Editorial: No cooperation

Thursday, July 26, 2007 | 7:09 a.m.

The plan to match local and federal law enforcement agents across the country to fight terrorism so far has been a costly failure, Congress was told this month.

USA Today reported Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security has spent $380 million helping set up so-called fusion centers in an effort to detect potential terrorist activity. However, the Congressional Research Service studied 42 operating centers and found that in many cases federal authorities are reluctant to share information. As well, centers do not have enough trained analysts to help connect the dots. Col. Bart Johnson of the New York State Police, who heads a panel that advises the federal government on local law enforcement needs, said the centers need better links to federal databases and watch lists. He said the states could also be better linked to one another.

The CRS report found "little true fusion, or analysis of disparate data sources, identification of intelligence gaps and pro-active collection of intelligence."

Unable to do the necessary work, the centers have turned their focus toward general crime analysis and emergency preparedness.

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey, a member of the 9/11 Commission, said the failure of the federal government to share information poses "a real risk as well as a missed opportunity."

In the past, Las Vegas has experienced the federal government's reluctance to cooperate, although that has changed over the past few years. Local law enforcement officials say they have an improved working relationship with federal officials, which could make a fusion center set to open in Las Vegas next month a rarity. It shouldn't be.

Unfortunately, the Bush administration has failed to adequately handle the threat of terrorism during the nearly six years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. That is unconscionable.

Instead of listening to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's "gut feelings," the Bush administration should fully fund these centers and give local law enforcement the support and cooperation needed to give them a chance to fight terrorism.