Comments on: Napolitano Testifies http://www.hlswatch.com/2009/02/25/napolitano-testifies/ News and analysis of critical issues in homeland security today. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:16:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Beth http://www.hlswatch.com/2009/02/25/napolitano-testifies/comment-page-1/#comment-134880 Beth Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:26:17 +0000 http://www.hlswatch.com/?p=1946#comment-134880 When did the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) come under the Department of Homeland Security? Drugs are DEA not DHS? And public safety being a national intelligence enterprise statuatory of 3 year limitation to risk compensation to a hero is zero but granting a reward to protect is unaccountable risky management liability? When did the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) come under the Department of Homeland Security? Drugs are DEA not DHS? And public safety being a national intelligence enterprise statuatory of 3 year limitation to risk compensation to a hero is zero but granting a reward to protect is unaccountable risky management liability?

]]> By: “Man-caused disasters” | Homeland Security Watch http://www.hlswatch.com/2009/02/25/napolitano-testifies/comment-page-1/#comment-134869 “Man-caused disasters” | Homeland Security Watch Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:36:24 +0000 http://www.hlswatch.com/?p=1946#comment-134869 [...] Napolitano’s stubborn avoidance of “terrorism” in her prepared  testimony to the House Homeland Security Committee did not, as a result, especially trouble me.  But her choice of  “man-caused [...] [...] Napolitano’s stubborn avoidance of “terrorism” in her prepared  testimony to the House Homeland Security Committee did not, as a result, especially trouble me.  But her choice of  “man-caused [...]

]]> By: Peter J. Brown http://www.hlswatch.com/2009/02/25/napolitano-testifies/comment-page-1/#comment-134491 Peter J. Brown Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:18:53 +0000 http://www.hlswatch.com/?p=1946#comment-134491 "In response to a question regarding Mexican drugwar violence the Secretary mentioned, the “best intel is often available from the local sheriff.” Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) commended the Secretary for her commitment to “bottom-up intelligence.” I think she meant "sheriffs other than the person with the badge on who was about to killed by 3 Mexican gang members in South Carolina as part of an initiation rite" as reported in today's Washington Times by my old friend Jerry Seper who remains the best reporter thi snation has when it comes to the SW border / immigration beat. “In response to a question regarding Mexican drugwar violence the Secretary mentioned, the “best intel is often available from the local sheriff.” Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) commended the Secretary for her commitment to “bottom-up intelligence.”

I think she meant “sheriffs other than the person with the badge on who was about to killed by 3 Mexican gang members in South Carolina as part of an initiation rite” as reported in today’s Washington Times by my old friend Jerry Seper who remains the best reporter thi snation has when it comes to the SW border / immigration beat.

]]> By: William R. Cumming http://www.hlswatch.com/2009/02/25/napolitano-testifies/comment-page-1/#comment-134487 William R. Cumming Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:26:45 +0000 http://www.hlswatch.com/?p=1946#comment-134487 Corection--65-85,000 FTE's in DHS are uniformed or carry guns. NO ONE in FEMA is authorized to carry a weapon but OIG staff and security staff including special police at Mt. Weather. Corection–65-85,000 FTE’s in DHS are uniformed or carry guns. NO ONE in FEMA is authorized to carry a weapon but OIG staff and security staff including special police at Mt. Weather.

]]> By: William R. Cumming http://www.hlswatch.com/2009/02/25/napolitano-testifies/comment-page-1/#comment-134486 William R. Cumming Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:24:12 +0000 http://www.hlswatch.com/?p=1946#comment-134486 Now that Presidential Study Directive #1 signed by the President and issued on Feburary 23, 2009 has been made public by the Federation of American Scientists Secrecy Archive, it looks like FEMA role in domestic crisis response is fully part of that review. The review will end the end of April so that in the meantime it is left to Jim Jones and John Brennan to wrestle with any intervening domestic crisis. There is already confusion but the text of PSD #1 revokes NSPD-8, not HSPD-8 which continues in effect as do all other HSPD's issued by the Bush Administration. What is interesting is that the Secretary now argues she has NOT talked to the President about FEMA. WOW! Again FEMA appears leaderless and a step-child in a new administration. I think it is becoming a psychological issue as to whether FEMA is in or out of DHS! Does the leadership fear that FEMA leaving means the rest of DHS is threatened. Odd for an organization with less than 2% of the FTEs in DHS. By the way DHS keeps saying it has 220,000 FTEs while in my judgement closer to 160,000. Maybe an accurate head count and how that head count is conducted would be of help. Still almost 65-85,000 FTE in FEMA are uniformed or carry guns and badges and can retire in 20 years of active service. Any studies on this cultural fact and its impact on DHS? I keep hearing that DHS is an old-soldiers home (same language Frank Carlucci used in breaking up OEP in 1973 after Tropical Storm Agnes! And old Coasties home. While I have respect for both old soldiers and old Coasties if they are still capable perhaps they should just be allowed to continue where they are in military service for another decade. This issue should be looked at in detail because the "Can Do Types" are necessarily those that should be involved in critical community recovery issues that involve various sensitivities. Now that Presidential Study Directive #1 signed by the President and issued on Feburary 23, 2009 has been made public by the Federation of American Scientists Secrecy Archive, it looks like FEMA role in domestic crisis response is fully part of that review. The review will end the end of April so that in the meantime it is left to Jim Jones and John Brennan to wrestle with any intervening domestic crisis. There is already confusion but the text of PSD #1 revokes NSPD-8, not HSPD-8 which continues in effect as do all other HSPD’s issued by the Bush Administration. What is interesting is that the Secretary now argues she has NOT talked to the President about FEMA. WOW! Again FEMA appears leaderless and a step-child in a new administration. I think it is becoming a psychological issue as to whether FEMA is in or out of DHS! Does the leadership fear that FEMA leaving means the rest of DHS is threatened. Odd for an organization with less than 2% of the FTEs in DHS. By the way DHS keeps saying it has 220,000 FTEs while in my judgement closer to 160,000. Maybe an accurate head count and how that head count is conducted would be of help. Still almost 65-85,000 FTE in FEMA are uniformed or carry guns and badges and can retire in 20 years of active service. Any studies on this cultural fact and its impact on DHS? I keep hearing that DHS is an old-soldiers home (same language Frank Carlucci used in breaking up OEP in 1973 after Tropical Storm Agnes! And old Coasties home. While I have respect for both old soldiers and old Coasties if they are still capable perhaps they should just be allowed to continue where they are in military service for another decade. This issue should be looked at in detail because the “Can Do Types” are necessarily those that should be involved in critical community recovery issues that involve various sensitivities.

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