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U.S. Seeks Industry Input on Cargo Security By Joe Fiorill WASHINGTON — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge today asked industry for help in devising a national strategy on cargo security. Opening a two-day meeting of Homeland Security Department and cargo industry representatives, Ridge asked participants to use a draft strategy developed by the department as “a starting point” for their deliberations. “Cargo security is a linchpin issue not only for the security of our homeland but also for our economic security as well,” Ridge told the participants, who were convened for the purpose by the federally funded Homeland Security Institute. “We think that you can help us refine and then finalize a national cargo security strategy,” he said. Ridge cited cargo-security achievements by the department since its establishment early last year, including the rapid spread of the Container Security Initiative (see GSN, Dec. 14) and the deployment at U.S. ports of new screening equipment to check cargo for contraband and weapons of mass destruction (see GSN, Oct. 15). Stressing the complexity of protecting supply and distribution networks that stretch across national and international jurisdictions, however, he added that U.S. cargo can still be made much safer. “We’ve made a lot of progress in a very short period of time, but I don’t think there’s any of you in the audience that think we’re done yet,” Ridge said. Ridge was joined at the event by Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson, who as head of the department’s Border and Transportation Security Directorate has at times come under fire for the alleged lack of an overall security strategy (see GSN, Aug. 17). Following the withdrawal of President George W. Bush’s initial choice to replace the departing Ridge, former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, Hutchinson has been one of a handful of antiterrorism officials mentioned frequently as candidates to become the next homeland security secretary (see GSN, Dec. 13). Ridge said today that the border and transportation chief has “been by my side every step of the way,” participating in “every decision.” Hutchinson, an Arkansan, introduced Ridge in part by reading from a recent Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial praising the secretary. “I would like for them to be writing about me, but they’re writing about Secretary Ridge,” Hutchinson said. In an editorial Hutchinson did not mention, the Democrat-Gazette yesterday called him “a natural choice” for Ridge’s job but said acquaintances were unsure whether the undersecretary ð— rumored to be considering a run at the Arkansas governorship in 2006, according to the editorial — wanted the top post.
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