|
NOTICE:
The International Emergency Management Society's Transportation Saftey and Security Workshop Janurary 28-29th 2003
|
Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and
Risk Management
Crisis and Emergency Management
|
NOTICE: The ICDRM's monthly emergency managment forum, held at the GWU. Next Forum: contact infor: |
| December
2002
Volume 3 - Number 3 |
|
Links:
Current events
|
Thoughts on the War on Terror
By Raymond Cheung
The causes of the September 11th, 2001 attacks in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania are hotly debated and fiercely controversial. Foreign policy and radical Islam notwithstanding, the vulnerabilities within the national infrastructure allowed the attacks to happen. Since, the emergency management community has a limited ability to affect foreign policy and war, this article will concentrate on the domestic aspects of the war on terror. Although debatable, the following are some weaknesses that “caused” September 11th: · Intelligence gathering and sharing failures in the FBI, CIA, and NSA. · INS monitoring and tracking failures · FAA failures to prevent cockpit intrusion and hijacking The restructuring of the government called the Homeland Security Act will institute grand changes across the board and only time will tell if it will prevent another terrorist attack on the scale of September 11th. However, looking at these integral failures prior to September 11th, one can see whether the organizations involved are integrated within the new Department of Homeland Security and what changes have been made since September 11th. The FBI and CIA are conspicuously absent from the Department, even though they were a major failing prior to the attacks. Director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, has declared that the new focus of the FBI will be investigating terrorism. The CIA and NSA have also beefed up intelligence gathering. This may have led to the arrests of alleged terrorist cells in New York and Oregon. A new tip line has also been put up to allow people to make anonymous tips. Despite these changes, it may not be enough to prevent another attack. There were suspicions about the September 11th hijackers, but it just was not put together. There may be more intelligence gathering now, but if it is not put together then it will be worthless. The INS will be relocated to the Border and Transportation Security Directorate within the Department of Homeland Security. The INS approved visas for the hijackers yet failed to track and monitor them even after some overstayed their visas. Visas were even given to two hijackers six months after the attacks. Their integration within the new Department may allow them to have more information and thus enable them to deny visas or put on watch lists those who have terrorist ties. Better technology and increased manpower will be necessary for the INS to do their job effectively The creation of the Transportation Security Agency has taken over the security of airports and airplanes from the FAA. The TSA will also be integrated within the Border and Transportation Security Directorate. Increased baggage inspection and stricter passenger controls are notable changes. Sharp objects are no longer allowed in carry on luggage and cockpit doors are reinforced and remain closed throughout the flight. Federal Air Marshals, a rarity prior to September 11th, have also increased hiring many times over. The Homeland Security Act also brings the availability of pilots to carry handguns onboard as a last resort prevention from hijacking. The criteria set for these agencies is whether it can prevent another attack from happening. The TSA seems to be the most active agency responding to these new threats. If we are to believe Director Mueller that terrorists will attack again, it will probably not be aboard an airliner. However, there are still many other vulnerabilities that terrorists may exploit. The Department of Homeland Security may restructure the government, but unless critical changes occur within the intelligence culture, another attack may be inevitable. |