blackfox
Jun 27, 2004, 07:21 PM
OK, this may be nothing new to most of you, but I thought it merited revisiting...the quotes below are from a Washington Post Article discussing the relationship between the top-tier Bush donors (Pioneers) and their perceived influence w/in the Administration...while I obviously find this somewhat sickening, I chose to focus on the Chemical Industry, because of it's relation/vunerability to terrorist attacks. This is part of the larger picture of our Domestic Security concerns being not adequately addressed; from inspection of shipping containers (2% of total), to security on Nuclear and Chemical Plants, to Border Patrol...
So my question is: Why are these concerns below the radar of the average citizen? Why has nothing been done to flesh out Homeland Security w/ adequate funding...this all seems like such a serious oversight, and if, god forbid, there was another domestic terrorist attack, would the blame go here, where it ought to, or overseas, to the supposed "source". As much as I disagree with Isreali Policy at times, at least they have the good sense to take care of domestic security...
This is not meant to be an attack on Bush per se, although there is a definite link in terms of money...but he IS the President, and the Republicans currently control Congress, so who else should I blame? I am sure the Democrats also can be faulted for this oversight, but I feel blame should be proportional to who has the power to change these things, and for now, that is the GOP...Will this even prove to be much of an Election issue? I know Kerry commented on the Shipping Container situation when speaking in Seattle, but I guess I am incredulous by all this...comments?
After Sept. 11, 2001, chemical and petroleum plants faced the prospect of new inspections to ensure security was sufficient to prevent terrorist attacks. Reports for years had warned of chemical plant vulnerabilities. Federal studies said a properly mounted attack could kill millions. After the terrorist attacks, the Bush administration ordered the reports removed from the Internet.
In 2003, the White House gave responsibility for chemical plant security to the Department of Homeland Security. The new department, however, does not have authority to enforce security upgrades at the plants, according to environmental groups, members of Congress and the chemical industry. Lebedev said the American Chemical Council is working with Congress on legislation to give the department that authority.
here is the link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31678-2004May16.html
So my question is: Why are these concerns below the radar of the average citizen? Why has nothing been done to flesh out Homeland Security w/ adequate funding...this all seems like such a serious oversight, and if, god forbid, there was another domestic terrorist attack, would the blame go here, where it ought to, or overseas, to the supposed "source". As much as I disagree with Isreali Policy at times, at least they have the good sense to take care of domestic security...
This is not meant to be an attack on Bush per se, although there is a definite link in terms of money...but he IS the President, and the Republicans currently control Congress, so who else should I blame? I am sure the Democrats also can be faulted for this oversight, but I feel blame should be proportional to who has the power to change these things, and for now, that is the GOP...Will this even prove to be much of an Election issue? I know Kerry commented on the Shipping Container situation when speaking in Seattle, but I guess I am incredulous by all this...comments?
After Sept. 11, 2001, chemical and petroleum plants faced the prospect of new inspections to ensure security was sufficient to prevent terrorist attacks. Reports for years had warned of chemical plant vulnerabilities. Federal studies said a properly mounted attack could kill millions. After the terrorist attacks, the Bush administration ordered the reports removed from the Internet.
In 2003, the White House gave responsibility for chemical plant security to the Department of Homeland Security. The new department, however, does not have authority to enforce security upgrades at the plants, according to environmental groups, members of Congress and the chemical industry. Lebedev said the American Chemical Council is working with Congress on legislation to give the department that authority.
here is the link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31678-2004May16.html
