Dec. 06, 2005 - 17:29 MST

WOODSHED

In another article in today's Rocky Mountain News from News wire reports is the following grading by the 9/11 commission. In full:

WASHINGTON -- "The Sept. 11 commission released its final report Monday, outlining an array of shortcomings in the government's response to the 2001 terrorist attacks and calling overall progress "disappointing."

"The bipartisan panel cited disjointed passenger screening methods, pork barrel security funding and other problems in saying the administration and Congress had not moved quickly enough to enact the majority of its recommendations of July 2004."

"We're frustrated, all of us -- frustrated at the lack of urgency in addressing these various problems," said Thomas Kean, a Republican and former New Jersey govrnor who was chairman of the commission."

We shouldn't need another wake up call," Kean said."

"The commission gave five "Fs" for how well it has or hasn't followed the panel's recommendations. The five "Fs" were for:"

"F" "Failing to provide a radio system to allow first responders from different agencies to communicate with one another during emergencies."

"F" "Distributing security funding to states on a "pork-barrel" basis instead of risk."

"F" "Failing to consolidate names of suspicious airline travelers on a single terror watch screening list."

"F" "Hindering congressional oversight by retaining intelligence budget information as classified materials."

"F" "Failing to engage in an alliance to develop international standards for the treatment and prosecution of suspects." ------------------------ "Some of the other grades:

A-minus: Making efforts with other countries to crack down on terrorist financing abroad."

"B": Finding a balance at home between security and civil liberties."

"C: Getting private businesses to be prepared to respond in case of emergency."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So,after "Homeland Security" was born by welding various agencies together, that came nowhere near close to solving any problems. Sitting back and relaxing after the act of creation has not prepared us it would seem.

Pretty poor grades it looks as if. If I had brought a report card like that home from school it would have warranted a trip to the WOODSHED . . . . . . . . .

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