The Department of Homeland Security is dismantling a next-generation biological attack warning system in New York City subways because of technical problems, U.S. officials said.
Robert Hooks, a deputy assistant secretary, said the department no longer believes it is necessary to expand the pilot program, as he told Congress in July, because of resource and technology limits. Hooks said a long-planned alternative sensor system, set for initial deployment late next year, also will not be available nationwide until 2012, to allow for more testing.
Anything to make us less safe. Maybe we can send the plans for this detector to the enemy (uploading a pdf online should suffice) so that they can figure out how to get around it in the future. Hearts and minds, right Obama?
Now why do you suppose they would do that?
Well it’s a good idea. I’m sure it’s related to the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. Subways are vulnerable places for gas/bio weapons because they are usually in a small confined areas with limited exposure to outside air. I think this system would have worked well in conjunction with an emergency air purge system to get the gas out of the tunnels quickly. Once the system detected it it would start to suck out the contaminated air and bring air from the outside in.