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Bush Signs National Security Bill
U.S. President George W. Bush signed homeland security legislation Friday that calls on foreign seaports within five years to conduct radiation scanning on all U.S.-bound cargo, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Aug. 3). The legislation is primarily intended to institute additional antiterrorism recommendations from the Sept. 11 commission (see GSN, Jan. 17, 2006). It was approved overwhelmingly in the House and Senate. Supporters of the port requirement say it would help prevent terrorists from shipping a radiological or nuclear weapon to the The law allows the homeland security secretary to indefinitely extend the deadline for certain ports in two-year increments. Along with the port measure, the law mandates inspections within three years of all cargo carried on passenger aircraft and would direct more security money to cities and states considered to be at higher risk for terrorist attacks. It also directs more than $4 billion over four years toward rail, transit and bus security; demands disclosure of funding directed toward intelligence agencies; and makes aid to Pakistan dependent on White House confirmation that progress is being made in that country against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Former commission Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton said that roughly 80 percent of the panel’s 41 recommendations have been met following approval of this legislation, AP reported (Deb Riechmann, Associated Press/San Diego Union-Tribune, Aug. 3).
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