Homeland Security sec'y: Bomb in a subway car not a catastrophe.

[Bluebear]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050714/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/chertoff_terror_1&printer=1

State and local governments must play a large role in helping pay for security measures in subways, trains and bus systems to prevent terror attacks, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday.

One week after the bombings on London's subway and bus systems, Chertoff said the U.S. government is bound to financially support commercial airlines in part because the nation's aviation system is almost exclusively a federal responsibility. By contrast, he said, U.S. mass transit systems are largely owned and operated by state and local authorities.

"The truth of the matter is, a fully loaded airplane with jet fuel, a commercial airliner, has the capacity to kill 3,000 people," Chertoff told Associated Press reporters and editors. "A bomb in a subway car may kill 30 people. When you start to think about your priorities, you're going to think about making sure you don't have a catastrophic thing first."....

A Senate fight is looming this week among ranking Republicans who differ — by $900 million — on how much to spend on mass transit security.

[Dr.Phool]

1. It's only a catastrophy if you

or your loved ones are on it.

[Bluebear]

4. I would love to ask him what the cutoff is for a "catastrophe"

The ghouls must have some tombstone count in mind before it is truly catastrophic.

[marmar]

2. This just proves...

How unconcerned they are about really combating "terra." These two-faced, lying hellhound bastards make me sick.

[soothsayer]

3. and medical malpractice kills how many per year?

[yankeedem]

5. And he's from NY?

What subway car has he been on that has only 30 people on it? When I take the train 30 people are blocking the doors!

[Flying Dream Blues]

11. good point!

[Bluebear]

12. .

[newswolf56]

6. The unspoken class bigotry in this is truly obscene. As if...

our government has just told us that people who ride public transport (who are most likely to be members of working families and/or minorities) don't matter. But this same government will do everything in its considerable power to protect the smug plutocrats who fly first class (and since some of us proletarians fly also, we'll get protected too). Yet another modern Bushler/Republican variant on "let them eat cake."

[iconoclastNYC]

7. Can you imagine if this was a Clinton cabinent member saying this?

The right-wing attack machine would be foaming at the mouth.

[Bluebear]

9. I can hear Coulter, Bay, Matalin, Hughes, Mehlman, Novak now.

You would never hear such a caterwauling.

[Danmel]

8. How nice! And to think he was going to be the tri state's salvation

A Jersey boy- the whole Tri state delegation really touted him- said he'd be receptive to the needs of this area and understand the threats to us.

HA! Do they really think anyone in this administration gives a flying f*ck about us ?

[Bluebear]

10. Not a chance. nt