GovExec.com Homeland Security Week - September 1, 2004
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September 1, 2004
* Bush issues order boosting CIA director's authority
* EPA scout plane on lookout for toxic chemicals at GOP convention
* Homeland Security officials defend student visitor system
* Secret Service coordinator in the eye of convention storm
* Unseen multi-agency security force on the job at GOP convention
* Officials warn of potential attacks on VA hospitals
* Senators differ over Pentagon control of intelligence agencies
* TSA to debut revised pre-screening program early next year
* Border agency kicks off courtesy training
* Cargo screening program expanded
* Quote of the week
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1. Bush issues order boosting CIA director's authority
President Bush Friday issued a series of executive orders designed to address
recommendations of the recent special commission on the Sept. 11 attacks.
One order gives the CIA chief interim authority to perform many of the the functions
envisioned for the national intelligence director proposed by the 9/11 commission,
overseeing all 15 of the intelligence agencies in government.
Another executive order creates a National Counterterrorism Center, with the authority
to direct operations in a number of areas, including military and law enforcement
affairs. A third order establishes guidelines for information sharing among
intelligence agencies.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082704gsn1.htm }
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2. EPA scout plane on lookout for toxic chemicals at GOP convention
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., National Journal
The massive effort to protect the GOP convention has meant bringing in special units
from some surprising places -- including a scout plane belonging to the Environmental
Protection Agency.
What's the EPA doing in the counter-terrorism business, let alone in the air? The
answer is that a toxic chemical doesn't care whether it is released by terrorists or
by accident, and that the best way to track such choking poisons is from high, high
above.
Ten years ago, a chemical plant exploded outside of Sioux City, Iowa, killing four
people and forcing the evacuation of 4,000 residents in a wide swath of Iowa and
Nebraska. Hazardous-materials teams struggled to track the drifting cloud of ammonia
without endangering themselves.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/083104con1.htm }
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3. Homeland Security officials defend student visitor system
By David McGlinchey
Standing in front of the international baggage claim area at Washington Dulles
International Airport, senior Homeland Security officials praised a program Friday
that registers foreign students who come to study in the United States.
Robert Bonner, the commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection agency, described
the Web-based Student and Exchange Visitor Information System as a "very important"
homeland security tool. But he acknowledged that the program has had some growing
pains since its inception last year.
"Certainly, there are challenges that remain," Bonner said.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/083004d1.htm }
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4. Secret Service coordinator in the eye of convention storm
By Siobhan Gorman, National Journal
As he traverses the red-carpeted floor of the convention hall, Steve Hughes says
confidently, "This will be the safest place to be." Why? He can't say -- on the record
at least. But trust us, his off-the-record explanation was convincing.
Hughes, the Secret Service's chief coordinator for convention security, has been
stationed in New York City for the past 15 months, overseeing security arrangements at
Madison Square Garden and beyond the security perimeter. Hughes and two colleagues
spent an hour earlier in the week walking Convention Daily through the hall and its
security components -- well, at least the ones they're willing to talk about.
When Hughes arrived here last year, the Secret Service was already three months into
its evaluation of the security scene at the Garden -- a five-month project that
produced a phone-book-sized document that detailed every security hole and how to plug
it -- including the security perimeter and all entry and exit points. It also
designated ultra-secure places for holding VIPs and spots to position countersniper
and counterassault teams.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/083004con2.htm }
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5. Unseen multi-agency security force on the job at GOP convention
By Siobhan Gorman, National Journal
While a nearly 22,000-strong security force stood watch in and around Madison Square
Garden Saturday, New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced the arrest of two
terrorism suspects who authorities say were casing several subway stations, including
one around the corner from the Garden, as well as bridges and other venues in the city.
The announcement -- the result of a yearlong surveillance by NYPD intelligence
officers -- underscored the theme of the week for life in and around the Republican
National Convention compound: What you don't see is what's keeping you safe. What you
do see mainly makes you feel better.
Kelly told reporters he had "no indication" that the two men -- 21-year-old Shahawar
Matin Sinaj and 19-year-old James Elshafay -- were plotting to disturb the convention,
and he says that they have no known ties to international terrorist organizations. But
it seemed more than coincidental that the police would arrest two men they had been
following for a year as soon as they discovered the two were casing the Herald Square
subway station near the Garden -- three days before the Republicans began their confab.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0800/083004con1.htm }
_____
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}
{Image: Brought to you by IBM}
Join IBM and ESRI, on September 23, 2004, for an eGovernment Leadership Seminar, "The
Value of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to the Enterprise." Hear industry
speakers, including, IBM and ESRI, discuss how agencies are benefiting from
integrating GIS solutions and geospatial intelligence with government business
processes.
To register, visit: { Link:
http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;10469518;5622871;m?http://www-1.ibm.com/gold/portal/servlet/gold/federal/Content?contentURL=/gold/portal/html/en_US15/96750.html&page=Content
}
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click on the eGov Leadership item or call 1 800 333 6705.
_____
6. Officials warn of potential attacks on VA hospitals
The FBI and the Homeland Security Department have issued a warning that al Qaeda may
attempt to attack hospitals operated by the Veterans Affairs Department, according to
an Associated Press report.
On Thursday, the FBI and DHS sent a bulletin to law enforcement officials nationwide
alerting them to reports of "suspicious activity" at government-operated medical
facilities across the country, including unspecified military medical facilities in
Bethesda, Md., and Aurora, Colo.
"These facilities may be considered attractive targets due to their association with
the military and a perception that such an attack may be more successful than an
attack against traditional military targets, which generally maintain a more robust
security posture," the bulletin said. The AP obtained a copy of the warning Friday.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082704ts1.htm }
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7. Senators differ over Pentagon control of intelligence agencies
By Mike Nartker, Global Security Newswire
The leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee this week offered differing proposals
for how much control a new national intelligence director should have over those
intelligence agencies controlled by the Defense Department.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, the top Democrat on the committee, Friday
proposed that during times of war, the planned national intelligence director and the
defense secretary should be given equal roles in the management of the intelligence
agencies controlled by the Pentagon - - the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National
Security Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National
Reconnaissance Office. In the event of disputes between the two officials, the matter
would be resolved by the National Security Council and the president.
Rockefeller's proposal was one of a number of intelligence reform measures outlined in
a letter sent to Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins,
R-Maine, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the committee.
The Governmental Affairs Committee is responsible for preparing legislation
implementing intelligence reform.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082704gsn2.htm }
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8. TSA to debut revised pre-screening program early next year
By Chris Strohm
The Transportation Security Administration expects to start screening airline
passengers against government watch lists of suspected terrorists early next year, the
agency's administrator said Thursday.
Within weeks, TSA will begin testing the Secure Flight passenger screening program,
which was developed after a previous, highly controversial effort was shelved amid
widespread concerns about privacy and technical issues. The previous program was known
as the Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-Screening System II.
"CAPPS II is dead, have no doubt about that," said TSA Administrator David Stone. "The
CAPPS II program as we defined it is no more. Secure Flight is the program."
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082704c1.htm }
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9. Border agency kicks off courtesy training
By Chris Strohm
Customs and border officials at U.S. ports of entry will receive more training on how
to be professional and courteous under a program being launched in response to some
"isolated incidents of rude and hostile conduct," Customs and Border Protection
Commissioner Robert Bonner said Thursday.
Union representatives, however, immediately blasted the program as being misdirected
and not addressing the concerns raised in a survey released this week reporting that
front-line border personnel do not have the tools, training and resources they need to
protect the country from potential terrorists.
"We can be professional and courteous while at the same time aggressively perform our
counterterrorism task," Bonner said during a press conference announcing theCBP
Professionalism Initiative.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082604c1.htm }
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10. Cargo screening program expanded
>From Global Security Newswire
The United States aims to expand screening of shipping containers for weapons of mass
destruction and other contraband before the cargo is allowed into the United States,
the head of the Customs and Border Protection bureau announced last week.
Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner said his agency plans to expand the Container
Security Initiative beyond the 25 international seaports now participating to cover
more than 80 percent of U.S.-bound freight.
"The 25 ports represent the world's major seaports, but we are not stopping there. We
plan to expand the CSI network even farther," Bonner said.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082604gsn1.com }
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11. Quote of the Week:
"We can be professional and courteous while at the same time aggressively perform our
counterterrorism task."
-- Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert Bonner, launching a new
professionalism training initiative. { Link:
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=29328&dcn=todaysnews }
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