U.S. Response:  Alert System Needs Modification, Ridge Says

The color-coded U.S. terrorism alert level system must be modified to improve the system’s usefulness, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said yesterday (see GSN, June 3).

“We worry about the credibility of the system,” Ridge said.  “We want to continue to refine it, because we understand it has caused a kind of anxiety,” he said.

Ridge said he hoped the system could be changed to allow for alerts targeting specific regions or industries, while leaving the overall level unchanged for others, the New York Times reported today.  “We’ve only had it in operation for a year, but our hope is to refine it in the months and years ahead so we can get that kind of specificity,” Ridge said.

One concern is that terrorism-related intelligence is currently too “generic” to allow for such specificity, Ridge said.  “There will come a time, I believe, that we’ll have that kind of — a word they like to use in intelligence — granularity, that kind of specificity, that we’ll be able to do that,” he said.

Ridge praised the overall effectiveness of the alert level system, however, despite its flaws, according to the New York Times.

“The threat advisory system, I believe, is an essential means of communication to the citizens,” Ridge said.  “It means that the intelligence community says at this particular period of time, we think the threat’s been increased,” he added (Philip Shenon, New York Times, June 6).

Back to top

Threat Assessment:  Canada Frequent Target for WMD-Related Procurement Activities, Report Says

Rogue states and terrorist organizations often seek WMD-related materials from Canada, the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service said yesterday in an annual report (see GSN, Jan. 8).

Canada is a “frequent target for clandestine and illicit procurement activities” for countries and groups seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction because it is “an internationally recognized leader in many high-technology sectors (such as the nuclear, chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological, electronics and aerospace sectors),” the report says. 

In its report, the CSIS also warned that a number of groups or individuals associated with international terrorist groups were active in Canada.  In particular, Sunni Islam-related groups remain “the primary focus of the CSIS counterterrorism program,” the report says (Agence France-Presse, June 6).

Back to top

U.S. Response:  Lawmakers Upset Over Port Security Funding Diversion

U.S. lawmakers expressed distress Tuesday about the Transportation Security Administration’s effort to divert port security funding to aviation security efforts, the Newport News Daily Press reported yesterday (see GSN, May 20).

The transportation agency, part of the U.S. Homeland Security Department, asked to move $105 million in port security funding to cover aviation security.

“I’m very concerned,” said Representative Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), chairman of the House Transportation subcommittee that oversees the Coast Guard.  “We’re going to have to somehow revisit this,” he added.

Representatives said the move would shortchange the Coast Guard.

“I fear the Coast Guard is being stretched way too thin,” said Representative James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the senior Democrat on the House Transportation Committee.

Port security efforts are also hampered because funding has not yet been provided for the 7-month-old Maritime Transportation Security Act, the Daily Press reported.  Under that bill, the Coast Guard was ordered to conduct vulnerability assessments and security plans for 55 of the nation’s largest ports.

At a subcommittee hearing Tuesday, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thomas Collins said he was confident the assessments would be completed.

“I see no major potholes on the road to pursuing the vulnerability assessments,” he said, expressing confidence that the port security flap would be resolved soon (David Lerman, Newport News Daily Press, June 4).

Back to top

U.S. Response:  Constutional Amendment Needed In Case Congress Wiped Out by Terrorists

By David McGlinchey
Global Security Newswire

WASHINGTON — Fearing a bioterrorist attack that could wipe out Congress, an independent commission today recommended that the United States adopt a constitutional amendment to allow for rapidly replacing members of the House of Representatives (see GSN, Sept. 11, 2002).

Compared to the Cold War, “there is a much greater likelihood of an attack incapacitating large numbers of [congressional] members,” according to the report from the Continuity of Government Commission, conducted by the American Enterprise Institute and the Brookings Institution.

The report, Preserving Our Institutions, recommended a constitutional amendment to allow for appointees to succeed members of the House of Representatives.  After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, lawmakers discussed the possibility of allowing appointed representatives but members resisted change to the tradition of maintaining elected officials in the House at all times.  State governors can appoint a senator if a seat is vacant (Frank Davies, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 4).

“Because of the availability of chemical and biological agents, the possibility of mass incapacitation is real.  A chemical attack might leave thousands in burn units or with respiratory and neurological injuries,” the report said.

The report also specifically noted the threat posed by smallpox and anthrax.  “If even a few members of Congress contracted the disease, the members might choose not to convene for fear of spreading the disease,” according to the report.

Back to top

Threat Assessment:  Al-Qaeda, Others Are Armed With WMD, CIA Says

Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups are currently capable of conducting attacks with different types of weapons of mass destruction, according to an internal CIA report described in today’s Washington Times.  While there is no evidence that such an attack is imminent, one “cannot be ruled out,” the report says (see GSN, May 29).

Islamic extremists linked to Osama bin Laden “have a wide variety of potential agents and delivery means to choose from for chemical, biological and radiological or nuclear (CBRN) attacks,” the report says.  Entitled Terrorist CBRN: Materials and Effects, the report was authored by the CIA’s intelligence directorate and released last month, according to the Times.

“Al-Qaeda’s goal is the use of (chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons) to cause mass casualties,” the report says.  “However, most attacks by the group — and especially by associated extremists — probably will be small-scale, incorporating relatively crude delivery means and easily produced or obtained chemicals, toxins or radiological substances,” the report adds.

Chemical Weapons

The report says al-Qaeda “has crude procedures for making mustard agent, sarin and VX,” and the group also has access to toxic cyanides and less dangerous industrial materials, such as chlorine and phosgene.

In addition, al-Qaeda members have attempted “poison plot” attacks in Europe with chemicals and toxins, according to the report.

“These agents could cause hundreds of casualties and widespread panic if used in multiple, simultaneous attacks,” the report says.

Biological Weapons

Al-Qaeda is capable of attacking with anthrax and botulinum toxin, the report says, noting that botulinum production information has been found in terrorist training materials.

Furthermore, terrorists have explored using ricin, a toxin that “is readily available by extraction from common castor beans,” the report says, adding that “Terrorists have looked at delivering ricin in foods and as a contact poison, although we have no scientific data to indicate that ricin can penetrate intact skin.”

The report also says that the ringleader of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Mohamed Atta, and his suspected colleague Zacarias Moussaoui “expressed interest in crop dusters, raising our concern that al-Qaeda has considered using aircraft to disseminate (biological warfare) agents.”

Nuclear and Radiological Weapons

Al-Qaeda and other terrorists could also make an “improvised nuclear device” that would be “intended to cause a yield-producing nuclear explosion,” the report says.

Such a weapon could be made with “diverted nuclear-weapons components,” by modifying an already assembled nuclear weapon or by using a self-designed weapon, the report says.

More likely, terrorists would try to attack with a radiological weapon, or “dirty bomb,” composed of radioactive materials dispersed by conventional explosives.

“Use of a (radiological dispersal device) by terrorists could result in health, environmental and economic effects, as well as political and social effects,” the report says.

Materials for such weapons — such as cesium 137, strontium 90 and cobalt 60 — are widely used in hospitals, universities and industrial facilities, the report says (Bill Gertz, Washington Times, June 3).

Back to top

U.S. Response:  Terror Alerts Meet With More Indifference

Extended terrorism warnings issued by the U.S. Homeland Security Department risk causing a “crying wolf syndrome” in which U.S. residents and security forces could reduce their wariness, according to terrorism experts.

The department established its five color alert system last year that has mostly remained on “yellow,” or “elevated,” with brief periods at “orange,” which denotes a high risk of a terrorist attack (see GSN, June 2).

Although five levels of alert are possible, in practice only two, yellow and orange, can be used regularly, said Randall Larsen, a senior fellow at the ANSER Institute for Homeland Security.  The highest level, “red,” or “severe,” could only be used if an attack is under way, and the lowest two levels are politically impractical, Larsen said.

During the most recent orange alert that ended last week, many security agencies did not respond with the same measures they used in earlier orange alerts, according to the Christian Science Monitor.

In Washington, for example, the U.S. Capitol and the sidewalk in front of the White House remained open, and local police officers did not work overtime shifts, the Monitor reported.

Similarly, Sacramento, Calif., Police Department spokesman Justin Risly said his department does not take any automatic steps when the federal alert level changes.

“The bottom line for us is, unless we have a specific threat, we don’t do much of anything differently,” he said.

“Here’s the difficulty: One color code is trying to give us too much information,” said Larsen.  “If we go from yellow to orange, the threat of an attack is higher.  But is that the threat of a small car bomb or a nuclear weapon? I’m going to worry about one much more than the other,” he added.

“For cities, everyone’s pretty much freelancing on responses, based on the risk assessment in their own community,” said New Haven, Conn., Mayor John DiStefano (Linda Feldmann, Christian Science Monitor, June 3).

Back to top

International Response:  G-8 Pledges to Help Countries Combat Terrorism

By Mike Nartker
Global Security Newswire

EVIAN, France — The Group of Eight today agreed to increase efforts to help countries develop better capabilities to combat international terrorism.

The U.N. Security Council’s Counterterrorism Committee has outlined a number of areas for capacity-building assistance, such as counterterrorism legislation and practice, law enforcement, domestic security measures and export control measures, according to an action plan released today at the G-8 summit here.  Assistance in these areas could take the form of providing training, dispatching specialists or providing equipment as requested by other countries (see GSN, April 7).

To help countries develop improved counterterrorism capabilities, the G-8 agreed today to create a Counterterrorism Action Group.  Group members will provide funding, expertise or training facilities, and will focus their activities on the areas and countries of their expertise, according to the action plan.  The purpose of the group is to both help countries with the greatest need improve their counterterrorism capabilities and to avoid duplicating the efforts of other G-8 members, according to the plan.

The group has scheduled its first meeting July 15 and is expected to have prioritized needs and countries’ assistance requests by a second meeting scheduled for Oct. 15.

“For the peace and security of the world, it is essential for all countries, including developing countries, to enhance such [counterterrorism] capability,” the G-8 said in its action plan.

The G-8 today also agreed to further support the U.N. Counterterrorism Committee by ensuring that it is properly staffed and by outlining measures countries can take to fulfill their obligations under U.N. terrorism resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 1373, which was passed following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.  In addition, the G-8 members also pledged to encourage countries that are not yet members of international counterterrorism conventions to join such agreements and to urge regional organizations to do more to ensure that their members implement Resolution 1373.

The action plan calls for the G-8 to produce a report on the progress of its counterterrorism efforts in time for the group’s summit next year.

Back to top

U.S. Response:  Threat Level Lowered To Yellow

U.S. security officials have lowered the national terrorist threat level from orange to yellow, the Washington Post reported Saturday (see GSN, May 21).

Yellow represents an “elevated risk,” while orange is “high risk.”

“The U.S. intelligence community has … concluded that the number of indicators and warnings that led to raising the level have decreased and the heightened vulnerability associated with the Memorial Day holiday has passed,” Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Friday (John Mintz, Washington Post, May 31).

Back to top

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP