WH conducts disaster drill; Bush goes for a bike ride

[ProSense]

White House Disaster Drill Supposes 10-City IED Strike

By Jennifer Loven
Associated Press
Sunday, February 25, 2007; Page A09

Dozens of high-level officials joined in a White House drill yesterday to see how the government would respond if several cities were attacked simultaneously with bombs similar to those used against U.S. troops in Iraq.

White House homeland security adviser Frances Fragos Townsend and the Homeland Security Council that she heads mapped out in advance a massive disaster involving improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. The attack targeted 10 U.S. cities, both large and small, at the same time, said a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Townsend presided over the three-hour exercise, which brought the government's top homeland security officials to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House. All Cabinet agencies were represented by their secretaries or other high-ranking officials, with about 90 participants in all, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.

Stanzel said the drill revealed gaps in the government's ability to respond, but also showed that there have been many improvements since Hurricane Katrina. The storm exposed federal inadequacies when it devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005. For instance, coordination with state and local authorities and the ability to get federal resources in place quickly -- key missteps after Katrina -- appeared much better now, Stanzel said.

President Bush went on a bike ride yesterday morning and did not take part in the test.

more...

[Wapsie B]

1. Why does this not suprise me?

The man who "won" by his hammering on the War on Terra turns a blind eye to disaster planning. Hmm.....anyone see any parallels to 9/11?

[Zenlitened]

2. Just says it all, doesn't it?

*shakes head* :(

[Greeby]

3. Well, Shrub is a walking disaster

So if he were there, it wouldn't be a drill

[kenny blankenship]

4. So to what object did WH aides and Cabinet Secretaries speak to in delivering reports & asking for

instructions--in lieu of a breathing, thinking, speaking President who actually gave a shit about a crisis affecting his country?
Did they address themselves to an empty desk in the Oval Office?
To a bust of John Kennedy?
Or to the current President's half eaten breakfast?

Did Rich Little impersonate Bush for purposes of the simulation, and sit behind his desk to hear reports and speak commands, or did they grab some HS dropout from the WH mail room?

How did they role play this crisis scenario while the central player in any national crisis was playing instead with his Secret Service agents outdoors? I GOTSTA know this.

[JohnnyLib2]

5. He's certainly been consistent in his ineptness and

off-the-mark leadership. Shades of Nero, Marie Antoinette, and the Titanic....

[lpbk2713]

6. *Now watch this drive*

I swear this asshole lives in a totally different universe.

[northofdenali]

7. Well, seriously, what could he have contributed?

He's like the 4th grader whose teachers are giving a conference - useless.

[Dracos]

11. My thoughts exactly

Dick proably told him to go outside & play that he had something to do.

[Vidar]

8. Captain Oblivious to the rescue.

[gratuitous]

9. Now we're supposed to wet our pants over 10 bombs?

Sheesh, as if the federal government would be stirred to respond if 10 bombs went off across the United States, either all at once or within one 24-hour period.

As for Bush's "participation" in the exercise, I remember Clinton coming to Portland for a timber summit meeting, sitting through every meeting, listening to every report and every comment, then coming out with a policy to address what was presented.

Compare and contrast, class. Extra points if you use the word "bonehead."

[Canuckistanian]

10. Why would the PRESIDENT be necessary for an emergency drill?

Here's the "President"'s emergency plan:

1. Finally acknowledge there's a real emergency.
2. Phone Dick.
3. Do what Dick says.
4. Say nothing until Rove prepares a speech for you.

If in doubt, go back to step 2.

[leftofthedial]

12. he's already the master of disaster

[OhioChick]

13. Maybe it's best that he didn't take part

as everything he touches seems to turn to shit.