[electmobile]

we don't appear to be making progress. We are going to need these folks soon,they better get on the stick.



We Are Totally Unprepared'
Nine years after 9/11, a chilling complacency about WMD attacks.

The most important overlooked story of the past few weeks was overlooked because it was not surprising. Also because no one really wants to notice it. The weight of 9/11 and all its implications is so much on our minds that it's never on our mind.

I speak of the report from the Inspector General of the Justice Department, issued in late May, saying the department is not prepared to ensure public safety in the days or weeks after a terrorist attack in which nuclear, biological or chemical weapons are used. The Department of Homeland Security is designated as first federal responder, in a way, in the event of a WMD attack, but every agency in government has a formal, assigned role, and the crucial job of Justice is to manage and coordinate law enforcement and step in if state and local authorities are overwhelmed.

So how would Justice do, almost nine years after the attacks of 9/11? Poorly. "The Department is not prepared to fulfill its role . . . to ensure public safety and security in the event of a WMD incident," says the 61-page report. Justice has yet to assign an entity or individual with clear responsibility for oversight or management of WMD response; it has not catalogued its resources in terms of either personnel or equipment; it does not have written plans or checklists in case of a WMD attack. A deputy assistant attorney general for policy and planning is quoted as saying "it is not clear" who in the department is responsible for handling WMD response. Workers interviewed said the department's operational response program "lacks leadership and oversight." An unidentified Justice Department official was quoted: "We are totally unprepared." He added. "Right now, being totally effective would never happen. Everybody would be winging it."

The Inspector General's staff interviewed 36 senior officials involved in the department's emergency response planning and summarized the finding: "It was clear that no person or entity is managing the overall Department's response activities." You could almost see them scratching their heads and saying, "No one's in charge here."

The report reminded me of the CBS News reporter who, working the overnight and monitoring the wires, saw the first report in 1957 that the Soviet Union had launched the first satellite, Sputnik. He called the rocket launch site at Cape Canaveral for a reaction. "We're all asleep here!" a rocket scientist replied, according to lore. They certainly were. A year later NASA was born.

There is one bright spot in the Inspector General's report: the FBI, which was highlighted for its organizational seriousness about WMD readiness, including holding regular exercises and training sessions, and having an actual response plan with clear lines of responsibility. All credit to the bureau.

The report was not the first of its kind. Six months ago, the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism gave both the Obama administration and Congress failing grades on preparedness for biological attack. It said, "the US is failing to address several urgent threats, especially bioterrorism." The administration soon announced it would speed up delivery of drugs that would be needed in the event of an attack.

rest at-

Peggy Noonan: 'We Are Totally Unprepared' - WSJ.com

[Ladbarbastirm]

Oh bullshit... why ever would we need these people or their stuff?

Haven't you heard? Everyone likes us now... Obama is in charge, all is right in the world!

HOPE and CHANGE baby!

[iklostardinn]

I am not really all that surprised we are unprepared for a WMD strike. The priorities of the current administration are way too expanding in other areas to worry much about defense or protection against such attacks. To be honest, we've been lucky so far at the failures of others trying to attack us. In the end if one is a success we will not be ready to deal with it as this report suggests. We also have ourselves to blame, it is no longer our top priority as a people to ask from our ever expanding government to protect us. Check any of the published polls regarding priorities of the American people, I'd be willing to bet defense and preparation against WMD attacks is not at the top of the list... assuming it is even on the list.

[SnareeWer]

The bigger threat, and possibly more destructive, is an EMP bomb.

[Tzqowwyt]

There are no WMD's (anywhere), that was just a big Bush lie.

[Slonopotam845]

The sad thing is, there is very little a nation can do to be prepared for a 'WMD' strike.

[Psymoussy]

The bigger threat, and possibly more destructive, is an EMP bomb.

But, but, but...

Haven't you heard? Everyone likes us now... Obama is in charge, all is right in the world!

HOPE and CHANGE baby!

[Charryith]

The sad thing is, there is very little a nation can do to be prepared for a 'WMD' strike.

You are probably right but I would not mind seeing a little more in trying. I realize the truth on this but just would rather priorities be a little more in this effort so that we do not have to fall back on luck getting us out of trouble.

[leijggeds]

The sad thing is, there is very little a nation can do to be prepared for a 'WMD' strike.

true, when we are speaking of the event itself, being on the offense we will be surprised, its just matter of time, BUT we can certainly have a efficient management team or at least structure standing by to coordinate the rescue and repair efforts...I mean look at the gulf?

[Percocetti]

I speak of the report from the Inspector General of the Justice Department, issued in late May, saying the department is not prepared to ensure public safety in the days or weeks after a terrorist attack in which nuclear, biological or chemical weapons are used. The Department of Homeland Security is designated as first federal responder, in a way, in the event of a WMD attack, but every agency in government has a formal, assigned role, and the crucial job of Justice is to manage and coordinate law enforcement and step in if state and local authorities are overwhelmed.

Three things:
One, what is the Justice department doing investigating our preparedness for WMD attacks? WTF, isn't that completely outside of their job description?

Two, Homeland security has been a fiasco since bush implemented it. Surely conservatives could see that making government bigger is not the solution? I guess not.

Three, constitutionally the Military is the organization that should be defending us from foreign attack. Why isn't the military's preparedness for a WMD attack being considered? Or are they just having all of their calls forwarded to Iraq and Afghanistan? Kudos to the FBI who also have a job description to prevent crime on US soil (which a WMD strike would certainly qualify as).

[Phywhewashect]

true, when we are speaking of the event itself, being on the offense we will be surprised, its just matter of time, BUT we can certainly have a efficient management team or at least structure standing by to coordinate the rescue and repair efforts...I mean look at the gulf?

That'd be nice, but our government has had nine years to put together such a team and has continually failed to do so. Both the Bush and Obama admins are pretty ineffective at being able to deal with a theoretical biological/chemical or nuclear attack on this country. I can almost swear that every year since 9/11, I've read articles about how we're still incredibly unprepared should such an event occur.

[Cogebrego]

The sad thing is, there is very little a nation can do to be prepared for a 'WMD' strike.

How conveniently this truth is ignored.


So much finger pointing, but so few solutions (or means to pay for them).

[AngelBee]

One, what is the Justice department doing investigating our preparedness for WMD attacks? WTF, isn't that completely outside of their job description?

No it isn't completely outside the job description of the justice department.

Their mission statement (with a section in bold forclarity)
"To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. "

Two, Homeland security has been a fiasco since bush implemented it. Surely conservatives could see that making government bigger is not the solution? I guess not. He wasn't much of a conservative after all was he?

Three, constitutionally the Military is the organization that should be defending us from foreign attack. Why isn't the military's preparedness for a WMD attack being considered? U.S. military forces have to be specially tasked to be able to act in the U.S. and Federalized Military forces are not to be used or employed for the purpose of law enforcement.