Where is the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review?
The first Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) was supposed to be delivered to Congress on December 31, 2009.
The QHSR is a comprehensive review of homeland security that “will guide the Department for the next four years and inform the nation’s homeland security policies, programs, and missions.”
Unless it was delivered in secret, the QHSR appears to be a bit late.
The potential significance of the QHSR might be evidenced by the national outrage over the Obama Administration’s failure to deliver the report on New Year’s Eve.
There is no telling how many New Year’s Eve parties were ruined because the report was not available.
I know instead of reviewing the QHSR — as we planned — my family was forced to go to Plan B, watching Ice Age 3: The Dawn Of the Dinosaurs.
My children only started talking to me again yesterday.
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A reliable source told me the report is being reviewed by the White House, and will go to Congress on Friday, January 15th (probably around 6 pm, when Friday things happen in Washington).
I also heard two rumors too good not to pass along:
One rumor said that the Department of Defense wants the QHSR to be coordinated with the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). The QDR is due on February 1, 2010.
There is a certain sense in that, especially since in Presidential Study Directive 1, the president (or someone who works for the president) wrote:
“I believe that Homeland Security is indistinguishable from National Security — conceptually and functionally, they should be thought of together rather than separately. Instead of separating these issues, we must create an integrated, effective, and efficient approach to enhance the national security of the United States.”
Another rumor said the Department of Justice wanted a hold placed on the QHSR. I have no clue why.
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I am guessing the final touches were being put on the QHSR when the Northwest Flight 253 incident happened. I figure someone wanted to make sure the Review covered the hornets released from Abdulmutallab’s underwear.
Better to get the Review turned over to Congress late — but complete – than meet the New Year’s Eve deadline — but with truck sized holes in it.
Whatever the reason, once the report is released, I can only imagine how carefully the Commentariat will review it to prove:
1. The Obama Administration is ignoring terrorism, and
2. The Obama Adminsitration is over-reacting to terrorism.
