Dean Broder bites dog in WaPo:
As head of a Council on Foreign Relations task force that includes a former national security aide to three presidents and a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Rudman is back warning that "the United States remains dangerously ill prepared to handle a catastrophic attack on American soil."
No one has seriously challenged the findings, based on field surveys and testimony by the first responders and their professional organizations, that there are large gaps to be filled. Few police or fire departments have enough radios and communications equipment, biological testing devices, breathing aids or protective garments to deal with a major disaster. Hospitals are inadequately prepared for a massive influx of injured patients.
The job they are not botching is getting money to Bush voters in the red states:
Another task force recommendation -- one that Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge shares -- is that the distribution formula for federal funds be changed. Under the current formula, the federal government is putting $10 per capita into Wyoming compared with $1.40 per capita for New York. With pressing needs and limited resources, more realistic priorities have to be set, so that the places with dense populations, strategic targets and landmark buildings will get the protection they need.
Think they'll re-allocate to "realistic priorities" before 2004? Not a chance! Electing Bush is the priority!