heard of a credible terrorist threat to the food supply, the official laughingly replied, “Never.”
John Pike, a homeland security expert at GlobalSecurity.org, said Al Qaeda is purely interested in made-for-TV carnage.
“DHS may think that Wyoming is a more lucrative target than New York or Washington, but Al Qaeda seems to have a different view of the matter,” Pike said. “Al Qaeda doesn’t have a track record of attacking the food system.”
And while Homeland Security claims New York doesn’t have any national icons, terrorists clearly feel differently. A chilling image pulled yesterday from an Islamic extremist Web site by the NYPD Intelligence Division shows the Statue of Liberty with a bomb-damaged, blood-splattered face under a banner reading “Today and Tomorrow America.”
Gee, I’m glad the Republicans are keeping us safe from terror. If you live in a cornfield, that is.
There really were no cuts. More money was added last year to balance the distribution over the previous years. The average amount did not change significantly.
Moreover, designating NYC having “icons” would have lowered its susceptibility ranking and meant lower funding, according to Michael Chertoff.
Re: mantis
Yes, because if the U.S. is attacked again.. they’ll only attack NYC and D.C… and they’ll only do it by hijacking airliners with box cutters.
Of course, if you actually bother to trouble yourself with reading what the lather is about… you’ll discover that the “cut” relative is relative to last year which included an additional one-time sum and is in line with average of the past few years.
And while Homeland Security claims New York doesn’t have any national icons,
Again, I know it’s a lot more trouble to read and understand than it is to whine evil Republican but Homeland classifies structures as either icons/landmarks or office buildings. Office buildings are considered higher value targets and Homeland therefore allocates more $ for an office building than an landmark. Therefore, classifying structures in NY not as icons/landmarks but as office buildings affords it more money. But nevermind that… on with the whining!
– MikeB
There are valid threats and concerns that require protecting our food AND water supplies, which are indeed more vulnerable to attack then the twin towers.
Or you can keep your heads in the sand [or the sigmoid colon] until our food and water is contaminated and no longer potable. Funny how the same folks who scream at the thought of us contaminating our own soil and water scoff at protecting it from foreign attack.
That’s no excuse for what horrible degredation of our own resources has occurred for corporate profit.
Yes, because if the U.S. is attacked again.. they’ll only attack NYC and D.C… and they’ll only do it by hijacking airliners with box cutters.
Who said that? Take your strawman home.
Of course, if you actually bother to trouble yourself with reading what the lather is about… you’ll discover that the “cut” relative is relative to last year which included an additional one-time sum and is in line with average of the past few years.
Than how come so many other, lower profile cities saw their funding increase dramatically (Louisville, Omaha and Charlotte +40%)?
Again, I know it’s a lot more trouble to read and understand than it is to whine evil Republican but Homeland classifies structures as either icons/landmarks or office buildings.
Right, office buildings like the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge? Beside ignoring those icons and others, DHS also determined that New York has few financial institutions. Well, if you believe that I have an office building overlooking the East River to sell you.
Lets see if my math is correct, 50 states-100% of money appropriated= 2% to each state. If NY is getting more than 2% then the other 49 states are the ones who should be screaming bloody murder. Who said life is fair if everyone is allowed to define fair.
Who said life is fair if everyone is allowed to define fair.
The guy who invented the question mark?
I do not live in New York, and do not want my tax money going to people who are against a pro-active defense of this country. Let those who live in their overcrowded terrorist magnet cities pay for their own protection beyond what the other states get. People like Mantis are idiots. They oppose everything, then scream like hell when shit happens to them. That is as dumb as living in New Orleans, below sea level and blaming the national government for you being stupid enought to live where floods are a sure thing.
Watch it now. She’s really good.
We’ve been warned!
Let those who live in their overcrowded terrorist magnet cities pay for their own protection beyond what the other states get.
If we all flee the cities, don’t the terrorists win?
I do not live in New York, and do not want my tax money going to people who are against a pro-active defense of this country.
That’s retarded. You must work at DHS?
epador:
I couldn’t keep my head in my sigmoid colon if I wanted to. I haven’t got it anymore.
To those who wonder why Omaha received funds fro DHS.
Lower profile cities may not have as many citizens living in them or as famous national icons, however they have critical national assets in and near them. You’d be surprised as to where some critical national assets can be found. For example: Atlanta and the CDC. Which is a critical national asset.
Here is the critical national assets in and around Omaha
U.S. Strategic Command, or USSTRATCOM, is headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The command is one of nine U.S. unified commands under the Department of Defense (DoD).
USSTRATCOM is a global integrator charged with the missions of Space Operations; Information Operations; Integrated Missile Defense; Global Command & Control; Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance; Global Strike; and Strategic Deterrence.
USSTRATCOM is also the lead Combatant Command for integration and synchronization of DoD-wide efforts in combating weapons of mass destruction.
Also:
Univerisity of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha has leading experts in bioterrorism preparedness has positioned them as a national model and as a key ally in federal efforts in combating bioterrorism.
In addition to the expertise of several UNMC scientists, Omaha is a leading transportation center, with bisecting interstates and a major train hub; has fiber optic connectivity capability that is unmatched; is home to Offutt Air Force Base, from where U.S. presidents can link to key Defense personnel and other Cabinet members during wartime; is home to the world’s largest medical lab automation company, Lab-InterLink, which would provide for thorough and fast diagnostic testing during a disease outbreak; and has the support of its private community members.
These office buildings and what they house are important too, althought they do not overlook a River. I venture a guess that in the scheme of National Security they land higher on the list then our beloved Lady in the Harbor. If you don’t think these office buildings and what they house is more important to National Security then answer me a question. What National Security asset does the Lady in the Harbor have? Yes she is a National treasure but how would she defend NYC? Yes, she is worth defending, so is the Brooklyn Bridge.
But then what do I know, I am just a “hick” living near Offutt AFB and near one of those cornfields.
Mantis,
The critical national assets I told you about that reside in the Omaha cornfields are a portion of what keeps you safe in whatever corner of this country you live in. Maybe you should reevaluate your opinion of lower profile cities near cornfields.
If we do not harden and protect lower profile cities and the critical national assets in and near them that protect us all, don’t the terrorists win?
I thought the side bar comment of Mr Aviles, Health Director, were less than humouress. He has volunteered the entire workforce of Physicians in New York (they will not be paid for services rinderd), but the Hospitals will be compensated.
This is the equivolent of slave labor, all to service the illegal aliens.
Enjoy your wait in the ER people of NY, your politicians believe that Health Care for Illegal Aliens is more important than Health Care for you!
If we all flee the cities, don’t the terrorists win?
No, but a lot of deep blue districts would disapear…
The HSGP spending over the last few years has gone:
FY 2003 87 million
FY 2004 78 million
FY 2005 207 million
FY 2006 112 million
2005 was a spike. Chertoff said it was added to even off prior years’ shortfalls. The data supports what he said.
I get the agro-terrorism perspective, but I can’t help but shake the feeling that DC and NY are more at risk than Nebraska.