Nothing says failure much like a club med attitude that is quite prevailing throughout government and when it comes to the Secret Service the symptoms are glaring.
There are lapses in security, in attendance, in pro-active measures, fraud and prostitutes. Fence jumpers are the most recent sign of lack of leadership and demands by those actually in the White House, when doors are unlocked, alarms are turned off and people and dogs are slow to respond, if at all.
After the Cartagena prostitute scandal, what took so long to find truth and begin to install real cures? Why did it take an outside investigation of the Secret Service to publish the problems?
‘USSS has two primary missions: (1) to safeguard the Nation’s financial infrastructure and payment systems and (2) to protect national leaders, visiting heads of state and government, designated sites, and high-profile events. USSS employs approximately 3,200 special agents, 1,300 uniformed officers, and more than 2,000 technical, professional, and administrative support personnel.’
The solutions? Ah yes, more dogs, more people, more training and a higher fence. No real mention of a culture problem and following existing policy and protocol. Now the question is how long will all these proposals take and at what cost to the taxpayer?
Panel Finds Deep Problems at Secret Service
Outside Experts Suggest Agency Seek Leader From Outside, Build Higher White House Fence
By Andrew Grossman, The Wall Street Journal
Much of the report is classified and won’t be released publicly, but the executive summary suggests the panel found deep problems at the top of the Secret Service, which is tasked with protecting the president, his family and other dignitaries, as well as investigating financial crimes.
“The panel found an organization starved for leadership that rewards innovation and excellence and demands accountability,” the executive summary said.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson appointed the panel to review presidential security and the Secret Service after a man jumped the White House fence and ran into the mansion in September, leading to the resignation of then-director Julia Pierson.
The Wall Street Journal reviewed an executive summary of its report, which was delivered to Mr. Johnson this week.
The panel also recommended one simple step to make the White House more secure: Quickly raise the 7½-foot fence around the compound, which is far too easy to climb. An extra 4 or 5 feet, plus outward curves on top, would make a big difference, the panel wrote in an executive summary of its report.
Mr. Johnson called the recommendations “astute, thorough and fair” and said he’d make sure they’re implemented. Speaking on MSNBC earlier in the day, he said the president and his family are safe.
“Some of the panel’s recommendations are similar to others made in past agency reviews, many which were never implemented,” he said. “This time must be different.”
Among the changes it recommends is to break with a long tradition of having insiders run the Secret Service and appoint an outsider to lead the agency.
