Ridge touts full access to Bush on homeland security issues

The head of the White House Office of Homeland Security said on Thursday that he has "the ear of the president" when it comes to potential threats to the United States and that his job is to make homeland security even stronger. In his first press conference since taking the helm at the office, Tom Ridge said that although he does not have the operational authority of the heads of federal agencies, he has been asked by President Bush to "call in the best" experts to outline a plan to protect America that utilizes the talent and resources of all national security-related agencies. Bush asked Ridge "to work to create a national and comprehensive national plan to deal with a 21st-century environment," Ridge said. Although many members of Congress and state and city officials have praised Bush's selection of Ridge as the homeland security chief, they have criticized the lack of budget authority and resources Ridge will have to oversee the agencies tasked with protecting the nation's critical infrastructure, including computer networks. Some have proposed instead that Congress create a separate homeland defense agency. But Ridge said his office is up to the challenge. "I'm the one person in government," he said, "[who] can stand back from the different agencies, stand back from their missions, stand back from the histories, and say, 'Well, Mr. President, I recommend we strengthen our national ability to respond to these threats.'" Ridge said he has been "cleared by the President to have as much information as I want" on national security. He will analyze the activities of dozens of agencies, including the FBI, CIA, Customs Service, Border Patrol and Federal Emergency Management Agency, to integrate all homeland security efforts into a national plan. "There is an extraordinarily strong foundation [of homeland defense] in this country," Ridge said. "The President said to me, 'Make it stronger.' That's my task." Ridge also said although most of the national focus now appears to be cases of anthrax exposure and infection, "our antenna is up for all potential risks." He said Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller brief him every morning on "every single potential threat." Ashcroft also said anyone who threatens people as a hoax, misleads investigators or issues a threat will be prosecuted. Ridge said administration officials on Thursday will conference with state and local officials on ways to protect the homeland. "We are in constant contact" with governors, mayors, city council members, doctors and law enforcement. Ridge said. "Our government is more coordinated than ever." Ridge also directed citizens seeking official information on the latest anthrax cases or other terrorist activity to various federal Web sites, such as those of the Centers for Disease Control, the Health and Human Services Department and the FBI.