Sunday, September 16, 2007

U.S. Counter-Counterterrorism Unit Successfully Destroys Washington Monument

In this article the government’s position on homeland security is satirized using a mock agency, the Counter-Counterterrorism Unit or CCU. The article focuses on the CCU’s latest operation, the demolition of the Washington Monument. A Department of Homeland Security official explains “we can't just sit back and wait for the terrorists to attack.” The article pokes fun at the government’s excessive efforts to thwart unforeseen terrorist attacks.

An important part in the article to note is President Bush’s urge “to pass a proposed $291 million spending package for the counter-counterterrorism program, while pointing out "the clear need" to provide the counterterrorism program with better training and equipment.” This point emphasizes the excessive amount of money that Congress has allocated towards groups that are unlikely to get the job done.

Another part of the article that emphasizes the government’s ineptitude is the fondness with which the “counter-counterterrorists” are referred. They are often called “brave” and “dedicated” men. This sentiment is also shown with the line “at least I know their sacrifice was not in vain.” The satire is taken a step further with the last line: “Special officer Jeremy Stillwell, the only member of the counter-counterterrorism unit to survive the exercise, died early yesterday morning while being questioned by counter-counter-counterterrorism personnel.”

In its entirety, the article serves to draw attention to the government’s supposed response to terrorism. It raises the question: How far will we let the government go for the sake of security? Will the government really be able to get the job done? And at what cost?

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