Rich Cooper, Security Debrief

Washington
,
Feb 26, 2009
 –
In yesterday’s House Homeland Security Committee Hearing with DHS Sec. Napolitano, US Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) questioned the Secretary about TSA requirements for Transportation Workers Identification Credentials (TWIC) cards for workers that serve as mule drivers (aka “mule skinners”) for a canal boat that operates at the National Canal Park in his District in Easton, PA.  Having a member of his staff hold up a poster size photo of these workers dressed in colonial garb walking along side the mules as they tow the canal boat, the Congressman was quick to point out the workers, nor the mules were terrorists requiring extensive background checks as required for TWIC.  What seemed to be a “gotcha” moment in the Hearing is now getting national media attention.  CNN’s webpage carries the story on its front page.

It would seem that Rep. Dent has made his point on this issue, but we’ll have to wait and see what investigative reporting has to offer on the background checks on the mules, Hank and George.  You never know… they could have summer camped in Afghanistan with the wrong crowd.