April 28, 2005

A picture named linder1.jpg

The insanity continues from the Republican party.

From this week's House Homeland Security Committee hearing on airline security:

Chairman Christopher Cox: The gentleman from Georgia:
Rep. Linder: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Umm. We could probably spend, the entire budget of the United States, on the airline industry. And still be missing some pieces.
Now, most of us don't believe that we will ever see an airline hit a building, because the passengers won't allow it. And if an airline is blown up in the air, that is a very bad circumtance for 200 or 300 people. But it is not a catastrophe.

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Rep. Linder: I would rather spend these fortunes looking for a catastrophe . . . for nuclear weapons.
(mumbling and inaudible)
Chairman Cox: Is the gentleman's microphone turned on?
Rep. Linder: Yes.
Rep. Linder: We could spend everything we have protecting airplanes, and still not protect everything. Umm. It is my view that no airplane will ever hit a commercial building -- which is the only value they have in taking out large numbers of people. It is my view that passengers won't allow that to happen. But it is entirely possible that an airplane will blow up in the air, with some (inaudible) or warning today, or some other technique. But that is a very bad circumstance for about 200, 300 people. But it is not a catastophe.

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