| The Department of Homeland Security ("DHS"), the | | | | are the same as 2003. Am I missing something here |
| brainchild of this current administration, has an | | | | or is the DHS the biggest joke ever played on the |
| operating budget for 2006 of $40.6 billion. After three | | | | American public. |
| years and more than $100 billion, have we really | | | | Why is it that whenever we get near to a budget or |
| reached the point were we can sleep better at night | | | | increased funding hearing for the DHS at the Senate |
| with the knowledge that our "Leaders" are doing | | | | Finance Committee we seem to suddenly be |
| everything possible to protect us against those | | | | bombarded with new terrorists threats or new |
| terrorists attacks. | | | | information about a pending attack? Do they really |
| According to the Government Accountability Office | | | | think we are all that stupid or is it that they just |
| ("GAO"), nothing has changed since the inception of | | | | have so little respect for us, they just don't care! |
| the DHS in 2003. During their most recent test of | | | | So what did we get for our money and loss of Civil |
| nine US border crossings: California, Texas, Arizona, | | | | Liberties? Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security |
| Michigan, New York, Idaho and Washington, the GAO | | | | Secretary, applauded increased funding and changes |
| investigators were able to penetrate all nine border | | | | to the Department of Homeland Security's |
| crossings using fake ID's and phony names. | | | | organization during a ceremony at the White House in |
| Terrorists or criminals can "pass freely into the United | | | | October last year where President Bush signed the |
| States ... with little or no chance of being detected," | | | | FY 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. He |
| the GAO concludes in testimony given to the Senate | | | | outlined an integrated Preparedness Directorate to |
| Finance Committee. The investigators used readily | | | | enhance coordination and deployment of |
| available computers and software to create these | | | | preparedness assets and training at a cost of $4 |
| counterfeit driver's licenses and documents. None of | | | | billion. |
| the Customs and Border Protection agents "ever | | | | What were they doing for the last three years? |
| questioned the authenticity of the counterfeit | | | | Secretary Chertoff, earlier this year, outlined a new |
| documents." The GAO also said similar tests in 2003 | | | | six-point agenda which included the following: the |
| produced similar results. | | | | creation of an Office of Intelligence and Analysis to |
| According to the DHS, it has trained border agents to | | | | be led by a Chief Intelligence Officer by separating |
| spot fake documents and the agents intercepted | | | | and elevating the Information Analysis component of |
| more than 75,000 last year, but the job is | | | | IAIP. Wow this sounds important. He also wants to |
| complicated by the huge variety of legitimate | | | | establish an Operations Office, which will include the |
| documents. More than 8,000 are used to enter the | | | | Homeland Security Operations Center. Then there's |
| country, including easy-to-forge licenses and birth | | | | the Office of Policy and the Office of Legislative and |
| certificates. | | | | Intergovernmental Affairs. |
| So let me make sure I understand this: three years, | | | | I am now sure there must be a department within |
| $100 billion, the complete erosion of our Civil Liberties, | | | | DHS that has an operating title of Formation of |
| invasion of our privacy during phone calls, surveillance | | | | Stupid Titles for Departments to Increase Funding. |
| on our bank accounts and arresting citizens and | | | | Have an opinion or a question you would like me to |
| denying them legal counsel, but yet the test results | | | | answer, then write me! |