Obama Cuts NY Anti-Terrorism Funds

President Obama's arrival in NYC today is billed as a thank you tour for the cops and civilians that saw something and said something during Faisal Shahzad's failed terror attack. What is less known is the White House funding cuts to NY's anti-terror efforts.

After Islamic jihadist Faisal Shahzad loaded his SUV with fireworks, propane and fertilizer and nearly detonated the same in Times Square on May 1, it was believed that Homeland Security would keep the funding intact; instead, cuts are to be announced today.

Last September, a suicide terror attack planned to strike New York City's subway system, similar to the successful attack that recently occurred in Moscow, was thwarted with the apprehension of Najibullah Zazi.

Zazi rode the subway, staking out targets and filming in and around high profile areas. Politicians reminded New Yorkers the plot was serious and how the city remains a top terror target; it baffles many that 11-days after the Times Square plot, WH leadership is in need of the same reminder.

On Wednesday, the Obama administration slashed approximately $53 million from the city's terror-fighting budget.

These developments are a sad testament of how slogans such as, 'if you see something, say something' is merely a marketing tool for some politicians, an effort to appear that they are listening and more importantly acting. More sad is how hollow, 'Never Forget' rings among the White House team.

'Yes We Can' is another slogan that fired up a certain base. Well, how about canning the rhetoric and doing something. Lives depend on action not sloganeering. The WH actions speak volumes, can you hear it? Yes, we can.

An Obama administration official indicated that funds from last year's stimulus package can be utilized for anti-terror work.

NY Rep. Pete King (R-L.I.), Homeland Security Committee official, balked at that math, pointing out that the stimulus cash is a one-time payout that won't be repeated. King also reminded us that NY remains the top terror target.

King also reminded us that Congress allocated $300 million, which was not enough but the president only asked for 250-million. Administration officials are scrambling to excuse the shortchange to NY.

NYC Councilman Peter Vallone, Queens Democrat and head of the Councils' Public safety Committee said, 'Just when we thought they finally realized a war on terror is going on, they do something like this.'

'This leaves us more vulnerable to 'man-caused disasters,' Vallone said sarcastically, referring to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's term for terror attacks.

Obama not only arrived in NYC today to thank the Times Square heroes and slash funding for terror fighting efforts, the president also is passing the hat for upcoming political campaigns.

As a result of the administrations cuts, NYC transit security will see a 27% deduction for anti-terror work and port security will realize a 25% hit. These cuts are scheduled in spite of security experts' warnings that the NYC subway system is the likely target for the next terror attack.

Somewhere in a distant cave, chants of 'Yes We Can, Yes We Can,' can be heard.

Sources:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/05/12/2010-05-12_homeland_security_decides_to_slash_new_york_antiterrorism_funds_11_days_after_ti.html