Owens' Anti-Terrorism Plan Falls Short
Gov. Owens has finally released his anti-terrorism plan. “The Colorado Strategy for Homeland Security” admirably acknowledges a very real fact, “Colorado citizens must not delude themselves into thinking that the geographical location of our state insulates us from danger.” The initial step on the long road to solving any problem is to first acknowledge it.
On the other hand, the report tells us very little on how to meet this very real challenge. It lacks substance, specifics, and time frames.
The plan is filled with ambiguous feel-good goals like "enhancing communications between state and local governments." It contains no objectives by which someone - a year or two from now - could measure its progress. As an accountable plan of action, one private sector professional graded it a "D," concluding it is a political document.
The strategy rightly acknowledges the need for a central clearinghouse agency that will focus on “information sharing to enhance the ability of state and local responders to preempt and prevent terrorist attacks.”
Again, there is no way to know if and when the project is successful. No mention is made of how it will be funded or even when it will be completed.
The plan completely ignores the need for developing a tighter and more reliable personal identification system, key to any effective homeland security strategy. Driver licenses, the most commonly used form of personal ID, have allowed terrorists to operate vehicles, open bank accounts, perform financial transactions and train to fly airplanes. Five of the six hijackers on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, had driver licenses
A reformed and more reliable system - a function clearly under the control of state government - can significantly reduce the likelihood of identity fraud. Colorado’s 10-year renewal system will not get the job done for a simple reason the older a license gets, the less reliable and useful it is. The plan says nothing about strengthening this important tool.
Maybe worst of all, the strategy insists that an authentic homeland security infrastructure can be achieved within existing budgets and through improved internal coordination. That sadly fails the laugh test.
Until the Owens’ administration finds the resources, Colorado will only make very limited, marginal progress. Homeland security cannot be done “on the cheap.”
Washington will not be much help. Federal assistance levels are considerably below what anyone would have expected in the aftermath of Sept. 11, especially since much of the funding is slated for more visible targets (New York, DC, Los Angeles, etc.), not Denver or any other part of Colorado.
It is difficult to imagine that this governor, so politically close to the Bush administration, will publicly criticize meager federal funding or even privately pressure Washington for increased support.
Without the resources, expect more political maneuvering than any real progress. Owens is banking on a hope that no one will bring up the issue. In the event someone does, the administration will allege “political motivation,” while hiding behind the convenient and overly-abused cloak that releasing any substantive information will only aid and abet potential terrorists.
This kind of political game-playing and posturing only masks what is really important.
Colorado desperately needs a public policy debate on what level of security is adequate, how much we are willing to pay for it and from where the money must come. The governor must start confronting these challenges and leading our state.
Until we have that important discussion, and until we implement some real solutions, not one of us will be safe enough.
Jim Gibson is president of the Colorado Democratic Leadership Council, a think tank advocating new ideas and the Democratic Party's historic commitment to economic growth, personal responsibility, community, security, individual liberty and equal opportunity.