What does Schumer know about that freighter off Newark that we don't? Or am I misreading what I would normally take as garden-variety political opportunism?
"The idea of a truck containing a nuclear device in the center of our center is terrifying, but not impossible. It doesn't matter how good our airport security is if all it takes to bring a nuclear device right into midtown is putting it on a ship or bringing it in on a truck," Schumer said. "Right now, our ability to detect nuclear weapons brought in through our ports, bridges and tunnels is virtually zero. Once terrorists can get that kind of weapon right into the heart of the city, God only knows what could happen. The longer it takes to put new detection technology at our ports and toll booths, the longer it takes to institute better inspection procedures, standards and techniques, and new Customs agents in place, the greater the risk. And this is not a risk any of us can afford to take." Schumer's nuclear detection bill – The Anti-Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Act of 2002 – would mean stricter cargo reporting standards, increased penalties for unreported cargo, more manual inspections of cargo and merchandise, the purchase of over 100 new mobile X-ray scanning devices, and over $250 million to develop new technology to detect nuclear materials at ports and toll booths. He's really good at exposing the lack of security in NYC, which is probably the only thing he's good at. Nonetheless, give credit where credit is due.
However, it's probably easier to defeat the enemy than to provide 100% security for any city, as any one, at any time, can blow up whatever they like. Only a totalitarian regime could mitigate it.
NY unprepared for a terrorist threat?
Hell, they elected this one to the U.S. Senate!