Politics | 02/17/2009 9:15 am

Napolitano Launches Homeland Security Review

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Homeland security secretary Janet Napolitano isn’t wasting any time revamping her new digs.

The former Governor of Arizona has launched a complete review of the Bush administration’s programs, including monitoring nuclear sites, cyber security and border initiatives.

Though she hasn’t come out and said it, it’s clear Napolitano doesn’t approve of the way her predecessors secured the homeland. Take, for example, her remarks last month during her Senate confirmation, "If we’re going to be doing these kinds of things, and they are valuable, the underlying philosophy is a good one, but they need to be in my view streamlined." And agencies across the nation are already working on meeting Napolitano’s mark, the New York Times reports:

It will not take long to put Ms. Napolitano’s new thinking to the test. FEMA is completing plans for the next major exercise, scheduled for late July. Agency officials were reluctant to reveal too many details, but emergency planners in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas will be tested on how well and how quickly they detect a terrorist plot that begins with a mock attack in Europe and continues with a simulated strike against the United States from plotters infiltrating the border from Mexico.

The exercise this year, for the first time, focuses on preventing a potential attack, not just responding to a crisis, federal officials say.

It may be a while before we understand the scope of Napolitano’s reform, but here’s to hoping she can get the job done!

27 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

It may be a while before we understand the scope of Napolitano’s reform, but here’s to hoping she can get the job done! Since 9-11-2001, we have not had another attack on U.S. soil. What exactly does Napolitano intend to improve upon? Or has it been just good luck as Dems would have us believe. …monitoring nuclear sites, cyber security and border initiatives. Monitoring nuclear sites = good idea Monitoring seaports and airports = good idea Monitoring cyber security = questionable Monitoring border initiatives = okay

By Marjorie C. on 02/17/2009 9:35 am

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Napolitano is trying to improve security in the US. 9/11 should never have happened and the 7 long minutes after the attack didn’t need to happen either. I agree that I don’t always agree with Napolitano. The idea of using technology that we have to help monitor and protect us is good. We need to test thing out to see how helpful they are.

By Grande Camper on 02/17/2009 10:20 am

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Our Homeland Security became a huge behemoth of various departments merging, and I would hope that Napolitano will make them more cohesive and efficient. And, with all that has gone into it, there still has been a minimal effort to guard our waterways, our infrastructure and our highways, although now, there are chemical/weapon detectors in the weigh station that the large trucks have to stop at along the interstates. We also must always be ahead of the game technologically in order to keep Them from getting ahead of Us. Let us hope that which each disaster that DHS is learning from its mistakes. http://www.csoonline.com/article/print/220853

By Diana T on 02/17/2009 10:24 am

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Since 9-11-2001, we have not had another attack on U.S. soil. What exactly does Napolitano intend to improve upon? That statement isnt quite true…. you are forgetting the anthrax attacks after the terror attacks of 9/11 I think the more important statement is this one…… There has only been 1 major attack inside America after February 26, 1993 because President Bill Clinton kept us safe….. He kept us safe without ordering torture on any person……. There are many independent reports that question if the attacks of 9/11 would have even happened if the Bush Administration would have followed the information provided to them by the Clinton Administration…. instead it was discarded as “out dated”

By Roger from Ohio on 02/17/2009 10:35 am

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One needs to look at what actually took place during Clinton’s administration rather than streamline to “inside” America. (listed below during Clinton’s presidency). Stated above that there are many “independent” reports that question if the attacks of 9/11 would have happened if Bush’s administration would have followed the information provided to them by the Clinton Administration instead it was discarded as “out dated” is jibberish nonsense. Many liberals have SPECULATED that their party did a better job of protecting Americans so they throw Clinton into the ring as never having tortured anyone to in some way try to make him look like a better person than George Bush. Of course, no one knows if Clinton engaged in torture or not because it was never leaked. The ONLY PEOPLE who know for sure are people who have high level clearances….not people who post on this blog or who read “reports” written by people who do not have security clearances….high level security clearances. So, please do not believe what has been written above. It is all pure speculation. Torture, once again, is mentioned. It is referring to “waterboarding.” Please do your own research and when you do you will find that there are much worse forms of torture than waterboarding. Waterboarding doesn’t kill anyone. The Germans and the Russians know how to torture. So do our enemies in the Middle East. Unpleasant as it may sound, it is a necessary weapon used in war not only by the United States but many other countries. America has prided itself on its Intelligence capabilities both here and abroad. For a poster here to state, unequivocably, that this or that actually happened is preposterous. High security level means just that. Few people know the actual events and those that do can get the information on a “need to know” basis only. Certainly not journalists who write left or right leaning articles. What happened during Clinton’s administration? Please see below: 1993 - The first World Trade Center bombing 1995 - Attempted crashing of plane on White House 1995 - Oklahoma City bombing 1996 - Khobar Towers bombing - Saudi Arabia 1998 - U.S. Embassy bombings Kenya/Tanzania 2000 - USS Cole Bombing - Yemen

By deber B on 02/17/2009 11:48 am

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Oh Deber… put away your ideology and stick with facts. Many liberals have SPECULATED that their party did a better job of protecting Americans so they throw Clinton into the ring as never having tortured anyone to in some way try to make him look like a better person than George Bush. Of course, no one knows if Clinton engaged in torture or not because it was never leaked. Lets not forget that during the entire Clinton Administration, he was under investigation…. remember Ken Star? If there was torture ordered by the Clinton Administration, it would have been found out and made public long before now. Dont forget, the Republicans wanted to destroy Clinton just like many want to destroy Obama today. Torture, once again, is mentioned. It is referring to “waterboarding.” Please do your own research and when you do you will find that there are much worse forms of torture than waterboarding. Waterboarding doesn’t kill anyone This is one of the most inane arguments put out there by the right. Cutting off a finger doesnt kill anyone either…. would that be alright too? During WWII American POW were waterboarded……. the guards that engaged in this activity were tried for war crimes and hung. John McCain himself was waterboarded……. he made public that he knows that waterboarding is torture. Judge Susan. J. Crawford has said that Gitmo detainees have been tortured and cant be tried using evidence using torture. These are facts…. not speculation…… but with these known facts… right wingers still deny that waterboarding is torture. One other thing Deber…. 1995 - Oklahoma City bombing Wasnt that attack inside America done by a Christian extremist?

By Roger from Ohio on 02/17/2009 12:28 pm

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The problem with you is that you have never been in the military. You don’t know what it is like to fight in a war. You don’t know what it is like to be captured. You don’t know what it is like to be interrogated and therefore you do not know the importance of getting intelligence information out of captives so that lives can be saved. . Last February, Pelosi and Reid sent George Bush a bill that would have limited the CIA to the interrogation techniques found in the Army Field Manual knowing full well that he would veto it. Now they have a democratic president who shares their views. So why not send him a bill declaring once and for all that waterboarding and other interrogation techniques constitute torture? What are they waiting for if it’s such a bad thing? Let’s see how long it takes for Obama to reverse it. For the past few years, no word has been more casually thrown about than “torture.” And at the same time no word has been less precisely defined. Let’s sit back and see how long it takes Obama to erect a bill which states once and for all that waterboarding and other interrogation techniques constitute torture. Until then…

By deber B on 02/17/2009 1:31 pm

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deber…way to go….good information you posted. I can’t believe how so many are worried about the “so-called terroists” rights…doesn’t anyone think of the victims? You are right…let’s see what obama does when he is faced with the same problems President Bush was faced with. Will he be a wuss??? That’s what all these countries are hoping for…and if they are right…then we are in bigger trouble than any of us realize! Keep at it deber…doing good girl!!! wink wink

By Libra Lady on 02/17/2009 2:10 pm

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The problem with you is that you have never been in the military. You don’t know what it is like to fight in a war. You don’t know what it is like to be captured. You don’t know what it is like to be interrogated and therefore you do not know the importance of getting intelligence information out of captives so that lives can be saved. . By deber B on 02/17/2009 2:31 pm Have you been in the military, NOT A DEPENDENT!!! Have you fought in a war? Have you been captured? Have you been interrogated? If the answer is yes to all the above then you may know what you talking about, if not then how can you tell anyone that they don’t know what it’s like as that makes you know as much as them…nothing! Before you make blanket statements about people not knowing this or that be sure you know what you are talking about yourself.

By caj p on 02/17/2009 2:41 pm

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1995 Okalhoma City bombing….done by a Christian extremist? You are comparing apples to oranges and you know it. It could’ve be done by Bill Ayers or an orthodoxed jew. Stay focused….we are referring to terrorists from outside our country.

By deber B on 02/17/2009 1:38 pm

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They haven’t…..that’s my point!

By deber B on 02/18/2009 5:57 am

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I always enjoy reading the facts! T.Y. Roger.

By Patty E on 02/17/2009 10:37 am

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glad to be of service Patty.

By Roger from Ohio on 02/17/2009 12:30 pm

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http://dir.salon.com/story/politics/feature/2002/01/09/clinton/index.htm…

By Libra Lady on 02/17/2009 11:11 am

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I always have to shake my head in wonder when I hear the words “Bush kept us safe.” It’s as though people have convinced themselves that it was 9/11/00, not 9/11/01.

By Marina B. on 02/17/2009 12:40 pm