Trying to puff up his bad poll numbers and give his beleaguered party a political boost for this fall’s congressional elections, George W keeps wrapping himself in the bloody flag of 9/11 and posing as America’s valiant defender. For example, he scooted over to the National Counterterrorism Center last month for a PR tour and photo op, declaring solemnly to the cameras: “We’re doing everything in our power to protect you.”
If only.
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While the BushCheneyRummy Axis of Incompetence and Insecurity has dumped nearly a third of a trillion of our tax dollars and more than 2,600 American lives into their diversionary war and disastrous occupation of Iraq – they have deliberately left Americans exposed to more attacks by failing to take some of the most basic security steps.
Port security, for example, is so sloppy that only a small percentage of shipping containers coming onto our shores are screened. Sheesh, the Bushites are screening every single American getting onto a plane to check them for shampoo, but – because the Wal-Marts don’t want the stuff they bring here from China to be delayed at our ports – thousands of containers are merrily waved through each day without inspection, despite the very real possibility that a nuclear or biological weapon could be tucked into them and detonated here.
Speaking of shampoo seizures, the technology to detect and protect us from liquid explosives has long existed. Yet, Bush & Company failed even to test detection technology that Japan gave to our government early this year. They also tried to divert $6 million that was budgeted for development of such technology – instead using it to provide more security for federal officials.
This is Jim Hightower saying… George W’s perverse preoccupation with Iraq has sapped money and focus from real protection here at home, leaving us vulnerable to real terrorist threats.
Sources:
“Hokum on Homeland Security,” The New York Times, August 20, 2006.
“Americans getting wise to Republican scare tactics,” The New York Times, August 17, 2006.
“Bureaucracy impedes bomb-detection work,” Seattle-Post Intellengencer, August 12, 2006.
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