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Call The White House and SCREAM About This!!! (202) 456-1111

"U.S. Halts Pilot Program in New York to Detect Biological Attacks" "The federal government installed air samplers in more than 30 U.S. cities in 2003 to detect the release of potential bioweapons such as anthrax spores, plague bacteria and smallpox viruses. The BioWatch program, which cost about $500 million, was meant to speed up the response before disease could spread."      Call or Write the  White House      www.whitehouse.gov - (202) 456-1111 

 U.S. Halts Pilot Program in New York to Detect Biological Attacks

This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information.

The Department of Homeland Security is dismantling a next-generation biological attack warning system in New York City subways because of technical problems, U.S. officials said.

Robert Hooks, a deputy assistant secretary, said the department no longer believes it is necessary to expand the pilot program, as he told Congress in July, because of resource and technology limits. Hooks said a long-planned alternative sensor system, set for initial deployment late next year, also will not be available nationwide until 2012, to allow for more testing.

The deactivation of the pilot program in late March marks a setback in U.S. efforts to detect biological weapons, and its disclosure comes as the Obama administration is unveiling new security priorities as part of its 2010 budget today.

The federal government installed air samplers in more than 30 U.S. cities in 2003 to detect the release of potential bioweapons such as anthrax spores, plague bacteria and smallpox viruses. The BioWatch program, which cost about $500 million, was meant to speed up the response before disease could spread.

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This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information.

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Bioweapons Sensors Hit the Streets

Autonomous Pathogen Detection System (APDS) monitor
A new generation of bioweapons sensors has been deployed in New York City as part of the federal BioWatch program. The sensors have the ability to autonomously sample the surrounding air, identify up to 100 different biological threats, and instantaneously share their finding with officials. Real-time sampleing is one of many technical improvements these new sensors offer when compared with those deployed in 2003 in more than 30 major U.S. cities, but their introduction raises questions about how we are preparing for potential acts of bioterror.

Some experts have suggested that resources might be better utilized by improving existing detection methods within traditional health care settings, such as hospitals. This would involve developing better diagnostic tools and data sharing systems so that information from hospitals could be centrally gathered and analyzed. The Washington Post reports that $2 million of BioWatch’s $77 million operating budget has been allocated to a National Academy of Sciences study to determine if investing in new sensor technology—such as that deployed in New York—is the best way to combat the bioterror threat.

Another concern is that the push to deploy new sensors has overshadowed the role of the public in the response to an airborne attack. An article in the journal Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science last year highlighted the role of community planning and involvement in responding to health disasters that tax the official emergency infrastructure. Its authors conclude that community engagement before an attack is essential to lay the groundwork for appropriate communication and action when responding to an emergency. This type of coordination amidst a disaster appears unlikely given the findings of a report in June from the Center for a New American Security. That report suggests that officials would be unable to meet the public’s demand for immediate instructions, rapid diagnosis, and the dissemination of medications and vaccines in the event of an attack.

The challenge today is to determine the best balance between investing in new technology, augmenting existing infrastructure, and educating the public about the threat of bioterrorism and how to respond to it. Complicating the matter is the necessity to ensure that any outreach is done in such a way as to constructively inform the public without creating excessive alarm.     www.scienceprogress.org/2008/01/bioweapons-sensors-hit-the-streets/ - 20k -

 
 
 

Obama's Budget Kills Border Fence Extension   Excerpted from NewsMax.Com at: http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/obama_border_fence/2009/05/08/212449.html


Excerpted from WorldNetDaily.com   at:

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's budget proposal does away with funding to extend the border fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

 

The move is significant departure from the approach to border security advocated by President George W. Bush, whose administration oversaw construction and planning of 670 miles of pedestrian fencing and vehicle barriers erected along roughly one-third of the nation's 1,947 mile border with Mexico.

 

President Obama's budget cuts do leave some funds for roads, lights and other minor border construction projects, but no money to extend the fence.

 

The proposal is also a bit of a turnaround for the president who, as a Democratic senator from Illinois, joined 79 other senators in 2006 to support construction of the border barrier system.

 

Peggy Sherry, chief financial officer at the Department of Homeland Security, told reporters Friday that the Obama administration would not extend the barrier network that has irked Mexico and stirred concerns among immigrant-advocate organizations.    More of article at: http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/obama_border_fence/2009/05/08/212449.html

 
Reactions at FreeRepublic.com:
 
To: Cindy

Dear Al queda, Just to keep you up to date......


2 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 6:54:46 AM by Sacajaweau

To: Sacajaweau

I understand what you are saying.

#

They read us...we read them.


3 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 6:56:00 AM by Cindy

To: Sacajaweau

Thanks...

So the “pilot” program which had “probably” been working for the last few years gobbling up untold billions of dollars had been having “technical” problems (i.e.: not working) is being canned...

Ans someone thought it might be a good idea to let the world know this???

This is becoming a surreal existance to me...


4 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:00:27 AM by stevie_d_64

To: Cindy
Robert Hooks, a deputy assistant secretary, said the department no longer believes it is necessary to expand the pilot program, as he told Congress in July, because of resource and technology limits.

BO and his socialist minions in Congress have plenty of resources to fund corrupt socialist ACORN with GPS devices to mark where everyone lives during the census.
5 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:05:03 AM by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)

To: Cindy
Obviously a trick to make Al Queda show their cards. Even if you did drop the program, you wouldn't be stupid enough to announce it. Right?
6 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:10:22 AM by BallyBill (Serial Hit-N-Run poster)

To: Man50D

Yes, the Census takers do have high tech, costly technology available to them:

http://www.intomobile.com/2007/04/04/2010-census-goes-high-tech-with-data-only-htc-census-gps-smartphone.html


7 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:12:28 AM by Cindy

To: BallyBill

I can’t speak for the Big 0 Administration nor the Washington Post.

If it was up to me, a common housewife; I sure wouldn’t print it in a major newspaper.


8 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:14:54 AM by Cindy

To: All

The jihadis do follow the main-stream media. Here is one example:

stepping back in time...

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1929862/posts?page=11#11

Off Topic...

Zarqawi is dead now, of course, but when he was alive he said...

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/005285.html

19 November 2005
“ZARQAWI: ‘I READ IT IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES’”

You can hear that snippet of his speech here:

http://internet-haganah.com/hmedia/19nov05-zarqawi-latimes.mp3

11 posted on November 24, 2007 1:31:45 AM PST by Cindy


9 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:17:30 AM by Cindy

To: Cindy
10 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:24:04 AM by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)

To: Diogenesis

Thank you Diogenesis for adding that link.


11 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:25:47 AM by Cindy

To: stevie_d_64

It has long been known that the most effective bio/sensor system in dependable use are the ER’s of hospitals.


12 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:34:06 AM by hockea

To: Cindy
Ok, so for the past few weeks we've had swine flu, H1N1. Technically a pandemic level 5 and we're still not sure if it is a natural phenomena or lab generated. What did our reaction to this demonstrate to the enemy? Ignorance, ineptitude, won't close the borders, won't institute protective measures...yeah I could go on and on.

Now we announce the end of this program?

Psst....a bioattack is coming in the next 6 months or less. Watch and see. And, it may not be from a foreign source. They need this kind of crisis to demonstrate how bad our health-care system really is. Left hand meet right hand.

13 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:43:54 AM by EBH (May God Save the Republic!)

To: stevie_d_64
"So the “pilot” program which had “probably” been working for the last few years gobbling up untold billions of dollars had been having “technical” problems (i.e.: not working) is being canned..."

Not at all. This is typical for advanced instrument development. The APDS is FAR cheaper than the "Biowatch" program it is scheduled to replace.

14 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 7:45:20 AM by Wonder Warthog ( The Hog of Steel)

To: Sacajaweau

Why on earth is this public information!!?? Sometimes I think the government and its underlings at the Compost have lost their collective minds.


15 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 8:08:45 AM by RU88

To: Cindy

What is it about New York? First being terrorized by Air Scare 1 and now being laid out as having poor defenses against a bio attack?


16 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 8:26:20 AM by bergmeid

To: Cindy

Yep. no reason to detect a biological attack. Just give more money to Acorn.


17 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 8:40:01 AM by Lockbar (March toward the sound of the guns.)

To: bergmeid

It ain’t New York. It is DHS which was created to make the Department of Energy look good.

I would only note for you Bush lovers that clearly the Bush administration thought it was a good idea to fund the boondoggle to install a system that didn’t work in the first place.

The first step in building a party to represent constitutional conservatives, if there is even such a group around here, is to admit that the Bush administration was, from top to bottom, populated by the most incompetent do nothing namby-pambies to accept presidential political commissions since the Carter administration.


18 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 8:48:13 AM by AndyJackson

To: stevie_d_64

Well they need that money so they can spend it on the welfare , food stamps and housing for all the jihadi’s they are importing


19 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 8:50:08 AM by Lera

To: BallyBill
Obviously a trick to make Al Queda show their cards. Even if you did drop the program, you wouldn't be stupid enough to announce it. Right?

Ummmm.. This is the incompetent 0bama administration we're talking about.

20 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 8:53:07 AM by NYRepublican72

To: NYRepublican72

Totally agree with what you’re saying. Obama is a “nutcase” and doesn’t know how “Loose lips, sinks ships” works.


21 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 9:09:07 AM by Sacajaweau

To: Cindy
I said it before...obama will kill thousands of Americans. OBAMA GOD
22 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 10:39:55 AM by odin2008 (EVIL TRIUMPHS WHEN GOOD MEN DO NOTHING)

To: odin2008
I said it before...obama will kill thousands of Americans.

I work with a Obama Zombie, (He was untenable up until recently, even he is waking up ) I made a bet with him the other day that Zero will kill more American civilians then any other President except for Lincoln.

He thought that was pretty humorous until I listed off a litany of potential scenarios where that might come true. Several National security issues, CIA compromised, throwing Israel under the bus, border issues among many others.

23 posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 10:48:54 AM by Popman (Only one question remains: Does the sun rise because of Obama or does Obama rise because of the sun)
 
 
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