Russ Knocke
Russ Knocke
along areas criminal dangerous helpful human intended invite lead maps matter might personal produce road
It is not helpful for anyone, no matter how well intended they might be, to produce road maps that lead aliens into the desolate and dangerous areas along the border, and potentially invite criminal activity, human exploitation and personal risk.
assign attention careful congress doubt government help placed seeing time victims
Our undivided attention is placed on the victims of this catastrophe and seeing that they get the help that they desperately need. There is going to be a time and a place for the government and no doubt for Congress and the administration to really take a careful look at where the missteps were and assign blame.
against beat clear clock racing
We were racing against the clock and now it's clear the clock beat us.
assess assigned blame clearly learn plenty successful time worked
There will be plenty of time to assess what worked and what didn't work. Clearly there will be time for blame to be assigned and to learn from some of the successful efforts.
efforts federal response start taking talking
We are not talking about DOD taking over federal response efforts to a catastrophe from start to finish,
indication
there is no indication of any nexus to terror.
assets federal homeland immediate meet recovery responsibility security support talking training
We're talking about an ultra-catastrophe, where the need is such that the military's training and assets would meet an immediate need in support of Homeland Security coordination of the federal government's responsibility and recovery efforts,
anyone focus priorities situation
While the situation in the Superdome was nightmarish and not satisfactory to anyone involved, it was not a life-and-death situation and we had to focus our priorities where we could,
capability clearly department dialogue discussed enhance hazards issues measures recovery regular since taken
We've had a regular dialogue with first responders and discussed some of these issues with them. We're clearly an all hazards department and have taken significant measures to enhance preparedness and recovery capability since Sept. 11.
states work
We are encouraging those states that want to work with us.
background case certainly experience policy political positions relevant rewards senior whether
It's certainly not the case that the senior positions are rewards for political loyalty. There is experience in their background relevant for doing their jobs, whether in policy or management.
consistent information intelligence process share sharing specific state threat type
The process for sharing this type of specific threat information with state and locals was consistent with protocols for how we share the information and for how that information is vetted by the intelligence community.
believe demands federal government law meet mix personnel public
We believe we've got the right mix of personnel in law enforcement for the federal government to meet the demands of public safety.
national operating response
We were already operating under the National Response Plan.