Democrats

Something Stinks In Homeland Security

January 9, 2007 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

A mysterious gas floats high over New York, New York and covers a major part of the New York state area. Residents make numerous complaints of a foul and odorous smell in the air. At the same time in Austin Texas dozens of birds are falling from the sky and dying without any apparent reason or cause. What are causing these unique occurrences? Who knows but let’s spend some more money in Iraq; that ought to help us figure this out. How ridiculous is it that we spend billions in Iraq while we still have desperate security needs right here in America? Reportedly New York officials evacuated a large amount of buildings while also shutting down various trains after a mysterious gas like odor was reported Monday throughout New York and parts of New Jersey. These two instances (New York, Austin) may or may not be directly related to terrorism but what it does show is that America is so short of funds to protect itself that we still take 1970’s precautions to deal with the most modern of current terrorist threats. While we waste away billions in Iraq we are neglecting modern chemical detectors for our city, modern communication infrastructure for our rescue workers, and modern plans for dealing with potential emergencies. If these chemicals had been deadly thousands to hundreds of thousands of Americans would be dead by now and this is unacceptable.

These could just be mere coincidences but the fact that this may be a coincidence rather than a reported fact is the problem with the current situation in America. In modern times we face modern threats and we cannot deal with the modern threats by relying on outdated technology and policies. We need the most modern technologies to detect air quality, we need the most modern communication systems for our rescue workers, and we need the most modern of hazard plans for our societies. We have wasted billions trying to prop up fruit stands and carpet stables in Iraq while at the same time neglecting to protect Americans like they deserve to be protected. As of Monday afternoon the mayor of one of our most terrorist prepared cities in America stated, “One thing we are very confident of, it’s not dangerous…How long and what the sources are, we just don’t know.” How can ‘we just don’t know’ be satisfactory in modern times? America deserves better than this.

The insidious odor was reported throughout Manhattan, Newark, Midtown, and Battery Park City, not to mention all of the areas in between these locations. At the same time in Texas an even more bizarre situation was occurring when police began to shut down over10 blocks of businesses in the heart of downtown Austin early Monday. The area was shut down after dozens and dozens of birds were found dead lying in the streets. The birds were of various types reflecting all types of sizes and families.

The Department of Homeland Security stated that they ahve no credible information to suggest any imminent threat to Austin city. However, emergency workers donned yellow hazardous-material suits all along Congress Avenue while surveying the situation. There were also numerous fire trucks and ambulances called to the area and advised to be on the ready.

These occurrences could be terrorism but most likely they are not. However, what they do display to us is just how fragile America still is and just how vulnerable we still are. It’s time we keep a little of the Iraq money right here in America and make sure we Americans are protected first. We pay the taxes so why should we be the ones not benefiting from them? What has Iraq done to assure Americas’ safety? We waste billions over there while exposing ourselves to danger, it’s almost un-American.

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