Biosurveillance system ripped

The Washington Times ^ | August 11, 2007 | Rebecca Carr and Alison Young

[neverdem]

COX NEWS SERVICE - The nation's biological surveillance system is "falling short" of its goals some three years after President Bush ordered the Department of Homeland Security to consolidate biological threats uncovered by agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into a central early-warning system, a new report found.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) failed to provide "consistent leadership and staff support to ensure successful execution" of the program, known as the National Biosurveillance Integration System, according to the report by Inspector General Richard L. Skinner.

Mr. Skinner found that the system has "struggled since its inception" to hire enough staff to effectively manage the program.

The 34-page report, obtained by Cox Newspapers in advance of its release next week, is already creating a stir on Capitol Hill.

Rep. John D. Dingell, Michigan Democrat and chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, informed Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in a letter that the panel is investigating the management of the program "to assess the adequacy of DHS's current biosurveillance efforts." The letter was co-authored by Rep. Bart Stupak, Michigan Democrat, chairman of the committee's investigations panel.

William R. Knocke, press secretary for the Homeland Security Department, said the department was already addressing several of the items raised by the inspector general at the time of his investigation.

For example, it is in the process of hiring nine full-time employees for the biosurveillance program and reached agreements with six federal agencies to bring aboard more analysts and technical-support personnel, who will start arriving this fall, Mr. Knocke said.

"Most importantly, the program now has critical leadership and support from senior officials," he said.

"We are also making sure that this program has direction with clearly defined goals and expectations for its 24/7 watch capability," Mr. Knocke...

[DBrow]

bump fer later

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Give ‘em a break. They’ve only had 3 years to get their **** together.

Okay, do we have a plan? Does anyone have a plan?

Anybody? Hello?

[VOA]

bump

[B4Ranch]

>>The nation’s biological surveillance system is “falling short” of its goals some three years after President Bush ordered the Department of Homeland Security to consolidate biological threats uncovered by agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into a central early-warning system, a new report found.<<

Chertoff continues to impress me with his _ _ _ _ _ _

[Lurker]

Mr. Skinner found that the system has "struggled since its inception" to hire enough staff to effectively manage the program.

Maybe if DHS would actually read the resumes they recieve they might find more than just a few folks who could help them out.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

I guess we need a “Fallen Through The Cracks” file...:0/

[B4Ranch]

I don’t think ‘crack’ defines the DHS situation. Maybe Grand Canyon would be more appropriate.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

I don’t think ‘crack’ defines the DHS situation. Maybe Grand Canyon would be more appropriate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
True Dat,,,It seems to be one thing after another,,,
I guess I rag about the border but that must be the first step,,,the rest will fall in line...

[neverdem]

GREEN MEANIES (MEET THE GLOBAL-WARMING MCCARTHYITES)

Importing illness

Iowa's Stake in Ethanol Distorts Our Politics

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[VOA]

Maybe if DHS would actually read the resumes they recieve they might
find more than just a few folks who could help them out.

IF they are actually short on qualified applicants, I would naively suggest
one reason...Dr. Stephen Hatfill, the "American" Anthrax "person of interest".

Knowing that if you work for this new guvmint organization and
that if you move on to another job...you could be the prime suspect
in a terrorism case...
that's the sort of scenario a lot of bio-chem scientists would
move them to consider employment elsewhere.

[George W. Bush]

DHS is Katrina/FEMA * 10.

I can't believe people take D.C. seriously when they've accomplished so little in terms of dealing with a real WMD attack or other major terrorist or domestic disaster.

D.C. is a clown circus. The federal government can't even build a puny border fence competently.

The unpopularity of pols in both parties is about the voters' view of them as utterly incompetent to govern the country and protect its citizens, heck, even operate a modern air traffic system.

We're seeing a crisis of political confidence in D.C., an accurate perception that the federal government can't do anything.

[nicmarlo]

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

I recall reading about major internal problems (this concerning important areas within CDC), over the past year, with the CDC.....maybe BQ recalls reading it, as well....I'll have to try to find the article. I likely won't be able to locate the article till end of next week....sorry.

[Leatherneck_MT]

“We’re seeing a crisis of political confidence in D.C., an accurate perception that the federal government can’t do anything.”

Sure they can

They can spend our money like drunken sailors in Bangkok.

We won’t SEE sh** for it, but they’ll spend it.

[VOA]

Mr. Skinner found that the system has "struggled since its inception"
to hire enough staff to effectively manage the program.

Scientists in the biological/chemical field (as the DiTech advert
would say) "are smart".
And if they have seen the case of Steven Hatfill, PhD ("American" anthrax)
following 9-11...
it's NO suprise they are having trouble finding applicants
(qualified AND committed).

The surveillance system is not set up to help managers do
something in response, Dr. O'Toole said. Part of the problem with
the biosurveillance program is no one is really sure what it
is supposed to do, she said.

Now there's one guaranteed method to discourage great applicants.
No support, no autonomy, no guiding sense of true mission.

No mystery why they can't seem to find the right people.
They can't even contstruct an modestly-appealing job profile for applicants.

And I got to admit...if any potential applicants that have watched
the current (and well-made) miniseries "The Company" are probably
loath to join any sort of "gray" or "dark" effort to protect
the USA (and Western Civilization).

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

Yep - just like Los Alamos.

[nicmarlo]

Yes. Similar to that.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Have a race with the private sector to do it. Think that would work?

[neverdem]

Have a race with the private sector to do it. Think that would work?

I'm not against competition, but what's the mission statement of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention?