NJ Terror Thoughts

After the bombings in London I started thinking about terrorism here in New Jersey. Since 9/11, I suspect most of us have found ways to push the threat of another attack out of our most conscience thoughts and only periodically, whether at a crowded event or maybe when a jet flies by lower than normal, give it a thought.

According to an article in the Ledger today our elected representatives are no different than the rest of us. Preparing for a terror event has become just another political football where the game is to get more of the money than anyone else regardless of actual need.

"This year, lawmakers from each party requested about the same amount of Homeland Security funding. The result: Democrats got more than $7.8 million, while Republicans received $523,454.

More than $1 million in grants went to just one district — that of Democratic Sen. Wayne Bryant, D-Camden, the chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee."

I thought as I read that maybe Democratic districts got more because they are in more vulnerable districts and that's exactly what the State Attorney General's office said. However the Ledger's analysis of funding showed

"...several instances in which comparable suburban districts controlled by Democrats received money, while Republican ones didn't.

For example, Somerville, Manville and South Bound Brook in heavily Republican Somerset County are similar in population and economics to three towns located not far away in Democratic Middlesex County: Edison, Metuchen and South River. The three Middlesex towns this year received $385,000 in state grants; the three Somerset towns got nothing."

When thinking of Terror attacks it is clear that eastern New Jersey,with it's chemical plants, refineries and proximity to New York City is much more at risk than western New Jersey. However, looking at the state as a whole is required for dealing with any terror planning. For example, if a 1 kiloton suitcase nuke were detonated in downtown Manhattan the fallout would damage across the river in Hudson and Essex, but because of the normal prevailing winds would also drift down through Ocean and Momouth counties. People would be fleeing west in large numbers, unprepared for the trip, possibly sick and maybe armed. Authorities in each town and county would be overwhelmed. Scary thoughts aren't they?

Planning for large terror attacks and making sure the proper resources are in place and available is the responsibility of our elected leaders. It's clear from previous revelations of Newark buying garbage trucks and cranes they can't use with anti-terrorism grants and from this article that many of our elected leaders could have innocent blood on their hands.