The fact that the 1,776-foot tower, meant to “replace” the Twin Towers is still under construction 13 years after the attack is embarrassing, but having a kid simply mosey into the construction site of a building that replaces those iconic buildings is a testament to the ease the terrorist planners must have had in their planning and a blight on the security of the nation.
One idiot with a shoe bomb means everyone takes them off in airports, one would think that a landmark twice attacked, once destroyed would warrant a touch more security.
The World Trade Center climb
The teenager made his way through a 12-inch by 12-inch hole in the exterior fence of the construction site according to Joe Pentangelo, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. From there… oh, better let the kid, arrested for a simple misdemeanor, explain it:
“I found a way up through the scaffolding, climbed onto the sixth floor, and took the elevator up to the 88th floor,” he said, according to the complaint. “I then took the staircase up to 104th floor. I went to the rooftop and climbed the ladder all the way to the antenna.”
Security, what security?
The simplicity of the ascent has already led to the firing of one security guard described by Pentangelo as “inattentive.”
While it’s pretty clear that this kid meant no harm, it should serve as a two-fold reminder…it’s time to get this building open, and then protect it.
“We take security and these type of infractions extremely seriously and will prosecute violators,” Joseph Dunne, the Port Authority’s chief security officer, said in a statement. “We continue to reassess our security posture at the site and we are constantly working to make this site as secure as possible.”
That’s all well and good, but those words will ring hollow if further embarrassments aren’t prevented. It was a sad day around the world on September 11th, and make no mistake, those interested in terrorizing America will be targeting the building that rises from the ashes of that fateful day. Step it up Mr. Dunne.
via: The Guardian
