Are we safer now than we were five years ago as a result of the Bush's administration's policies?
It's a monumental question that history will ultimately judge. But campaigns can't wait for history.
Claire McCaskill pointed to the 9-11 commission recommendations, and noted how many have yet to be implemented. "Sen. Talent said it was because of budget restraints and bureaucratic resistance," McCaskill said, as she moved back to her "priorities" argument.
"Is it more important to give multi-millionaires $25 million dollars in tax breaks or is it more important to spend $800 million dollars on making sure that cargo coming into our country that is likely to come through the Midwest, doesn't have dirty bombs inside of it?," she continued.
"I think it is more important to inspect the cargo. That's a matter of priorities."
Senator Talent answered directly. "Of course we're safer. The government has mobilized in the last 5 years," Missouri's junior Senator said. How so? The Senator, as he did during much of this debate, presented a list.
*Government has implemented 37 of 39 recommendations from the 9-11 commission
*Congress has 70 statutes regarding homeland security
*$13 billion dollars has been implemented to first responders
*U.S. forces have caught or killed 2/3 of Al Qaeda's top operatives
*Broken up at least 15 terror plots, that we knew about
"That's why we haven't been attacked successfully in the last five years," Talent said.
He then talked tough on terror and Iraq, weaving the two issues together.
"We have to find out what terrorists are talking about, we can't release classified information to publish and can't leave Iraq without the mission done, that's quitting. That sends a message to terrorists that we won't see this through, and make the war longer and harder to win," Talent said forcefully.
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