Anyone remember why the DHS was invented?

[Will Robinson]

I seem to recall Mohammed Atta and others from the 9-11 attacks weren't under scrutiny that they should have been...could have been... if not for the lack of cooperation and intel sharing between too many federal and state departments. CIA, FBI, etc not making data available to each other...flagging names when searches or requests for info was run through each others channels etc.

So, that sounded real good. Common sense being implemented by a bunch of behemoth bureaucracies.

Sounded good but now, instead of IT techs and office managers getting the communications linked we have what resembles a domestic army busting into peoples homes to confiscate cars that don't meet emissions standards!

An elite federal enforcer squad with special authority to over ride local law enforcement agencies and citizens constitutional protections in the name of Don't-make-me-send-you-to-Guantanamo-for-questioning...indefinitely... I don't think that is what it was conceived to be.

We need to pull the plug on this toy. It is defective and dangerous. Some kid in Washington is going to hurt someone with it. Probably already have.

They probably just started a file on me for saying that...I'm only half joking with that...because I'd be naive to be completely joking.

[flip]

The stupidest thing about that too, is right from the onset you could imagine this happening. I don't think near-sighted people have the right to exist. The world we be a better place without them

[callmeslick]

Will,
Sit back in your chair and brace yourself-I agree completely and couldn't have tied it together any better.






There, I said it!

[woodchip]

I originally thought the DHS was going to be like a central clearing office that would take in all data from existing agency's, collate it and make it available to all of them. Little did I know it needed to become a veritable army of "answerable to no one" agents.

[callmeslick]

I originally thought the DHS was going to be like a central clearing office that would take in all data from existing agency's, collate it and make it available to all of them. Little did I know it needed to become a veritable army of "answerable to no one" agents.

right. Though a lot of information regarding 9/11 never saw the light of day, at least it seemed conclusive that information sharing by agencies was poor. The idea of having a DHS was to make all pertinent info available instantly. Instead, it became a catch-all for existing agencies, got a bunch of other functions tossed at it(hurricanes, earthquakes, immigration, etc,etc) and, as has been the case for a decade or two, no adequate funding.

[Spidey]

Yea…all internal cultural problems are caused by the lack of funding, just look at the “fix” they just made to the VA. (threw money at it)

Actually I think they are just bored, because…..

Well…

“We beat terrorism! Thanks Obama!”
~vision

[callmeslick]

Yea…all internal cultural problems are caused by the lack of funding, just look at the “fix” they just made to the VA. (threw money at it)

say what you wish, but underfunding makes even the best plan ineffective. See also: ATF, VA(clear underfuning, plus other issues),Interior dept, etc

[Spidey]

Yea, but the problem in the case of the VA was two fold, and I have no doubt that underfunding was one of them, but I get the impression the Congress thinks it’s killing two birds with one stone.

Because that seems to be the only thing the government understands, money is always the problem…throw some more…

This thread is the perfect example…the topic is abuse of power, and you start talking about funding.

[callmeslick]

Yea, but the problem in the case of the VA was two fold, and I have no doubt that underfunding was one of them, but I get the impression the Congress thinks it’s killing two birds with one stone.

Because that seems to be the only thing the government understands, money is always the problem…throw some more…

This thread is the perfect example…the topic is abuse of power, and you start talking about funding.

I hope you're wrong, but with this Congress, likely not. I do think that Obama and his folks get the idea that the whole system has to be re-thought. I think everyone thought that Shinsekeh(spelling butchered) could get the job done. He didn't come close.
I mentioned funding here because I think it is one of many issues that caused DHS to function poorly. Too broad a mission, not enough focus on information sharing, to many agencies with too small budgets and staffing(budget related).
Also, I didn't read the initial post as about abuse of power, but failure to achieve the core goal.

[woodchip]

right. Though a lot of information regarding 9/11 never saw the light of day, at least it seemed conclusive that information sharing by agencies was poor.

And if I recall it was one Jamie Gorlich (sp?) that created "The Wall", barring the CIA/FBI/NSA from sharing information. The reason was thought to protect the average citizen from the scrutiny of the big three by preventing a national database being built. I'm citing this from memory so feel free to correct me.

[callmeslick]

Gorelick, I believe, and you are correct. But, one of the claims behind the whole creation of the Patriot Act, let alone creation of a DHS, was to reverse the Gorelick directive, and other acts in the 90s that had walled off info sharing(oestensibly for privacy of citizens, but also, some popularity among politicians, as it prevented information sharing about overseas contributions......hence, both sides went along merrily). Somehow, though, the DHS ended up as the dept in charge of not only information gathering and sharing, but emergency preparedness, the Border Patrol, disaster response and a few other functions very distinct from information gathering and handling.