Updated: The headline certainly sounds like a wild accusation or a conspiracy theory. It’s neither. The Tulsa area has more space related technological expertise than most of us imagine. Tulsa, in union with Indian nations, also has a wealth of federal contracting capabilities greater than most areas of the United States outside of Washington, D.C.

Several years ago, a proposal was submitted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to analyze and, if appropriate, build a satellite earth station and ground entry to unify the various networks of federal civilian and military agencies under authority and connected to DHS.

The Osage Nation’s minority small business entity, incorporating some nationally recognized expertise, submitted the proposal under a non-competitive framework. 

OK Senator Lankford (R) supported the effort.  It was a great solution for DHS and for the nation. It enabled such diverse DHS components as FEMA and Homeland Security Investigations to connect directly with the military and other federal agencies. 

The various levels of government protecting the president and presidential candidates could all be coordinating using one satellite…that just happens to be over the equator almost directly south of Tulsa.  It was also a great solution for the Tulsa area, a place that has some unique communications distribution assets and some very capable communications engineers and technicians.  That capability could have been used in Butler, Pennsylvania to connect law enforcement elements that weren’t talking to each other because they didn’t have common equipment. 

So what happened to the Osage Nation’s proposal?  The bureaucracy happened. It appears that the Lankford staffers went to the appropriate DHS office and got the not-invented-here treatment.  They just didn’t see that as a need.  And rather than respond with something like, “But the Senator…” the staffers just went back to their offices and chalked off one more task completed. 

Maybe it’s time for the Osage Nation LLC and the Lankford staff to do what they should have done last time. Push for common sense with some degree of fight, if not passion, to connect critical communications.

Update: The Gateway Pundit reported, that “on Sunday, after his explosive interview with Maria Bartiromo, Rep. Ron Johnson (R-WI) released his 13-page preliminary findings on the investigation into the attempted assassination of President Trump.”

That report in its second point that local law enforcement said communications were siloed and they were not in frequent radio contact directly with Secret Service thus illustrating how Sen. Lankford’s weak pitch and DHS inattention left open a vulnerability that nearly cost President Trump his life.

“Individuals with local law enforcement told Senator Johnson’s office that communications between different entities providing security at the rally were siloed. For example, local SWAT and sniper teams operated on separate radio channels from patrol. According to these individuals, communications had to be routed to Butler ESU command, who would then relay information to either Secret Service or other local law enforcement patrols. It is unclear why communications were set up this way and whether the lack of direct communications between local law enforcement and Secret Service hindered any response time or decision-making.” Again, click here for that 13-page preliminary findings report.

Monday the Secret Service Director answered with non-answers to Congress over President Trump’s failed security and nearly successful assassination attempt July 13. That hearing was carried live on several networks and the systemic inability to communicate were noted. A plan is already in hand.