Although firefighters, police, paramedics, and other first responders at the World Trade Center and Pentagon probably saved thousands of lives on 9/11, they paid a horrible price, including the loss of 403 New York police and firefighters. 9/11 taught us that first responders are a cornerstone of homeland security. Unfortunately, it also showed us that first responders were not adequately equipped to serve on the front line of a war against terrorism. Little has changed since 9/11. On Sept. 27, 2004, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced that an Office of Interoperability and Compatibility will be established to address this problem. Still, more than three years after 9/11, neither this new office nor any other agency has the resources or broad mandate needed to address this critical issue.

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