Bill Pascrell: “James Carafano, who is a homeland security researcher, said recently that technology is not a substitute for strategy.…”

“James Carafano, who is a homeland security researcher, said recently that technology is not a substitute for strategy. And we know, as has been earlier reported this month by Eric Lipton, and he wrote the following, ``After spending more than $4.5 billion on screening devices to monitor the Nation's ports and borders and airports and mail and air, the Federal Government is moving to replace or alter much of the antiterrorism equipment, concluding that it is ineffective, unreliable, or too expensive to operate.'' He went on to say: ``Each of those areas where we have missed the mark.'' That is why I think this substitute should be given great consideration by all of us, not only those that serve on the Homeland Security Committee. We have a unity of effort here. Do not translate, do not interpret this substitute as breaking that commitment that we have made to that unity of purpose. And I want to commend my good friend, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), who stood shoulder to shoulder with the gentleman from California (Chairman Cox) through all of these hearings that we have been having. But, the ranking member, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), your steady leadership on our committee is going to go a long way beyond our vote today. I applaud you for offering a substitute. The Department of Homeland Security was formed because of the catastrophic terrorist attack on September 11.…”