Chuck rips U.S.
on security

The federal government's sluggish effort to improve domestic security since Sept. 11 is leaving the U.S. vulnerable to terror attacks, Sen. Chuck Schumer said yesterday.
In a new "Security Report Card" released yesterday, Schumer (D-N.Y.) gave the government an overall C-minus for its anti-terror effort to protect the nation's rail systems, airports, water supply, and ports and borders.

"When it comes to domestic security, the federal government is playing Russian roulette with New York and the nation," Schumer said at a news conference in front of a Sept. 11 memorial inside Penn Station.

The report also graded 10 categories within homeland security, with a high of B-plus going to "Combating Bioterrorism." "Nuclear Plant Security" got a B-minus, "Aviation Security" a C-plus, "Northern Border Security" a C-minus, while "Rail Security" and "Defending the Water Supply" tied for the worst marks, with D-minuses.