Broadcasting live online from the Newseum at 2:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 26, American Airlines Cargo joins forces with TSA and others for a 100 percent air cargo screening roundtable.
Last week, I had an opportunity to speak with Federal News Radio’s Francis Rose about a variety of topics. We covered John Pistole’s nomination for TSA administrator, the Taliban’s plans for attacking our nation’s capital and of course, the ongoing discussion on immigration.
Last week I pointed out both that the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) does not contribute to illegal immigration and that DHS has a functioning biographic air exit system. This week Secretary Napolitano announced the elimination of the paper I-94W form (the green arrival/departure form long used by VWP travelers.)
On May 5, 2010, the newly empowered European Parliament issued its guidelines for beginning new negotiations on Passenger Name Record (PNR) agreements with the United States, Australia and Canada. This resolution received minimal coverage in the U.S. media, though its consequences for international travel security are potentially significant. Criminals and terrorists know no borders, as recent arrests and uncovered plots prove. We have no choice but to cooperate with international partners and to deepen that cooperation wherever possible. The collection and analysis of PNR data – along with its counterpart Advance Passenger Information (API) – is a critical tool to identify and disrupt the travel of terrorists and other international criminals.
There’s lots you can say about the nomination of John Pistole to be the next TSA Administrator. The first thing is “vetted.” You don’t get to be the number two guy in charge of the FBI without being vetted from top to bottom. Aside from the deeply personnel background check that comes with a Presidential nomination for a post as senior as this, when you have a senior career law enforcement like Pistole put forward for Senate consideration, it makes you wonder why he wasn’t considered sooner.
Noticeably absent from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Future of Aviation Advisory Committee’s roster is an aviation security representative. An omission of a security expert fails to heed the lessons learned after 9/11, the most catastrophic human and economic event in aviation history. The committee will certainly discuss security, but without a security expert on the Advisory Committee, reasonable, necessary security solutions are likely to be overlooked.
Since posting my blog, “The System Worked,” on Security Debrief and several other social media sites commending the work of law enforcement, intelligence and others in the capture of the failed Times Square bomber, I’ve received lots of feedback. And I couldn’t be happier. Everyone offered a number of good points that brought thought and debate to this still unfolding situation. While I can’t respond to all of the points raised, I wanted to tackle a few of the arguments that people posed to my blog.
Overlooked in all the coverage of Faisal Shahzad’s dramatic arrest as his flight was about to depart Kennedy International Airport for Dubai is that his identification and capture was made possible because, contrary to popular perception, DHS has an operational air exit system. Compliance with both inbound and outbound Advanced Passenger Information System manifest submission requirements is nearly 100 percent. It was this manifest submission that triggered the hit on Shahzad’s name and led to his arrest.
Uncomfortable Truths and the Times Square Attack – STRATFOR
Faisal Shahzad, the first suspect arrested for involvement in the failed May 1 Times Square bombing attempt, was detained just before midnight on May 3 as he was attempting to depart on a flight from Kennedy International Airport in New York. Authorities say that Shahzad is cooperating and that he insists he acted alone. However, this is contradicted by reports that the attack could have international links. From all indications, authorities are quickly collecting information on additional suspects from their homes and telephone-call records, and this is leading to more investigations and more suspects.
Lapses Allowed Suspect to Board Plane – NY Times
Why was Faisal Shahzad permitted to board a flight for Dubai some 24 hours after investigators of the Times Square terrorism case learned he might be connected to the attempted bombing?
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