Shippers campaign against full screening of cargo on planes – Homeland Security Newswire
Despite knowing for decades that terrorists could sneak bombs onto planes, the U.S. government failed to close obvious security gaps amid pressure from shipping companies fearful tighter controls would cost too much and delay deliveries.
Agendas for Homeland Security panels take shape – GovExec
The dust from last week’s elections has barely settled, but the landscape of hearings and priorities by the House and Senate homeland security committees is already becoming clear.
In part II of this series, we focused on Oil Security and the regional developments that shaped the environment leading to the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States. In this part, we will explore the root causes for the instability in the environment affecting Israel Security and shaking its foundations and consider the lessons learned from past U.S. actions in the Middle East.
When one thinks of Japan, popular American images that come to mind are affordable and reliable automobiles (I drive a Toyota Camry Hybrid), sophisticated electronics and gadgetry (I have an iPod nano), and, to those who have been there, the most advanced toilets in the world (you really have to experience them for yourself). In short, a commonly held view of this island nation-state is one of extraordinarily advanced technological wonder – robots, Shinkansen (bullet trains) and all. I will be the first to admit that these and other images ran through my mind on the direct flight from LAX to Narita; I wondered how such mastery of machines translated to countering terrorism in Japan. The focus on HUMINT and first-line-of-defense reveals the Japanese tendency toward prevention, especially through border control (i.e., garrisoning), in countering terrorism.
Skipping the Line at Customs – WSJ
These days, you don’t have to be rich and famous to get the VIP treatment and zip through some of the nation’s busiest airport customs checkpoints.
Immigration Overhaul Likely to Remain Stalled in 2011 – CQ Homeland Security
With the House in GOP hands, prospects for broad immigration legislation in the 112th Congress appear all but dead, with newly empowered Republicans expected to press for increased border security and enforcement actions targeted at undocumented immigrants in the workplace.
Reports are that the air cargo industry is nervous about regulatory or legislative responses to the recent terrorist attempt to send package bombs to the United States on cargo aircraft. It should be. Reactionaries in Washington don’t rest. Recent quotes from legislators suggest that the provisions of the Air Cargo Security Act of 2010, as with current mandates, should be enforced globally for cargo-only aircraft. Federalizing the security of the supply chain serves as blunt instrument, a reactionary’s tool of choice, to the problem.
Air cargo group urges global cooperation – GovExec
Security regulators around the world must work together to ensure that the movement of air freight is safe and secure, especially after last week’s discovery of package bombs on cargo flights headed to Chicago from Yemen, an air cargo group says.
The End of SBInet? – CSIS
Rick Nelson, Director for the CSIS Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program and a Senior Fellow with the International Security Program, shares some “critical questions” and answers on the future of SBInet.
Suspicious packages, some containing improvised bomb-like devices, are being investigated in Newark, Philadelphia and other locations in the United States, according to the Wall Street Journal and other media outlets. All of the packages either originated from or have some connection to Yemen, where violence between al Qaeda and the Yemeni government has been escalating over the last month.
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