racheleggert
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I dunno which thread to put since Homeland Security is part of 9/11 and war and Osamba Bin Laden... so I put in here...
Ridge Resigns Homeland Security Post
46 minutes ago Top Stories - AP
By KATHERINE PFLEGER SHRADER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, whose name became synonymous with color-coded terror alerts and tutorials about how to prepare for possible attack, resigned Tuesday.
AP Photo
Reuters
Slideshow: Homeland Security
Ridge submitted his resignation in writing to President Bush (news - web sites) on Tuesday morning but indicated he will continue to serve until Feb. 1. "I will always be grateful for his call to service," Ridge said.
Ridge said that for the future he intends to "raise some family and personal matters to a higher priority," including attending his son's rugby games.
In an e-mail circulated to Homeland Security officials, Ridge praised the department as "an extraordinary organization that each day contributes to keeping America safe and free." He also said he was privileged to work with the department's 180,000 employees "who go to work every day dedicated to making our country better and more secure."
Among those mentioned as possible candidates for Ridge's replacement are Bernard Kerik, interim Minister of the Interior for Iraq (news - web sites) and former New York City police commissioner, former Federal Emergency Management Agency (news - web sites) Director Joe Allbaugh and Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) Administrator Mike Leavitt and White House homeland security adviser Fran Townsend. Others are also believed to be interested in the job, including Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security in the Homeland Security Department.
Six other Bush Cabinet figures are leaving, including Attorney General John Ashcroft (news - web sites), Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, Education Secretary Rod Paige, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman; Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham (news - web sites). Bush has chosen national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) for the State Department, White House counsel Alberto Gonzales for the Justice Department (news - web sites) and Carlos Gutierrez for Commerce.
In October 2001, Ridge became the nation's first White House homeland security adviser, leading a massive undertaking to rethink all aspects of security within the U.S. borders in the wake of the terror attacks of September 2001.
Congress subsequently passed legislation establishing the Homeland Security Department, merging 180,000 employees from 22 government agencies. Ridge became the department's first secretary in January 2003.
He has presided over six national "orange alerts" when the government boosted security out of concern that an attack may be coming. An attack in the United States never happened on his watch.
Ridge has said, however, that he believes an assault by the al-Qaida terrorist network was averted last summer during the Fourth of July holiday period, when intelligence reports indicated terrorists might be targeting international flights to attack the United States. Passenger manifests were scrutinized and flights were canceled.
Yet Ridge, a politician by nature, fought criticism leading up to the election from those who said he was using terror warnings to boost support for Bush. Ridge repeatedly said: "We don't do politics in the Department of Homeland Security."
Ridge, 59, has privately expressed his interest in moving out of the time-consuming, stressful post. However, those who know him said his loyalty to Bush was always a factor to consider.
Ridge, who has spent most of his adult life in public service, came home from Vietnam, earned a law degree and went into private practice in Pennsylvania. He later served as an assistant district attorney and ran for Congress in 1982.
Ridge was re-elected five times. He became the Pennsylvania governor in 1995, leaving the state capital in October 2001 after the White House called.
For pics.. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm.../ap/20041130/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/bush_cabinet_3
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Ridge Resigns Homeland Security Post
46 minutes ago Top Stories - AP
By KATHERINE PFLEGER SHRADER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, whose name became synonymous with color-coded terror alerts and tutorials about how to prepare for possible attack, resigned Tuesday.
AP Photo
Reuters
Slideshow: Homeland Security
Ridge submitted his resignation in writing to President Bush (news - web sites) on Tuesday morning but indicated he will continue to serve until Feb. 1. "I will always be grateful for his call to service," Ridge said.
Ridge said that for the future he intends to "raise some family and personal matters to a higher priority," including attending his son's rugby games.
In an e-mail circulated to Homeland Security officials, Ridge praised the department as "an extraordinary organization that each day contributes to keeping America safe and free." He also said he was privileged to work with the department's 180,000 employees "who go to work every day dedicated to making our country better and more secure."
Among those mentioned as possible candidates for Ridge's replacement are Bernard Kerik, interim Minister of the Interior for Iraq (news - web sites) and former New York City police commissioner, former Federal Emergency Management Agency (news - web sites) Director Joe Allbaugh and Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) Administrator Mike Leavitt and White House homeland security adviser Fran Townsend. Others are also believed to be interested in the job, including Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security in the Homeland Security Department.
Six other Bush Cabinet figures are leaving, including Attorney General John Ashcroft (news - web sites), Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, Education Secretary Rod Paige, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman; Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham (news - web sites). Bush has chosen national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) for the State Department, White House counsel Alberto Gonzales for the Justice Department (news - web sites) and Carlos Gutierrez for Commerce.
In October 2001, Ridge became the nation's first White House homeland security adviser, leading a massive undertaking to rethink all aspects of security within the U.S. borders in the wake of the terror attacks of September 2001.
Congress subsequently passed legislation establishing the Homeland Security Department, merging 180,000 employees from 22 government agencies. Ridge became the department's first secretary in January 2003.
He has presided over six national "orange alerts" when the government boosted security out of concern that an attack may be coming. An attack in the United States never happened on his watch.
Ridge has said, however, that he believes an assault by the al-Qaida terrorist network was averted last summer during the Fourth of July holiday period, when intelligence reports indicated terrorists might be targeting international flights to attack the United States. Passenger manifests were scrutinized and flights were canceled.
Yet Ridge, a politician by nature, fought criticism leading up to the election from those who said he was using terror warnings to boost support for Bush. Ridge repeatedly said: "We don't do politics in the Department of Homeland Security."
Ridge, 59, has privately expressed his interest in moving out of the time-consuming, stressful post. However, those who know him said his loyalty to Bush was always a factor to consider.
Ridge, who has spent most of his adult life in public service, came home from Vietnam, earned a law degree and went into private practice in Pennsylvania. He later served as an assistant district attorney and ran for Congress in 1982.
Ridge was re-elected five times. He became the Pennsylvania governor in 1995, leaving the state capital in October 2001 after the White House called.
For pics.. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm.../ap/20041130/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/bush_cabinet_3
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