A STIFF-LOOKING Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, with his plucked eyebrows, rosy cheeks and bright white teeth, stands by a podium at the Clark County government center, listening to Gov. Kenny Guinn's introduction. "[Ridge] has always been able to impress me," says Guinn. "Not only in his ability to show himself as an individual, but show himself as an individual who cares."
Thank God for that. There's little more we need in the leader of the Homeland Security Department than a caring individual. Gov. Guinn goes on to recount the number of times he and Ridge spoke on the phone during the holidays, when gunships were patrolling our streets and the hotels and airlines were handing over customer information to the feds with a smile. Thanks to the caring individual.
Ridge takes the mike. He greets the smiling line of suits standing with him, saying hello to the Governor's advisory for homeland security, Jerry Bussell, Clark County Commissioner Chip Maxfield, Sheriff Bill Young and Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese. "Reese, is that it?" asks Ridge, making sure he's got the name right. "The mayor's out of town, and you're in charge? Did you buy him a round-trip ticket?"
A few har-har-hars later, and the caring individual announces that he's designated $37 million to help further secure and prepare Nevada for a disaster. Then he starts singing the praises of the new baby of the war on terrorism: the Homeland Security Information Network Initiative (HSIN), which is expanding its computer base to all 50 states, plus five territories and Washington, D.C., by the end of the year. This system integrates local, state and federal communications and will presumably help detect any funny business going on and share classified information with officials, up to "secret" level. Ridge is incredibly vague about what this system means, but uses enough catchphrases to sound as though he's imparting an important message. "Shared mission." "Shared responsibility." "Shared accountability." "Shared leadership." "Sharing intelligence."
HSIN is used now by law enforcement agencies and will expand into the hands of counties and the private sector. Perhaps it truly will be useful. Though the timing with the 9/11 commission focusing on Condoleeza Rice and President Bush is interesting. It's like they're planting the seeds to convince us the government just didn't have the opportunity, the technology to share the information. See? Share.
And maybe this system is an improvement. Or maybe it's just one more way to connect with and arrest more people under the guise of homeland security. Only time—and the sleek new computer that Ridge presented to Guinn—will tell. See, he really does care, and share.