Monday
Mar082010
Napolitano: Body Scanners Key To Aviation Security
Monday, March 8, 2010 at 2:35PM
By Antonia Aguilar
University of New Mexico /Talk Radio News Service
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that more full body scanners and increased law enforcement are to be expected in the coming months to improve international and domestic aviation security. Napolitano spoke Monday before the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. during an annual legislative conference.
“What we’re about is finding gaps, filling them [and] minimizing risk,” she said. “We are rolling the technology out.”
The December 25, 2009 al-Quaeda attempt to sabotage Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit and other security breaches raised concerns over international and domestic airport security measures and standards. In the attempt, Nigerian Umar Farou Abdulmutallab tried to ignite plastic explosives hidden in his underwear.
Last week, Napolitano met with the CEOs of the member airlines of the Air Transport Association of America and the International Air Transport Association, which represents 230 airlines and more than 90 percent of the world's air traffic. “"Government and the private sector must work collaboratively to develop and implement enhanced international security measures and standards," she said.
On March 4, DHS Under Secretary Caryn Wagner testified before the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security on the President’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request for the Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis.
“DHS reactivated the DTTF [DHS Threat Task Force] on December 25, 2009, after the attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253,” she said. “We intend to institutionalize this enterprise task force to focus the efforts of the whole Department in unison on mitigating terrorism threats to the homeland. Per the Secretary’s direction, the DTTF has been playing a direct role in identifying and analyzing homeland security threats, informing DHS leadership decision-making, and ensuring that intelligence supports component operations in the field. These efforts have directly contributed to more effective use of watch lists and have supported Department programs for passenger travel analysis and airport screening procedures.”
University of New Mexico /Talk Radio News Service
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that more full body scanners and increased law enforcement are to be expected in the coming months to improve international and domestic aviation security. Napolitano spoke Monday before the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. during an annual legislative conference.
“What we’re about is finding gaps, filling them [and] minimizing risk,” she said. “We are rolling the technology out.”
The December 25, 2009 al-Quaeda attempt to sabotage Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit and other security breaches raised concerns over international and domestic airport security measures and standards. In the attempt, Nigerian Umar Farou Abdulmutallab tried to ignite plastic explosives hidden in his underwear.
Last week, Napolitano met with the CEOs of the member airlines of the Air Transport Association of America and the International Air Transport Association, which represents 230 airlines and more than 90 percent of the world's air traffic. “"Government and the private sector must work collaboratively to develop and implement enhanced international security measures and standards," she said.
On March 4, DHS Under Secretary Caryn Wagner testified before the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security on the President’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request for the Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis.
“DHS reactivated the DTTF [DHS Threat Task Force] on December 25, 2009, after the attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253,” she said. “We intend to institutionalize this enterprise task force to focus the efforts of the whole Department in unison on mitigating terrorism threats to the homeland. Per the Secretary’s direction, the DTTF has been playing a direct role in identifying and analyzing homeland security threats, informing DHS leadership decision-making, and ensuring that intelligence supports component operations in the field. These efforts have directly contributed to more effective use of watch lists and have supported Department programs for passenger travel analysis and airport screening procedures.”
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