Joe Biden's op-ed on the dangers posed by chemical attack is worth a read, not just for its terrorism implications, but what it says about the Bush administration's priorities:
The Chlorine Institute has estimated that an assault on a chlorine tanker could create a toxic cloud extending up to 15 miles. If this poisonous fog drifted over Capitol Hill, where deadly chemicals are transported just four blocks from the U.S. Capitol, thousands of people could be killed and Congress and the Supreme Court could be shut down for an extended period.
In fact, the Naval Research Laboratory has estimated that up to 100,000 people could be killed or injured in less than a half-hour by such an attack. Hospitals would be inundated with patients seeking treatment for burns to the eyes, skin and lungs. Thousands of panicked residents would need to be evacuated.
To address this threat and protect the millions of people who live in, work in and visit our nation's capital, the D.C. Council recently passed a law banning hazardous shipments from coming within 2.2 miles of the Capitol building. Many other cities, including Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Cleveland, are considering similar protective actions.
The rail industry has been joined by the Bush administration in blocking the D.C. law from taking effect, arguing that federal law preempts local bans and that it is the responsibility of the federal government to address this threat.
Of course they blocked it. In a Chlorine attack, neither the Bush administration nor Congress will have any trouble receiving medical treatment, they won't be among the thousands crushing into hospitals that're unable to accommodate the onslaught. In that way, it's not among the most immediately dangerous of threats, and certainly not worth passing legislation some industry or another doesn't like. As for all those folks who live in DC, who never asked to be born near the Capitol and never wanted to assume the exponentially higher risk of terrorist assault, screw 'em. Screw them, and their city council, and their peace of mind. If we start legislating against industry wishes now, the terrorists will have surely won.
