Chertoff Defends DHS‘s Dual Role

[sabra]

http://www.localnewsleader.com/kindred/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=142083

Chertoff Defends DHS‘s Dual Role

WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Monday rejected criticism that his agency is preoccupied with terror threats, at the expense of preparing for natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina.

His strong defense of his agency, in response to criticism by ex-federal disaster chief Michael Brown and others came as a congressional report blamed government-wide ineptitude for mishandling Hurricane Katrina relief.

Chertoff was announcing wide-ranging changes to the nation‘s embattled Federal Emergency Management Agency . The changes range from creation of a full-time response force of 1,500 new employees to establishing a more reliable system to report on disasters as they unfold.

Chertoff spoke at a gathering of state emergency management directors meeting in suburban Alexandria, Va. He responded to what he said were "people taking the position that DHS sees itself as a terrorism-focused agency" and that there‘s a "huge difference" between man-made and natural disasters.

[gratuitous]

1. If Katrina is all the better DHS can do . . .

Maybe the whole Department needs to be dismantled. After all, the practical aspects of dealing with the aftermath of a terrorist strike and a natural disaster aren't all that different. If DHS can't handle a hurricane any better than it did Katrina in terms of evacuation before and remedial services after, then it's clearly not the outfit -- or maybe Chertoff's not the man -- the people should entrust such a crucial function to.

Even some dyed-in-the-wool Republicans have come around to the idea that there are some things so big that only the federal government can deal with them. But the GOP is philosophically, almost congenitally, opposed to the idea that government can do anything. And their ineptitude and incompetence surely proves that they're not the party to be in power in any way, shape or form.

[CottonBear]

2. See...Katrina & Rita were just practice session for 2006 hurricane season.

:sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

3. gee, he did not like the tongue lashing he got from the Congressional

Report??- te he.

[rodeodance]

4. Cheer up Chertoff--I am sure your buddy agrees you did a heckof a job.