In the wilds of Wyoming the Arapaho are ready if al-Qa'eda pays a visit

[paineinthearse]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/12/wyom12.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/02/12/ixworld.html

In the wilds of Wyoming the Arapaho are ready if al-Qa'eda pays a visit

By Francis Harris in Cheyenne
(Filed: 12/02/2005)

Across the Indian reservations, the Arapaho and the Shoshone are being kitted out for war again, as are their old adversaries, the sheriffs of Medicine Bowl, Cheyenne and Laramie. Every policeman and fireman, professional or volunteer, in Wyoming is now equipped with a suit to protect against nuclear, chemical or biological attack. If terrorists ever strike this wilderness, the locals will be ready.

No American state receives as much money per capita to fund its defences against the threat from without. Yet few are farther from the front line or contain less tempting targets for al-Qa'eda or any other hostile body. The only things that Wyoming has in abundance is beautiful landscape, such as parts of Yellowstone national park, and decent, God-fearing folk.

But tens of millions of tax dollars are pouring in to make the state "safe" and buy big-ticket items such as the one glinting under the lights of the main fire station in the state capital, Cheyenne. Hazmat 7 is what firemen dream of. A monstrous, 38ft long, 13ft high, 64,000lb fire engine resplendent in cream, red and chrome, it would leave most fire rigs feeling hopelessly inadequate. "Special Operations" is emblazoned across its body. Inside, a huge belly contains computers, radios, a hand-held, laser-directed camera, television screens, protective suits, boots, tools and chemical-biological test kits. Its predecessor was a 33-year-old converted milk float. "Everyone here's pretty excited about it," said Steve Zimmerman, the officer overseeing hazmat, or hazardous material operations.

The state has six other new vehicles to deal with potential attacks. Similarly equipped, they cost £280,000 each. But the shopping spree did not end there. Wyoming has snapped up a robot called Miss Daisy, specialist breathing equipment, and has funded a communications system called WyoLink, set up a 25-member homeland security office and paid for numerous training programmes. <snip> Carolyn Maloney , a New York congressman, complained that the federal government "continues to send a disproportionate amount of security funds to states with more cows than people".

more.........

[proud patriot]

1. Quick ,,Everyone move to Wyoming

:D

[Skink]

2. If Cheney decides not to retire there.....

:party:

[Skink]

3. If Cheney decides not to retire there.....

:party:

[Skink]

4. Once again.......

:party:

[BrotherBuzz]

5. Doesn't Cheney vacation there?

Hell with the al Qaeda, they are hardening up the place to protect Cheney from his enemy, the American people.

[MisterP]

6. yes, I recall that HS spent 2x as much per person in Wyo. than in

NEW FLIPPIN' YORK!

[K-W]

7. People in Wyoming think they are going to get attacked eventually.

This is absolutely insane. Our entire country is bat shit crazy.

[countbad]

8. More Red state Insanity

Why is it that the people who are the least likely to be attacked by terrorists the ones most paralized by fear from them?

[depakid]

9. Folks, this is just old fashoined pork politics

to the victors go the spoils-

It's always been this way- and not just in America- although this administration seems intent on taking it back to a 19th Century level of corruption.

[Botany]

10. Wyoming home of the 106% voter turn out.

Nothing wrong there.


:kick:

[NYC]

11. Maloney's complaint in pictures:

Maloney sent this over a month ago.