Pre-9/11 Intelligence : The "Flat-Footed" Watchmen

The Morning Paper - Special Edition | 08/27/05 | vanity

[genefromjersey]

Pre- 9/11 Intelligence : The “Flat-Footed” Watchmen

I looked at a news story from Australia this week : police entered a burglarized store,and found the burglar – snoozing contentedly – on a pile of carpets. The sound of his snoring gave him away.

Catching burglars “asleep on the job” is rare enough to be uncommon – but catching the night watchman “flatfooted” is so common as to be unremarkable.

Let’s pretend – for a moment or two – the United States was a big candy factory, prior to 9/11. Candy is kind of tempting, so there were a lot of guards posted------BUT:

Let’s say there were Wackenhut guards outside the fence, Burns security people at the gatehouse, Pinkertons keeping an eye on the delivery trucks,and Wells Fargo people watching the doors. ( I’m just using names from memory here: no praise or slur intended !) Inside the building itself,we would have found several Candy company guards patrolling various routes, and assorted “undercover” people keeping an eye on the help.

All of these “competing” guards have radio networks – but each network is set to operate on its own, private frequency , so the others can’t overhear transmissions , and so these guards can’t talk to their competitors – because talking to a competitor is a violation of company policy.

Now, let’s make things worse: Each of the competing guard services answers to somebody different in the factory – and that person has to answer to a separate chain of command : which may – or may not – get to talk to the the people who need to know : the executives running the candy factory.

Our make-believe candy factory would probably have the worst security one can imagine – at the highest cost one can imagine : not unlike the United States of America , prior to 9/11.

I’d like to think things are better now . I’d really like to think things are much better now. I’d really,really, really like to think things are better now !!

How about you ?

[DTogo]

And even after 9-11, the candy factory still leaves it's gates and doors open for anyone to walk in and do work "no one else is willing to do."

[malia]

Things had better be better than pre 9/11 - because if they are not, and if we do not come up with a viable person for President in 08 it will be at least 4 years after that that again a Republican will have to clean up an even bigger mess following a Democrat as President.

President Bush must make some prior 9/11 changes -
Close our borders being one.
Assure us that our Intelligence agencies are something he can be proud of and if not change them.
Saying 'we took the fight to them' should be re-worded. Because they will strike again and his words will haunt him - the MSM, dems and all else will joyfully remind him. Instead President Bush should be say -- it is EVERYONE's responsibility to keep their eyes, ears open and report anything they feel necessary.

Thank you clinton, Gorlick, and the rest of his gang!! And thanks to the MSM. Not!!!!

[reasonisfaith]

The Bush Administration has warned repeatedly that another terrorist attack on our soil is inevitable.

Yes, we have a border crisis.

But at least we are fighting against the terorists now, unlike during the Clinton years. Things will get even better when the Saddam-Alquaeda connection is further illuminated, toppling the antiwar position taken by the mainstream media, the Nancy Pelosis, the Ted Kennedys, the Hillary Rodhams, moveon.org, the Chuck Hagels, the John Kerrys and other anti-military (against the troops) clowns waging their war against the War on terror.