America at Risk: The State of Homeland Security. Initial Findings

摘要

Over two years since the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and approaching the first anniversary of the largest government overhaul over 50 years, the United States remains vulnerable to terrorist attack. While the Bush Administration is correct to claim that we are safer now than we were on September 11, this standard sets the bar far too low. The key question is whether we are as safe as we need to be in light of the threats we face. The answer is, unfortunately-no. Gaps in our homeland security continue to exist, and the Bush Administration is not moving fast enough, and is not taking strong enough action, to effectively close them. In September 2003, Democrats on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security laid out a comprehensive strategy to close the security gaps that are facing America. We will build on that strategy next month by publishing a report detailing how the Bush Administration has failed to take sufficiently aggressive action to protect the homeland, and will introduce solutions to our country's most pressing homeland security problems. Today, we are outlining the initial findings of this report. These findings identify key areas where the United States remains vulnerable, and highlight reasons why current approaches for solving our security problems are not working.