GAO speaks... will Bush listen?

The Houston Chronicle reported today that government inspectors guarding the nation's ports are understaffed, fatigued from overtime, poorly trained and "frequently fail to question visitors entering the country".

While I applaud the GAO in getting to the bottom of the problem, so to speak, it is a case of stating the obvious. Since 9/11/2001, next to nothing has been done by this administration to secure what surely must be one of the most porous borders in the world.

And EVERYONE, including God knows how many terrorists, knows it.

According to Wikipedia, the Port of Houston handled over 215 million tons of cargo in 2005, second in the United States only to the port in south Louisiana. It is the 10th busiest port in the world. 

At the risk of belaboring a point, how easy would it be to smuggle, say, a nuclear or chemical weapon through the Port?

How long will it take before the government cracks down on the Port? What will it take for the Bush administration to secure the borders of the country?

This is something that should have been taken care of beginning the morning of 9/12/2001. The Bushies are very fond of pointing out, in defense of their policies, that there hasn't been an attack on the US since 9/11, but their actions contradict their words. Chemical and nuclear facilities, along with the ports, are KNOWN to be lax in inspections and security.

The GAO report is not news; it is common knowledge.

If it wasn't just so hard to believe, I would think the administration WANTS another attack on the US. This blank-eyed image of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States of America on the morning of 9/11 comes to mind. The time stamp is significant in that the first plane hit the World Trade Center at 9:00, an event HE VIEWED on a television set outside the classroom..



Less than ONE MINUTE LATER Andrew Card informs the President that a second plane has hit the World Trade Center, an event that was witnessed live by millions, a cataclysm that appeared not to concern the "Defender of Freedom".



It was obvious to many, if not all, observers that this was no accident. But Bush SAT THERE for another 10 minutes. He later explained his actions by saying he did not want to alarm the children. How hard would it have actually been for him to say, "Children, it is not easy being the President and sometimes I get called away at a moment's notice to take care of important business. Thank you for having me here today. Goodbye."

In the vernacular of the day, I call "shenanigans". In my heart of hearts, I call it complicity and treason.

So, will Bush listen to and act on the GAO report?

Not bloody likely.