Red flags such as people with “average or above average intelligence” or who displayed “increased

[The Straight Story]

Senator Coburn DHS Urban Areas Security Initiative Waste Report

In 2009, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania purchased for $88,000 several “long-range acoustic device,” or LRAD, which is mounted on a truck and emits an ear-splitting sound. Local officials used it to disperse G-20 protestors, giving one bystander permanent hearing loss, but which they called “a kinder and gentler way to get people to leave.”

Peoria, Arizona spent $90,000 to install bollards and surveillance cameras at the Peoria Sports Complex, which is used for spring training by the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. The Oxnard-Thousand Oaks UASI used $75,000 to also purchase surveillance equipment, alarms and closed-circuit television, which it installed in its Civic Arts Plaza, a local theater and cultural center.

UASI funds were also used for mundane expenses, such as paying the overtime costs of police and firefighters or purchasing new computers for the local emergency planning office. Some urban areas used their awards for local outreach, holding conferences, creating websites and posting videos on how citizens can spot signs of terror in their own neighborhoods. A video sponsored by the Jacksonville UASI alerted its residents to red flags such as people with “average or above average intelligence” or who displayed “increased frequency of prayer or religious behavior.”

When asked, FEMA could not explain precisely how the UASI program has closed security gaps or prepared the nation in the event of another attack. In part, FEMA has done very little oversight of the program, allowing cities to spend the money on almost anything they want, as long as it has broad ties to terror prevention. In fact, according to a June 2012 report by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General, “FEMA did not have a system in place to determine the extent that Homeland Security Grant Program funds enhanced the states’ capabilities to prevent, deter, response to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies before awarding more funds to the states.” Moreover, the agency failed to issue preparedness goals, intended to shape the use of UASI funds, until last year—nine years after the program was created. Because of this, it is difficult to measure the gains with any specificity.

http://publicintelligence.net/coburn-uasi-waste-report/

[Dawson Leery]

1. k/r

[HiPointDem]

2. wtf? that doesn't even make sense. so stupid people who are religious are not suspicious, but

average or intelligent people who are -- aren't?

[DaniDubois]

3. So now we're terrorists if we're “average or above average intelligence” soon we're gonna need a

list for what doesn't label you a terrorist. This would be a much shorter list to deal with. Have you noticed the police departments are getting more involved in the terrorist word? Drug dealers and animal rights activists are now being charged with terrorist crimes and with the new detention laws, you can be deemed but not even proven to be a terrorist and be detained for life with no trial. Who's next?

[RC]

4. wes jest ack lick wes not sew smart.

[DaniDubois]

6. Mi to. im sew whith u. meye cristian neybor is wreel smart tho

[meow2u3]

5. This sounds as if Coburn is griping about religious leaders being under suspicion

He's speaking in code. He's bitching about "people 'with average or above average intelligence' or who displayed 'increased frequency of prayer or religious behavior'", which has a lot to do with protecting extremist religious leaders.

You have to read between the lines.