DHS undermined from very start , DHS in 'turmoil'

Homeland Security agency is victim of bureaucratic warfare
Homeland Security agency plagued by haphazard design, bureaucratic warfare.
The Department of Homeland Security was only a month old, and already it had an image problem.
It was April 2003, and Susan Neely, a close aide to DHS Secretary Tom Ridge, decided the gargantuan new conglomeration of 22 federal agencies had to stand for something more than multicolored threat levels. It needed an identity -- not the "flavor of the day in terms of brand chic," as Neely put it, but something meant to last. So she called in the branders. Neely hired Landor Associates, the same company that invented the FedEx name and the BP sunflower, and together they began to rebrand a behemoth Landor described in a confidential briefing as a "disparate organization with a lack of focus."

They developed a new DHS typeface (Joanna, with modifications) and color scheme (cool gray, red and hints of "punched-up" blue). They debated new uniforms for its armies of agents and focus-group-tested a new seal designed to convey "strength" and "gravitas." The department even got its own lapel pin, which was given to all 180,000 of its employees -- with Ridge's signature -- to celebrate its "brand launch" that June. "It's got to have its own story," Neely explained. Nearly three years after it was created in the largest government reorganization since the Department of Defense, DHS does have a story, but so far it is one of haphazard design, bureaucratic warfare and unfulfilled promises. The department's first significant test -- its response to Hurricane Katrina in August -- exposed a troubled organization where preparedness was more slogan than mission. Born out of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, DHS was initially expected to synthesize intelligence, secure borders, protect infrastructure and prepare for the next catastrophe.

For most of those missions, the bipartisan Sept. 11 commission recently gave the Bush administration D's or F's. To some extent, the department was set up to fail. It was assigned the awesome responsibility of defending the homeland without the investigative, intelligence and military powers of the FBI, CIA and the Pentagon; it was also repeatedly undermined by the White House that initially opposed its creation. But the department has also struggled to execute even seemingly basic tasks, such as prioritizing America's most critical infrastructure. When Coast Guard Adm. James M. Loy signed on as Ridge's top deputy in the fall of 2003, "I found turmoil," he recalled, and "lack of strategic direction." When Loy left earlier this year, he believed DHS was sorely in need of "a midcourse correction." And Michael Chertoff, Ridge's successor, said in an interview that when he arrived in February, he was disturbed by the department's "insufficient focus on outcome and mission." Chertoff was so disturbed that he has already proposed a broad restructuring of DHS. "We're not where we need to be," he said.

Designed in secrecy and haste
President Bush hailed DHS as his administration's answer to the "urgent and overriding" mission of securing the homeland. But the department designed in secrecy and haste in the White House basement and complicated further on Capitol Hill was hobbled from the start by what the branders called a "Rube Goldberg drawing" of an organization chart.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10564930/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/21/AR2005122102327.html

they don't have to do good, they only have to LOOK good! :eyes: Typical bushit. Put enough lipstick on the pig and everyone will think it's beautiful, a well oiled machine that is ever vigilant and protecting our country from the "evil-doers". The money our government wastes to give us the impression of success, if put to good use, would actually achieve success. But that's not what it's all about, it's the facade. They must keep the facade bright and shiny at all costs, even if what's behind the facade is in shambles. :eyes: DHS, after the Pentagon the biggest waste of taxpayer dollars, ever.

You know what they say. Republicans campaign on the premise that government is a corrupt and incompetent institution, and once in power, make it true.

when people who hate government (except when it can be used to enrich themselves and their friends) design a government department.

And when those people are also inept and cluelessly detached from reality...oy.

Used to HATE government when they thought it was a bunch of civil servants trying to make a living off public service. But now that it's a bunch of corporations making a killing? They love it. Can't get enough. DHS should be called the Dept. of Corrupt Contracts supporting the intelligence/oil/religiously-insane cabal's takeover of democracy and freedom.

Another catastrophic success. Imagine what the Katrina Bureau could do for America if we have a terrist attack.

and nothing ever using the word 'homeland' should be allowed ever again.

That's a creepy naziesque word, but more importantly it's purely emotive, which is best left out of government department names.

DHS shuffling of deck chairs . . .

I don't really need to continue, do I?

Your learning to be a soldier but you spend most of the time learning how to march and shine boots and other BS stuff.

...in Propaganda Nation.

Bush...Ya gotta love it...

Putting their big umbrella organization over the intelligence networks and then proceeding to purge them was not to the advantage of ordinary citizens.
Boondoggle comes to mind.

Ole Tom was supposed to be the veep, but Dick C had other ideas.. DHS was payback for Tommy.. No one knew what the hell they were doing...from Day One...still don't.

Rule One.. You can NEVER be "protected" from lunatics who are willing to die in order to cause a chaotic event. There is not enough money in the world to stop them. (unless you get very lucky)

All the money spent on DHS has been a spectacular WASTE