Indy Media Watch

An article on Madison Indymedia is highly critical of some US Government emergency planning:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently sent our newspaper a reference guide to "Terrorism and other public health emergencies," along with a handy-dandy "wallet guide for media."

In case terrorists detonate a nuclear bomb nearby, and we must deal with the fallout, this newspaper is now well prepared to respond.

I will simply whip out my wallet guide as my fellow citizens flee to safety and take all the proper measures.

"During a terrorist attack, you may not immediately know what specific agent was used," my wallet guide states. "But you will still need to protect yourself and inform the public. The following chart lists the basic actions you can take."
The chart says what to do in the event of a biological incident, chemical incident or radiological incident. It also lists the various agents, from smallpox to nerve gas, and recommends appropriate treatments for each.

Part of me wants to laugh at the absurdity of this guide, full well knowing that the likelihood of a terrorist attack in this region is slim at best. The beauty of terrorism is in its ability to create fear, and to that end, it has succeeded as a weapon against the United States.

Remember all those complaints on Indymedia after Hurricane Katrina, and 9/11 about how unprepared the Government was? It's nice to know any disaster preparation they do undertake will receive such approval.