Napolitano Not Talking 'Terror'

By: Carter Yang
Topics: White House

(AP PHOTO)

At her first appearance on Capitol Hill as the nation's new Homeland Security chief, Secretary Janet Napolitano was chided for not talking "terror" to a congressional committee.

Before the former Arizona Governor began her testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Peter King, the panel's ranking Republican, noted to Napolitano that "the word 'terrorism' isn't used" in her preapared remarks. "I think it's important for people like us in positions of leadership to constantly remind people" about the threat of terrorism, the New York Republican said.

Napolitano's prepared testimony, obtained in advance by CBS News, did not include the T-word, but the Secretary inserted it in response to Rep. King's observation. As she described the Department of Homeland Security's mission as protecting the nation from threats "both natural and manmade", Napolitano added, "And terrorism, Mr. King, I believe falls into that category and is central to the category."

Not all of her congressional questioners objected to the apparent shift in focus. "I applaud the new tone of the department," said Rep. Jane Harman, chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, adding that the role of the department "is to prepare, not scare."

From day one, Napolitano has assiduously avoided the nearly constant terror-talk of her two predecessors at DHS, a department created in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. At her first meeting with beat reporters at Homeland Security Headquarters on January 30, nine days after she was sworn-in, the new secretary's tendency to nix the T-word was evident as she spoke for more thirty minutes about the northern and southern borders, immigration, the ice storms in the midwest, hurricane preparations, and other issues without explicitly mentioning terrorism. In a one-on-one interview following the session, CBS Correspondent Bob Orr pressed the incoming secretary on the subject, asking her if terrorism would remain the top priority at DHS under her tenure. "It's a top priority," Napolitano answered.

Carter Yang is a CBS News producer based in Washington, D.C.

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by RogerRocket March 4, 2009 4:40 PM EST: I agree with johnbryansfontaine and with the very reasonable comments of Mr. Reynolds. The intelveteran comments are warmed over rants from radio talk show hosts and do not represent original or intelligent analysis.; Reply to this comment


by johnbryansfontaine March 3, 2009 4:32 AM EST: Intelveteran might be shocked to find that Hitler believed that socialism was a right-wing ideology which was identical to nationalism, hence national socialism. Also, since racism was the central component of nazism, to try and subtract it from the ideology is absurd. What part of Obama's policies even remotely resemble the Holocaust?; Reply to this comment


by intelveteran February 26, 2009 1:03 PM EST: NAZI. English translation: National Socialist German Worker's Party, (basically socialists with a racist component)

Socialism: government control of virtually every aspect of your life, (no capitalism. no free enterprise. government controls the economy reference the former "paradise" known as the Union of Soviet SOCIALIST Republics and communist China)

Throw in an over 1 trillion dollar "bailout" where the government tries to gain massive control over the U.S. economy. Reference socialized medicine (a huge chunk of the economy coming under gov. control), control of the big 3 auto makers, and assuming 25% to 30% control of the big bailed out banks and mortage companies, etc.

So the Obama administration is trying to turn us into a "democratic socialist" country like France.

Hmmmm. Democrats want the government to run healthcare, banking, the housing industry, and automaking i.e. they're basically turning us socialist.

So minus the "racist" component of nazism, the democrats are more similar to the nazis than any conservative in this country because conservatives are simply free market capitalists that believe in individual liberty and minimal government interfearance, etc.

So who looks more like a nazi here? The neo nazi platform in America actually calls for socialized medicine. They are true to their roots.

Liberals and leftists need to study some history and educate themselves. They might be shocked by what they find.; Reply to this comment


by Mr Reynolds--2008 February 26, 2009 11:50 AM EST: I too applaud the change in tone, and only wish we could get rid of the whole "Department of Homeland Security"--the very name suggests its Nazi mentality. "Terrorism" is whatever you call "terrorism," which certainly leads us to the gross excesses of the last eight years. Crimes, however, are crimes, whether committed against individuals, buildings, monuments or institutions. And clearly crimes can be detected and perpetrators brought to justice without plowing up the entire civilized world and killing thousands.; Reply to this comment