Thursday, July 12, 2007
Fox Military Analyst: Chertoff’s ‘Gut Feeling’ Is More About ‘Politics Than Terrorism’
Yesterday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said that the nation is “entering a period this summer of increased risk.” When asked for how he knows this information, he said his remarks were based on his “gut feeling.”
Today, Fox News military analyst Col. David Hunt swiftly attacked Chertoff’s remarks, stating, “I understand he’s got feelings. The problem is, the states and cities, who have to react to the Department of Homeland Security guidance, can’t do squat on his feelings. … It seems more politics, John, than terrorism.”Chertoff’s comments have been widely criticized by both the right and left. Today, Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson wrote to Chertoff and asked him to clarify his comments. “Words have power, Mr. Secretary. You must choose them wisely–especially when they relate to the lives and security of the American public. … What cities should be asking their law enforcement to work double shifts because of your ‘gut feeling?’”
Hunt is not a frequent critic of the Bush administration. Quite the opposite. He has repeatedly tried to link Saddam Hussein to terrorism and in 2003, attacked the media for not portraying a sufficiently positive picture of the fighting in Iraq. Also that year, he mocked Gen. Wesley Clark’s comment that the troops didn’t have enough armored vehicles: “Excuse me. There aren’t enough armored vehicles? Wah, wah, wah.”
Transcript:
HOST: For more on Secretary Chertoff’s unusual comments and how serious the threat is, let’s turn to Fox News military analyst Col. David Hunt.
Col. Hunt, we have spent billions of dollars trying to beef up homeland security in this country, and here is the Homeland Security Secretary relying on “gut feelings”?
HUNT: Yeah, here’s an idea John. I’d make Catherine Herridge the head of homeland security, because that analysis she just gave us is what I would have expected out of Chertoff and the DHS. I think DHS is billions of dollars overspent, terribly wasted amount of money. I understand he’s got feelings. The problem is, the states and cities, who have to react to the Department of Homeland Security guidance, can’t do squat on his feelings. We spent billions of dollars not to hear Michael Chertoff’s feelings, but to protect this country from terrorism, and what he did is take a step backwards. Very disappointing he said that, and again, the state and local people can’t do anything with what he told us. It seems more politics, John, than terrorism.
Labels: bs, gut feeling, Michael Chertoff, terrorism
<< Home
