Chertoff: Terrorism arrests justify shift in security funding
Allegations of plots against Chicago, Miami, show need to spread grants around, Homeland Security chief says.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday the arrests of seven men for allegedly planning terrorist strikes in Chicago and Miami justify the department's recent decision to spread urban area antiterrorism grant funding to more cities around the country.
Chertoff said the government needs to consider not only places that have traditionally been terrorist targets but also areas where risks have increased.
"We recognize that the risk is not evenly distributed throughout the country," he said, speaking at an event devoted to comparing government anti-terrorism operations to what is portrayed on the popular television series "24."
At the Heritage Foundation-sponsored event, Chertoff added: "We all agree that certain cities are at the highest risk. Does that mean that other cities have no risk? And I think the answer to that is no. And the proof of the pudding, frankly, is in the events of the last 24 hours."
The government Thursday arrested six men in Miami and one man in Atlanta. According to a federal indictment unsealed today, the men were charged with conspiring to use explosives to damage or destroy the Sears Tower in Chicago and an FBI building in Miami. Chertoff refused to take questions from reporters after his speech.
The department's recent grant allocations reduced urban area security funds for New York City and Washington, by 40 percent, outraging some lawmakers. Other urban areas, including Chicago, had their funding increased. Chicago's funding went from $45 million last year to $52.2 million. The Miami area was awarded $15.98 million, a slight increase over $15.82 million last year.
Chertoff added that the department this year put more funding into the northern part of New Jersey, which he said also benefits New York City. Chertoff also criticized those who believe the department should not put funding into smaller urban areas in the heartland of the country.
"I have two words to say to you: Oklahoma City," he said, referring to the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which killed 168 individuals.