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GAO Slams DHS Over BioWatch Biological Defense System

Posted by Unknown on from the your-taxes-at-work dept.

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?"

5 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. America is being had... by CFBMoo1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm really looking forward to the day when America stops treating terrorists like terrorists and just treats them as common criminals. Then maybe this whole terrorist boogie man boondoggle can go away finally. It'd sure kill the romance of a terrorist as being something more then a common thug or crook.

    --
    ~~ Behold the flying cow with a rail gun! ~~
    1. Re:America is being had... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You poor deluded chump.

      The whole "terrorist" bit is being used by the US government to control the US population.

      Read this quote several times until the truth finally sinks into your tiny little brain :

      "The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country." - Hermann Goering

      .

  2. Re:All you need to know by ATMAvatar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Generally, yes. But the prospect of having an "objective" computer giving out false positives all the time to keep the terror alive is the fulfillment of at least part of the DHS mission statement.

    --
    "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
  3. Crony capitalism and security theatre by Hatta · · Score: 5, Interesting

    That's all the TSA is. Since the implementation of gate rape, more people have been driving instead of flying. Since driving is more dangerous than flying, this has lead to an increase in deaths on the road. Specifially, 1,200 deaths per year can be attributed to the TSA, and that was the estimate in 2005. I can only imagine it's gotten worse since then.

    What this means, if you add up the numbers is that Janet Napolitano is responsible for more American deaths than Osama Bin Laden ever was. We are literally ruled by terrorists.

    --
    Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  4. A strange thing I noticed... by ravenlord_hun · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When I was travelling to a conference in the States, I couldn't help but notice how... pervasive paranoia was. I was travelling with a Metra train to Chicago downtown, and there were stickers everywhere how you should report strange behaviour, announecements over speakers to "say if you see", help the dogs who are sniffing for explosives, and so on.

    There is basically nothing like that in Europe. I wonder if it's just a different in mindset, or are the companies/government pushing that hard to make people feel afraid?