|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
 |
 |
    |
|
|
|||
 |
|
||
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
United States: New Security Policies in Place at U.S. Depots By Greg Seigle After Sept. 11 the Army switched from a “protect from the inside” strategy to one in which soldiers have permission to shoot anyone who enters unauthorized areas outside the “wires,” or fences, said Maj. Gen John Doesburg during a bioterrorism conference Tuesday. “The idea [before Sept. 11] was ‘I’ll catch them after they go over the wires’ and keep them from getting to the weapons,” Doesburg said, adding that the depots are laden with sophisticated surveillance systems such as motion and heat sensors. Now, he said, “there’s not a terrorist today who will get to those chemical weapons. They’ll be killed before they get to that wire.” Doesburg did not say whether there have been any attempts to infiltrate any of the chemical weapon installations. He did say, however, that he had spoken to all of the 1,100 guards, whom he called “very professional,” to ensure they follow strict rules of engagement in case someone does. Usually the rules of engagement for protecting such dangerous materials call for guards to order an infiltrator to halt. If the intruder refuses after two or three demands, plus a warning shot, it is permissible for a soldier to aim and fire, according to a retired Army officer who served as the top military police officer at an Army post. In rare cases — such as when an intruder is about to escape or detonate a weapon — a guard can fire without warning, the retired officer said. The Army’s chemical arsenals are now stockpiled at Anniston Chemical Activity in Alabama, Blue Grass Chemical Activity in Kentucky, Deseret Chemical Depot in Utah, Edgewood Chemical Activity in Maryland, Newport Chemical Depot in Indiana, Pine Bluff Chemical Activity in Arkansas, Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado and Umatilla Chemical depot in Oregon. Before the war on terrorism began the depots were guarded very carefully, now they are literally surrounded by soldiers, Doesburg said. “We had a good protection system but we had to make it better,” he said.
| ||||||||||
Back to top
