GAO Slams DHS Over BioWatch Biological Defense System

Mansing writes "Citizens need to evaluate if they are indeed safer for all the 'security precautions' put into place. 'The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has rushed to acquire a new, multibillion-dollar version of the BioWatch system for detecting biological attacks without establishing whether it was needed or would work, according to a new report by a nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress. ... The existing system's repeated false alarms have triggered tense, high-stakes deliberations over whether to order mass evacuations, distribute emergency medicines or shut down major venues.' Is this just more money funneled to U.S. companies, or is this really keeping the U.S. safer? Are the same types of 'security precautions' being instituted in Spain and the UK? Or is this preying on fear a uniquely U.S. phenomenon?"

Comments

Where do I sign up?

[stevegee58]

I want to provide DHS with multibillion dollar systems too.

Sneaky...

[Type44Q]

Is this just more money funneled to U.S. companies

This is a trick question, right? :)

For everything else there is the terrroist card

[toriver]

Buying hugely expensive gear without any reseach into actual need or competition for the contract: $billions
Costs to businesses and the public purse because of false alarms: $millions
Constructing post-facto justifications for the purchase and deployment: priceless.

There are some things tax money can buy. For everything else, there is "the terrorist card".