Abstract

Ridge on the Ledge

The article presents information on Tom Ridge, the newly appointed director of the newly created Office of Homeland Security. He could reassure and inform the public, and become the competent and confident front man for a helter-skelter U.S. administration. Ridge's supposed mission is to coordinate dozens of agencies and departments involved in domestic antiterrorism efforts- so on-and guarantee they work smoothly with local and state authorities. Skeptical lawmakers and mayors have questioned whether his job-currently structured to render him kibitzer-in-chief-makes sense. His number-one priority, obviously, is preventing terrorism. Much of his time as Pennsylvania governor was devoted to law enforcement, yet, like most Republicans, Ridge focused not on crime prevention but on increasing punishment for criminals-a specialty not entirely relevant to thwarting suicide bombers.