NationStates Jolt Archive

Not that I tend to go out of my way to find things to make Mr. Bush look worst than he already does, but...

( Article can be found HERE (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-02-24-disaster-drill_x.htm?csp=34) )



White House conducts bomb attack simulation

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dozens of high-level officials joined in a White House drill Saturday to see how the government would respond if several cities were attacked simultaneously by bombs similar to those commonly used against U.S. troops in Iraq.

White House homeland security adviser Fran Townsend presided over the three-hour exercise that brought the government's highest level homeland security officials to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House. All Cabinet agencies were represented by their secretaries or other high-ranking officials, with a total of about 90 participants, said Scott Stanzel, a White House spokesman.

Stanzel said the drill revealed gaps where the government needs to work to improve its response, but also showed progress since Hurricane Katrina exposed federal inadequacies when it devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005. For instance, coordination with state and local authorities and the ability to get federal resources in place quickly — key missteps after Katrina — appeared much better now, Stanzel said.

President Bush went on a bike ride not far from the White House Saturday morning, and did not take part in the test.

Townsend and the Homeland Security Council that she heads mapped out in advance a massive disaster involving improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, detonating in 10 U.S. cities at the same time, using a combination of large and small towns, said a senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

IED attacks are being used by insurgents in Iraq with regularity to kill hundreds of civilians and soldiers in Iraq. Recently, the Bush administration has said that IEDs and other weaponry in Iraq are coming from Iran.

But Stanzel said the test was not inspired by new intelligence or any increased chatter about terrorists' desire to use IEDs inside the United States. He noted that both the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 involved homemade bombs.

"The threat of an IED goes back 14 years," he said. "It's important for the administration to prepare for any eventuality, just as we have prepared for a pandemic flu, a smallpox outbreak or a major hurricane."

Indeed, this was the administration's fourth such "tabletop" exercise since the first in December 2005 on a bird flu or other pandemic outbreak.

Townsend's scenario envisioned requests pouring in from state and local authorities, and also assumed many local abilities would be diminished by the large scale of the disaster. The discussion began with the period immediately after the attacks, then moved to circumstances gamed out for weeks later. At each point, the agency representatives were directed to detail what they would do, the official said.

The next step is for the Homeland Security Council to study the role play and report on what gaps were revealed and should be addressed, Stanzel said.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



The reason I bring this up, incase no one cared to look for the thing I meant to point out...



President Bush went on a bike ride not far from the White House Saturday morning, and did not take part in the test.



So, here's my new title for the thread -

"I guess bike rideing is just much more important than Homeland Security."

meh.

Seriously--would you really want him in charge if that happened?

Bush is saying that while the threat is serious enough that this test is necessary so that we can be somewhat prepared, it is not so imperative that his presence is needed so he calms the American people by going on a simple bike ride. Bush doesn't want us to overly worry about this threat, you know.

Or something like that. He really is thinking about our welfare. It's not that he is incompetant or anything like that, oh no. ;)

Honestly, the chances of such an event taking place in the next year is pretty slim.

Let the man enjoy his bike ride.

The reason why President Bush did NOT take part of the test is realize this. what will his part be?

he will follow the Secret service agents who will either 1) guide him to a secure area, or 2) board the Presidential Chopper to head off to a secure area.

even he doesn't need to practice following others who knows what they are doing. :p

The reason why President Bush did NOT take part of the test is realize this. what will his part be?

he will follow the Secret service agents who will either 1) guide him to a secure area, or 2) board the Presidential Chopper to head off to a secure area.

even he doesn't need to practice following others who knows what they are doing. :p

But he's the leader of the Free World. :p

Would you really want to increase the guy's chances of surviving something like that?The reason why President Bush did NOT take part of the test is realize this. what will his part be?

he will follow the Secret service agents who will either 1) guide him to a secure area, or 2) board the Presidential Chopper to head off to a secure area.

even he doesn't need to practice following others who knows what they are doing. :p... Damn you & your serious replies.

But he's the leader of the Free World. :p

what!!! it's Free? I'LL TAKE IT!


WHOOT!!! I OWN THE FREE WORLD! :D

Would you really want to increase the guy's chances of surviving something like that?... Damn you & your serious replies.

what serious...

I just said he listens to what other people say *cough*Iraqwar*cough*

Let the man enjoy his bike ride.

He DID fall once. Mmm...

I would like to point out that during the Cold War, the President would never partake in the drills run for the event a nuke was fired by the USSR. The reason for this was that they didn't want the enemy to have an idea of how the President would respond to a certain crisis.

Of course I don't expect this fact to stop a few hate filled people from continuing their Bush bash.

He does not need to partake because he'll be sent to a secure bunker. That's all that he needs to do. Either that or declare martial law throughout the country to maintain law and order.

He does not need to partake because he'll be sent to a secure bunker. That's all that he needs to do. Either that or declare martial law throughout the country to maintain law and order.

Then perhaps he should have gone to the bunker, hmmm? Or perhaps he think's he'll just ride a bike if such an attack actually happens? It rather seems to defeat the realism of the drill if POTUS is buggering off on a bike and he can't be protected.

...Defeats realism, but adds to the happy end.

Not that I tend to go out of my way to find things to make Mr. Bush look worst than he already does, but...

( Article can be found HERE (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-02-24-disaster-drill_x.htm?csp=34) )



The reason I bring this up, incase no one cared to look for the thing I meant to point out...



So, here's my new title for the thread -

"I guess bike rideing is just much more important than Homeland Security."

meh.
Meh. Who really gives a rip?

But one question remains...Did he have training wheels?

But one question remains...Did he have training wheels?

He fell of a Segway, which was claimed to be impossible to fall off. Would training wheels make any difference?

Honestly, the chances of such an event taking place in the next year is pretty slim.

Let the man enjoy his bike ride.

And he does need the practice. I mean if he doesn't get rid of the stabalisers before he fooks off he will surely be a laughing stock.

GWB endangers himself when he climbs on a bike. What else can you ask for?

This is an excellent metaphor for the entire Bush precidency.

He does not need to partake because he'll be sent to a secure bunker. That's all that he needs to do. Either that or declare martial law throughout the country to maintain law and order.

Or perhaps he just doesn't take it seriously? If while this drill is going on Bush just takes a bike ride than perhaps this is a statement of how likely our president feels that this sort of attack actually is. Which if this action is any indication, it is quite low indeed.

So... maybe the story itself is just another scare tactic to keep us afraid.

Agreed. I would at least seriously consider doing the same. I guess it was not his idea, though.

President Bush went on a bike ride not far from the White House Saturday morning, and did not take part in the test.

Oh won't someone think of the policemen.:)

I would like to point out that during the Cold War, the President would never partake in the drills run for the event a nuke was fired by the USSR. The reason for this was that they didn't want the enemy to have an idea of how the President would respond to a certain crisis.

Of course I don't expect this fact to stop a few hate filled people from continuing their Bush bash.

I would like it known for the record that I am not filled with hate. I had a mushroom omelet and tomato slices for breakfast and I'm pretty sure that's what I'm filled with, though I may top off with some hate later on. It'll be an aperitif.

I would like it known for the record that I am not filled with hate. I had a mushroom omelet and tomato slices for breakfast and I'm pretty sure that's what I'm filled with, though I may top off with some hate later on. It'll be an aperitif.

I prefer chilled hate in the afternoons, or served warm with a side of hot pita bread for overnights.

I prefer chilled hate in the afternoons, or served warm with a side of hot pita bread for overnights.

Do you dust it with some powdered sugar first or eat it plain?

Do you dust it with some powdered sugar first or eat it plain?

Mmm, something a bit less sweet, and a little more savoury methinks. Otherwise, plain. Why mess with a taste sensation?

Of course I don't expect this fact to stop a few hate filled people from continuing their Bush bash.

Poor Bush. It's hard being a martyr for God. Woe, woe and shame to us who so cruelly and seditiously toss our slings and arrows at he whom God appointed to the mighty task of leading Freedom against the Godless Muslims Hordes!

Dear Nation States,
George W. Bush was put into power by Jesus himself, so do not question his authority. He is a great man, and he loves you unconditionally even if you don't love him back. He believes in freedom, justice, and listening in on your phone conversations so he can protect you better. He loves you that much. "G.W.B. till 2023."

Sincerely,
The American South

Not that I tend to go out of my way to find things to make Mr. Bush look worst than he already does, but...

( Article can be found HERE (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-02-24-disaster-drill_x.htm?csp=34) )



The reason I bring this up, incase no one cared to look for the thing I meant to point out...



So, here's my new title for the thread -

"I guess bike rideing is just much more important than Homeland Security."

meh.

There was no need for him to participate. It was to see how the federal and state bureaucracies would respond to an IED attack happening on US soil.

The reason for this was that they didn't want the enemy to have an idea of how the President would respond to a certain crisis.

Of course I don't expect this fact to stop a few hate filled people from continuing their Bush bash.

But it's ok for them to know what the rest of the country is doing, nevermind the president is utterly uncapable of responding to anything from a hurricane to eating a fucking pretzle.

Amazing how often he rides his bike and he still looks out of shape, what's up with that?

It just shows how much he actually cares about the country he is supposedly leading. American lives mean nothing to this man as he clearly detached himself from the general public or as the aristocrats call, Morloks, a long time ago.

Not that I tend to go out of my way to find things to make Mr. Bush look worst than he already does, but...

( Article can be found HERE (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-02-24-disaster-drill_x.htm?csp=34) )



The reason I bring this up, incase no one cared to look for the thing I meant to point out...



So, here's my new title for the thread -

"I guess bike rideing is just much more important than Homeland Security."

meh.

Are you crazy? He did the right thing! All Americans must be healthy to fight the terrorist threat!

September 11th showed how poorly the various portions of the U.S. government work together in large scale emergencies. Since then the U.S. has been trying to polish the ways in which different agencies communicate and cooperate with each other in an emergency. What (should have been) learned on 9/11 is that these agencies have to be able to work together by themselves. You can't count on one man to single handedly coordinate the national response to something like this, there already needs to be procedures in place. Bush will be gone in a little while, replaced by someone else. In an emergency it isn't certain that the President will be available. He could be dead, injured, isolated/protected in an area with subpar communication equipment. He could be in a Florida Elementary school reading to children, and by the time the full extent of the emergency has travelled up the chain of command the emergency may already be over! I know, I am just tossing out random things here which would never, ever happen. You guys are right, the President should single handedly run everything.

You guys are right, the President should single handedly run everything.

He should at least actually care when something happens. Not to mention he appointed the people in charge of getting things organized.

So he is responsible. Leaders carry an unfair burden, but that is why only the best of us can lead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXGpnNiRgVY

September 11th showed how poorly the various portions of the U.S. government work together in large scale emergencies. Since then the U.S. has been trying to polish the ways in which different agencies communicate and cooperate with each other in an emergency. What (should have been) learned on 9/11 is that these agencies have to be able to work together by themselves. You can't count on one man to single handedly coordinate the national response to something like this, there already needs to be procedures in place. Bush will be gone in a little while, replaced by someone else. In an emergency it isn't certain that the President will be available. He could be dead, injured, isolated/protected in an area with subpar communication equipment. He could be in a Florida Elementary school reading to children, and by the time the full extent of the emergency has travelled up the chain of command the emergency may already be over! I know, I am just tossing out random things here which would never, ever happen. You guys are right, the President should single handedly run everything.

So you don't believe that in an instance of national emergency the president and his handlers should not take EVERY effort to ensure he's in the loop?

Single handedly run everything? No. but he shouldn't be willfully absent when big decisions are going on without any oversight what so ever.

In fact, I heard this from somewhere...where did something like that happen...

Oh right.

Katrina.

Dear Nation States,
George W. Bush was put into power by Jesus himself, so do not question his authority. He is a great man, and he loves you unconditionally even if you don't love him back. He believes in freedom, justice, and listening in on your phone conversations so he can protect you better. He loves you that much. "G.W.B. till 2023."

Sincerely,
The American South

lol. you forgot parts of the west and midwest too. but you got the jist.

only the best of us can lead.
[looking at GWB]

I disagree. There's nothing easier than to be a leader.



Being a good leader is a completely different, often unrelated thing.

He should at least actually care when something happens. Not to mention he appointed the people in charge of getting things organized.

So he is responsible. Leaders carry an unfair burden, but that is why only the best of us can lead.

So was Saddam Husein one of the best? He was a leader.

So was Saddam Husein one of the best? He was a leader.

Sorry, meant to say the best of us should lead.

I would like to point out that during the Cold War, the President would never partake in the drills run for the event a nuke was fired by the USSR. The reason for this was that they didn't want the enemy to have an idea of how the President would respond to a certain crisis.

Of course I don't expect this fact to stop a few hate filled people from continuing their Bush bash.
Since when did criticising the President make anyone hate-filled?

In any case, everybody knows what the President does during a crisis anyway. Katrina? Nothing. Mass bomb attack? Nothing. It fits.

Honestly, the chances of such an event taking place in the next year is pretty slim.

Let the man enjoy his bike ride.

Scuttlebutt amongst the Italian police is that he sorely needs the practice.
And it's nominally safer than a Segway or even a pretzel. He doesn't seem particularly secure with those items.

Since when did criticising the President make anyone hate-filled?

In any case, everybody knows what the President does during a crisis anyway. Katrina? Nothing. Mass bomb attack? Nothing. It fits.

I don't think he was doing nothing - just congratulating himself on well laid plans coming together.

Wait, Katrina was part of his plan? So he had some sort of magic hurricane machine?

He's talking about the post Katrina fiasco that all three levels of government were responsible for botching.

Wait, Katrina was part of his plan? So he had some sort of magic hurricane machine?