Homeland Security: Just another barrel o'pork

...or, "Washington to New York: Go fuck yourself."

In the nationwide scramble for domestic security dollars, officials in Alaska are in a predicament that would be the envy of most other states. They must figure out how to spend $2 million in federal money.



The Department of Homeland Security rejected a proposal by Alaska to use the money to buy a jet, but indicated it would be "happy to entertain" further proposals for the $2 million. Officials are now obliging.



One of the nation's least populous states, Alaska is flush with domestic security grants, on a per-resident basis second only to Wyoming and about three times the amount allocated to New York over the past two years.



Money is so readily available that the Northwest Arctic Borough, a desolate area of 7,300 people that straddles the Arctic Circle, recently stocked up on $233,000 worth of emergency radio equipment, decontamination tents, headlamps, night vision goggles, bullhorns - even rubber boots.

Meanwhile, has the New York City Fire Department gotten updated radios yet? Nope. New York lost $6 million in anti-terrorism funding. Bush and Ridge have announced a $200 million cut in similar programs for next year, and a cut of 33 percent in the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. In fact, New York State ranks 49th out of 50 in anti-terrorism funding. But we gotta protect Alaska and Wyoming, right? Actually, it's more about punishing New York for not voting for God's Own Anointed Reincarnation of Jeebus, George W. Bush.