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Department will improve agencies' cooperation
Norman Transcript Paper -- not on the web | June 10, 2002 | Norman Transcript Editorial

Posted on 06/10/2002 11:54:31 AM PDT by PhiKapMom

DEPARTMENT WILL IMPROVE AGENCIES' COOPERATION

President Bush's proposal for a Department of Homeland Security with its own Cabinet secretary may be, as critics claim, timed to counter the impact of the congressional investigations into the failure of our nation's intelligence agencies to share information that could have provided warnings of the Sept. 11 attack.

Nevertheless, and despite the turf battles that will undoubtedly ensue, the idea is a good one and the plan should be pursued.

The agency the president is proposing would include the Coast Guard, Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service and Border Patrol in its border and transportation security division. The Federal Emergency Management Agency would be part of its emergency preparedness and response unit. The Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, now part of the Energy Department, would be part of the new agency's chemical biological and nuclear countermeasures division. The Secret Service would be part of the new department, which also would include an information analysis and infrastructure protection unit -- a central place for assessing and coordinating intelligence gathered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency and other agencies that gather such information.

Putting these agencies under one umbrella in the Department of Homeland Security seems much more logical that the present system, which entrusts the Treasury Department with protecting our president and house Customs, the Coast Guard and the Border Patrol in three different agencies when they ought to be able to work together with a minimum of red tape.

We have been impressed with the way state and local law enforcement personnel have been working together in recent years, sharing information to catch criminals who commit crimes in more than one jurisdiction or to eliminate suspects. When Oklahoma City police arrested a man who looked like a possible suspect for the Juli Busken murder this February, a shared saliva sample quickly provided DNA evidence ruling him out as a suspect, saving police time and taxpayer dollars. This kind of cooperation should be a model for the FBI and the CIA. At the federal level "unified commands" between the various branches of the service have already been implemented and deemed a success.

This proposal will have to go through congress, and no doubt some changes will be made during that process. The main idea, combining a group of agencies that need to work together into one department under one Cabinet secretary, is one whose time has come.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: homelandsecurity; presbushsproposal
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To: deport
All ina ll, it sounds like there may be a spike in spending one year, but after that, it's going to be somewhat cheaper to deal with since a lot of these agencies will be under one roof. All in all, it's pretty good, if you ask me.
21 posted on 06/10/2002 1:04:29 PM PDT by hchutch
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To: deport; PhiKapMom
So what happened to all those people who were opposed to this?
22 posted on 06/10/2002 1:29:57 PM PDT by Amelia
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To: Amelia
So what happened to all those people who were opposed to this?

Now that's a great question! Last week they hit the thread as soon as I got it up to starting trashing it! Now this one is supposed to be for debate and no one is around! What gives?

23 posted on 06/10/2002 1:36:23 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: PhiKapMom
Now this one is supposed to be for debate and no one is around! What gives?

Well, it couldn't be that they all just wanted to be contrary. Maybe they're all at work? ;-)

24 posted on 06/10/2002 2:24:59 PM PDT by Amelia
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To: PhiKapMom
This Office of Homeland Security (OHS?), should remove any doubt that we have a MBA in the White House. This massive restructuring will get rid of a lot of dead wood(read clinton holdovers), support our "new" overidding mission (read long over due strategic focus willfully ignored by clinton) and reduce overhead. What in this proposal is there to debate? Not much unless you want to get into the turf wars. Those who do will be so politically unpopular, their lives will be miserable.
25 posted on 06/10/2002 2:39:56 PM PDT by FranklinsTower
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To: Amelia; PhiKapMom; ALL
Another thread with info for the ongoing debate over here. Mighty hot and heavy I see.......

Associated Press | 10 June 2002 | Curt Anders

Posted on 6/10/02 4:34 PM Central by PhiKapMom

Bush Security Plan Has Differences

By CURT ANDERSON
.c The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Much of President Bush's proposal to create a new Homeland Security Department mirrors legislation already moving in Congress, but the White House plan differs in key areas such as intelligence, immigration and the Secret Service.

As they brace for bruising turf battles over the far-reaching plan, lawmakers say discord over these and other points could slow down the legislation Bush wants on his desk by year's end.

A House panel plans a hearing Tuesday as congressional leaders gear up to meet the president's goal. House and Senate members from both parties are to testify about their homeland security legislation.


26 posted on 06/10/2002 2:46:06 PM PDT by deport
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To: FranklinsTower
I agree with your comments. Deport just posted a link to another article I posted on this subject where it details that there are 88 committees/subcomittees that are involved with these agencies that are going to be combined. Seems to me that some of the Congressional staffers need to go along with the deadwood in the agencies. Do believe that Congress has WAY too many committees/subcommittes all with staffers drawing Government paychecks!
27 posted on 06/10/2002 2:51:37 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: PhiKapMom
Where are the people who oppose this? Don't they want to debate? Are they in a meeting? Getting new talking points? Inquiring minds want to know!!
28 posted on 06/10/2002 4:52:50 PM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: Miss Marple
Those debaters should had enough to say on the activism thread -- now that this thread is up for debate -- they are nowhere to be seen! All I ask is that stick to FACTS in their debate! Wonder what gives?
29 posted on 06/10/2002 5:28:09 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: PhiKapMom
My theory: they have deduced that we are on to them, and are in a meeting trying to figure out a new plan of attack.

Har!

30 posted on 06/10/2002 5:30:51 PM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: Miss Marple
Shsssssshh....... you'll scare the 'church mouse'
31 posted on 06/10/2002 5:33:58 PM PDT by deport
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To: Miss Marple; Deport
LOL!!!!!!!!!!
32 posted on 06/10/2002 5:39:03 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: PhiKapMom
Cannot believe they couldn't put up a thread themselves

LOL. Actually some one did that last night. It has 41 replies. Most to the effect that they were supporting the new department.

33 posted on 06/10/2002 6:25:33 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Texasforever
LOL!!! What happened to all the debate they go so mad at me about? This is too funny!
34 posted on 06/10/2002 6:33:28 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: Texasforever
I was reading one today that had a negative headline. It had about 30 replies...by four posters...LOL!
35 posted on 06/10/2002 6:35:42 PM PDT by terilyn
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To: PhiKapMom; Amelia
"So what happened to all those people who were opposed to this?"

A.D.D.

36 posted on 06/10/2002 6:37:30 PM PDT by terilyn
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To: PhiKapMom
I just told the poster that his description of the new department was a lie but that I would not trash his thread debating him about it. I also told him I would sit quietly and see how much support he got. That thread died quicker than a fart in a tornado.
37 posted on 06/10/2002 6:41:38 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Texasforever
That thread died quicker than a fart in a tornado.

LOL!!!!!!! You made me laugh with that one!

38 posted on 06/10/2002 8:04:15 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: PhiKapMom
Whew. After I posted it I was afraid someone might take offense. I sometimes let Texas replace English when I post.
39 posted on 06/10/2002 8:07:48 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Texasforever
Been in TX and OK since 1990 and cannot tell the difference in the sayings in the two states so I didn't think twice about it! Just thought it was hilarious!
40 posted on 06/10/2002 8:43:06 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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