Legal Commentary

Napolitano: Ramping Up War on Terror, Bush-Era Policies, More Stimulus Payments

By Jeralyn

Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano gave a major address today. Shorter version: It's time to ramp up the war on terror, give more money to cops and tweak but not eliminate some Bush policies, and encourage citizens to report suspicious activity. From the Wall St. Journal this morning:

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is expected to outline Wednesday the Obama administration's domestic approach to preventing terrorist attacks -- a strategy that will rely in large measure on refining and expanding initiatives launched under President George W. Bush.

We can't afford a health care plan, but we can afford more cops for New York City.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the city will get $35 million in transit security stimulus money that the city can use to hire more police officers. She says the money will put more than 100 additional cops on city subways and busses.

[More...]

Let's fund some more anti-immigrant measures as well.

Earlier today, at the Council on Foreign Relations, [Napolitano] says more needs to be done to share counterterrorism efforts with local governments, and even with ordinary citizens. She also defended the Bush-era program of letting local police departments enforce federal immigration laws.

Remember Operation Tips? What does this sound like?

Napolitano said the country's counter-terrorism efforts should include the public, that "you are the ones who know if something is not right in your communities, such as a suspicious package, or unusual activities."

CNN has more on Napolitano's speech here.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on July 29, 2009 (boomark / email).