U.S. Ends Homeland Security Grant Programs (affects Chemical Plants)

[truthpusher]

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/politics/10709315.htm

Posted on Sat, Jan. 22, 2005

U.S. Ends Homeland Security Grant Programs

TED BRIDIS

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The government has ended grant programs that has provided more than $1.2 million a year since 2002 for two homeland security organizations that distribute information about potential threats to oil and gas and public transit companies.

The information sharing and analysis centers were set up to protect energy and bus, rail and ferry systems.

Collectively, more than a dozen such centers help protect banks, chemical plants, water utilities and other sectors. The centers, many of which are privately financed, are part of the Bush administration's effort to encourage corporations to ensure the safety of vital parts of the country's infrastructure.

(snip)

The warning center for the public transit industry, which serves more than 130 companies and organizations, risks shutting down as early as next month because the Federal Transit Authority did not renew its $1.2 million, two-year federal grant.

more:

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/politics/10709315.htm

[EFerrari]

1. Wow! We won the War on Terra? n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. what I'm trying to figure out

is how Rove will spin it if we have a disaster, either by accident or terror, to our infrastructure/factories.

[NVMojo]

3. he bankrupted the hls budget with his coronation event, what a liar....

[truthpusher]

6. The money spent for inaugural could fund this program for over 30 years!!!

[54anickel]

4. Ewww, corps are worried about their right to privacy from the gubbermint?

snip>

In each case, the Homeland Security Department encouraged the industry centers to join for free its new Homeland Security Information Network, which distributes government alerts among corporations, trade groups and others.

Some officials said they worried that participation in the federal network could discourage companies from sharing sensitive details among themselves about threats they would prefer to keep from the government.

"It would certainly dampen the sharing," Martin said. "Nothing would prevent companies from continuing to share, but they would be sharing information on a government system that the government has access to. It was different when we knew it was a system we controlled."

How does it feel, a$$hole$?

:nopity:

[asjr]

5. I feel the president should call on all his

corporate buddies to fund this. After all, we are bankrupt now because he thought of them first with the big tax give-away. This country has no money left.

[MichiganVote]

7. Going to use the money to support expansion in Iraq

[Coastie for Truth]

8. Here we go again...

Read Stephen Flynn, "America The Vulnerable" which describes in excruciating detail how our seaports, waterfront chemical plants (most of the big ones are on a water front), waterfront petroleum refineries and terminals (again, most of the big ones are on a water front), and inferentially, our nation wide oil and gas pipeline grid are all highly vulnerable.

Is somebody "out to lunch" or was "homeland security" just smoke and mirrors for the 2004 election?

And private industry is worried "... that participation in the federal network could discourage companies from sharing sensitive details among themselves about threats they would prefer to keep from the government."

What freaking threats? Don't they want the first responders to know what is freaking happening. Saint Florian protect us from these arse holes

And ""It would certainly dampen the sharing. "Nothing would prevent companies from continuing to share, but they would be sharing information on a government system that the government has access to. It was different when we knew it was a system we controlled."

Yeah - including firefighters, EMT's and Coast Guard? Gimme a freaking' break ---I'VE BEEN THERE - YOU ARE ASKING ME TO PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE TO PROTECT YOUR FACTORY AND YOUR EMPLOYEES -- BUT YOU WON'T TELL ME WHAT THE RISK IS --- SAINT FLORIAN PROTECT ME."

Who is Saint Florian? Google Saint Florian