Sorry Topeka, Fargo, Lawrence... and Alaska

Under new rules spelled out today in the NYT, only cities and states that are likely terrorist targets will get anti-terrorism funding. I suppose Ted Stevens will make a case that Alaska is a high profile terrorist target? I can just picture him now...


"Alaska is in danger, damn it!"

"In recent CIA intercepts, we have indisputable evidence that the Alaska wilderness is a high profile target!!! And I will not rest until the new 'Ted Stevens Alaska Protection Center' is a reality!"


"I will not concede that Alaska is a terrorist bullseye, forget New York or LA... they are peanuts compared to the great A!"

Facing cuts in antiterrorism financing, the Department of Homeland Security plans to announce today that it will evaluate new requests for money from an $800 million aid program for cities based less on politics and more on assessments of where terrorists are likely to strike and potentially cause the greatest damage, department officials say.

The changes to the program, the Urban Area Security Initiative, are being driven in part by a reduction in the overall pool of money for antiterrorism efforts. For 2006, Congress has appropriated $120 million less in these urban grants than for 2005.

Domestic security grants in general, including the urban area ones, have been criticized because they have sent more antiterrorism money per capita to sparsely populated states like Wyoming and Alaska than to states like New York and California.

The shift in policy, to be announced by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, could mean less antiterrorism aid for the 50 cities that received money last year under the program. Or, as is more likely, the department could reduce the number of cities on the list or cut grants for cities deemed at lower risk.