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GAO Report: US DIRTY BOMB SHIELD DATA FAKED
#3530 - 2--gordonduff--GAO Report: US DIRTY BOMB SHIELD DATA FAKED--2008-09-04 14:32:06
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BUSH SYSTEM TO PROTECT US FROM DIRTY BOMBS MAY BE SCRAPPED
GAO ANNOUNCES TESTING FALSIFIED ON 3.8 BILLION PROJECT
By Gordon Duff, STAFF WRITER
Today, the General Accounting Office released its report on the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office's program to protect our borders from nuclear smuggling. After massive cost overruns, this "keystone" project to defend our borders was discovered to be virtually useless in the field and to have been pushed forward based on falsified testing data.
Our existing system for radiation protection has a history of problems and the new system had been touted as key to Homeland Security efforts to protect America from covert nuclear attack. Senator Joseph Lieberman (I) Conn. announced that he will hold investigatory hearings on the GAO report indicating that this is "a mission where failure is not an option." Lieberman thanked the GAO for its "realistic and tough minded" evaluation of this failed technology and dangerously ineffective program meant to secure America.
A question I can't help but ponder is how could a vital defense technology like this be subject to such fraud without a public outcry?....
-SEE WASHINGTON POST STORY: Radiation Detector Plan Falls Short, Audit Shows
That this is the most prominent Bush Homeland Security initiative and, perhaps, the most vital to national security, makes the systematic lies about detection capabilities and continual discoveries of misleading costs more than a bit serious. That the program has continued on for years, eating up billions of dollars while technical and financial irregularies have continually surfaced is an indication of endemic corruption at the highest levels and a leadership oblivious to the welfare of the American people.
It was discovered that Homeland Security had instructed its contractors on this failed project to keep vital information from GAO auditors thru refusing both interviews and sequestering data on failed capabilities, the GAO report indicated.
Link to March GAO report, prior to announced discovery of irregularities: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07347r.pdf
Homeland Security has remained silent on these charges.
Gordon Duff is a Marine Vietnam veteran and regular contributor on political and social issues.
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