In naming Tom Ridge to head the newly created Office of Homeland Security last fall, President Bush essentially asked the nation to make a leap of faith that the former Pennsylvania governor could bring order to the multitude of federal, state and local agencies that play a role in protecting the home front from attack. Four months and a rash of anthrax attacks later, that remains the case. As far as we can tell, Mr. Ridge has done a vigorous and commendable job of trying to redirect and coordinate the work of these organizations and has just proposed a hefty but reasonable increase in spending by many of them. But Mr. Ridge`s job description is so amorphous and his powers so opaque that even Congress is having trouble determining how much he has accomplished. Full Story