Today's Article
Former Senator
Warren Rudman
shows a depth of
thought that sadly is
missing in today's
fear-based political
landscape.
Warren Rudman
shows a depth of
thought that sadly is
missing in today's
fear-based political
landscape.
The American Spark
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Homeland Security is a 'Colossal Mess', Says Former Republican
Senator
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 11th, 2007
As a former Republican Senator from New Hampshire, Warren Rudman is rather used to speaking his mind on
political matters. Though he now serves as interim chairman for Stonebridge International, a commercial
advisory firm, Rudman still remembers how to clearly state political realities.
Rudman bluntly declared in a joint interview last week with National Journal Magazine and CongressDaily that
the Bush Administration's Homeland Security Department has become a "colossal mess."
"It's just too big," said Rudman, adding that the department should be re-formed into a smaller, more focused
agency.
Rudman and former Democratic Senator Gary Hart of Colorado released a study in February 2001 which later
that year seemed almost prophetic: It warned that an unprotected America may be struck by terrorists, and
advised the Bush Administration to create a cabinet-level department which would work to avert such a
calamity.
But Rudman told the news organizations that the Homeland Security Department simply is not the agency
that he and former Senator Hart hoped the White House would create.
Rudman said that the Bush Administration agency instead has subverted some of the very departments it was
meant to oversee, to the harm of America and its citizens. He pointed to the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) as one prominent victim of the reorganization, which "has been almost destroyed" through
Bush White House incompetence, said Rudman.
But it's the Homeland Security Department's failure to protect American ports which has the former senator
particularly worried.
That "is still the No. 1 unsolved problem," Rudman told the reporters, later adding that only one nuclear device
coming through this country's unprotected ports may be used to destroy a city's social and economic
well-being "for 100 years."
Though the agency literally has invested hundreds of billions in needed improvements to aviation security after
Sept. 11th, 2001, "the ports are wide open," he warned.
Another matter which the former Republican senator discussed with the reporters was whether Iran posed any
real danger to the United States.
Rudman believes that "we have to throw every roadblock possible" at Iran if we are to ensure that it doesn't
obtain a nuclear weapon. But Rudman went on to show both a clarity and a depth of thought that sadly is
missing in today's fear-based political landscape, especially among Republican Party leaders.
The former GOP senator pointed out that military action against Iran would almost surely be unnecessary to
keep the country from developing The Bomb, simply because Iranian leaders know their country would "be
obliterated in the blink of an eye" if it came to a full-scale war with America.
"They may be rambunctious, but they are not stupid," said Rudman.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
Senator
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 11th, 2007
As a former Republican Senator from New Hampshire, Warren Rudman is rather used to speaking his mind on
political matters. Though he now serves as interim chairman for Stonebridge International, a commercial
advisory firm, Rudman still remembers how to clearly state political realities.
Rudman bluntly declared in a joint interview last week with National Journal Magazine and CongressDaily that
the Bush Administration's Homeland Security Department has become a "colossal mess."
"It's just too big," said Rudman, adding that the department should be re-formed into a smaller, more focused
agency.
Rudman and former Democratic Senator Gary Hart of Colorado released a study in February 2001 which later
that year seemed almost prophetic: It warned that an unprotected America may be struck by terrorists, and
advised the Bush Administration to create a cabinet-level department which would work to avert such a
calamity.
But Rudman told the news organizations that the Homeland Security Department simply is not the agency
that he and former Senator Hart hoped the White House would create.
Rudman said that the Bush Administration agency instead has subverted some of the very departments it was
meant to oversee, to the harm of America and its citizens. He pointed to the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) as one prominent victim of the reorganization, which "has been almost destroyed" through
Bush White House incompetence, said Rudman.
But it's the Homeland Security Department's failure to protect American ports which has the former senator
particularly worried.
That "is still the No. 1 unsolved problem," Rudman told the reporters, later adding that only one nuclear device
coming through this country's unprotected ports may be used to destroy a city's social and economic
well-being "for 100 years."
Though the agency literally has invested hundreds of billions in needed improvements to aviation security after
Sept. 11th, 2001, "the ports are wide open," he warned.
Another matter which the former Republican senator discussed with the reporters was whether Iran posed any
real danger to the United States.
Rudman believes that "we have to throw every roadblock possible" at Iran if we are to ensure that it doesn't
obtain a nuclear weapon. But Rudman went on to show both a clarity and a depth of thought that sadly is
missing in today's fear-based political landscape, especially among Republican Party leaders.
The former GOP senator pointed out that military action against Iran would almost surely be unnecessary to
keep the country from developing The Bomb, simply because Iranian leaders know their country would "be
obliterated in the blink of an eye" if it came to a full-scale war with America.
"They may be rambunctious, but they are not stupid," said Rudman.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!