Former Homeland Security Official Calls For Increased Information Sharing In War On Terror

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Former Homeland Security Adviser Frances F. Townsend called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Monday to focus on information sharing among local governments and other government entities, warning that a failure to do so could impede the Department's ability to prevent future terrorist attacks.

“If we do not get information sharing right, when there is another attack ... there will be a problem with information sharing,” Townsend said during a presentation at the Heritage Foundation.

Townsend said the issue of information sharing often falls down the list of priorities for the current administration, but could be vital in the prevention and response to terrorism.

“This is not a sexy issue but it is one that will absolutely be our downfall in terms of stopping an attack,” she explained.

The DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis outlined their key intelligence initiatives and reforms in a hearing before the house subcommittee on intelligence late last week. One priority mentioned included improved coordination and information sharing.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said the fundamental goal for protection is to better information sharing so that it occurs in a regular and timely manner.

“The key for protecting the homeland from attack is disseminating useable intelligence and information to our state, local, tribal and private sector partners, getting similar intelligence and information back from those partners for analytic work by Office of Intelligence and Analysis and the national Intelligence Community, and ensuring this two-way exchange happens on a real-time basis,” Napolitano said.

Townsend said drastic circumstances should not be necessary before this issue gets the attention it deserves.

“I think people sorely underestimate the consequences of a large scale cyber attack,” Townsend said. “There will be a cyber 9/11 and regretfully I think that is what it will take before people pay attention to these security issues.”

Health And Security Officials Prep Small Business For H1N1

Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills announced a guide to prepare small businesses to plan for possible H1N1 outbreaks this fall.

"Small businesses employ half of the nation's work force, and they are the supply chain for many critical industries," Napolitano said Monday during a conference call with reporters.

The preparedness guide encourages small businesses to identify a work place coordinator for H1N1, examine policies for teleworking and medical leave, identify essential employees and business functions and prepare a business continuity plan.

Mills said having a plan to prevent H1N1 outbreaks in the workplace is a necessity, especially in a small business setting.

"If one or two employees are out even for a few days, it is a health concern and a bottom-line concern," she said.

Daniel Jernigan, Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Influenza Division, said integrating these practices into the workplace may take major adjustments such as people evaluating and changing their medical leave policies and developing the ability for employees to work from home.

Outbreaks of H1N1 have been occurring since early this Spring and will likely become more common during the regular flu season. The preparedness guide allows for small businesses to prepare for various levels of H1N1 severity.

"We need to be prepared for many possibilities...we need to put this high on the agenda because it is good for employees, good for customers and ... it is good for business owners," Mills said.

Napolitano And Others Pass On REAL ID

Annie Berman - Talk Radio News Service

The REAL ID Act of 2005 (REAL ID), which imposes certain security standards for the issuance of state drivers licenses and identification, calls for compliance requirements that are not realistic and must be reformed, says Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano.

As of yesterday, thirteen states have chosen not to comply with the standards of REAL ID because of budget costs and privacy concerns.

Almost every witness who testified at a hearing Wednesday morning suggested that passing the Providing for Additional Security in States Identification Act of 2009 (PASS ID) would be the best way to solve the problems of REAL ID.

“This is an important piece of national security legislation that is designed to help fill the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government set security standards for driver’s licenses,” Napolitano said about the PASS ID.

Just like the REAL ID Act, PASS ID would shift the authority of the states over identification to the federal level. PASS ID would allow for a more cost effective, secure plan towards creating a federal identification system for Americans.

“Privacy is a key driver in states that said ‘no’,” said David Quam, Director of Federal Relations for the National Governors Association.

Inadequate funding seems to be the largest problem with REAL ID. PASS ID would eliminate the development of costly data systems included in the REAL ID program that do not increase security. Instead, states would use existing database systems to verify social security numbers and immigration statuses of anyone whose identity is in question.

“The objectives of REAL ID are laudable but the law represents an unworkable and unfunded mandate that fails to make us more secure,” said Governor Jim Douglas (R-VT).

Douglas also testified that states are having trouble complying with all of the requirements of REAL ID due to the recession.

The REAL ID Act was originally created to counteract terrorists that try to obtain fraudulent identification, just as like the terrorists of September 11, 2001.

Napolitano Announces Enhanced Customs Cooperation With Mexico

By Celia Canon

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Mexican Finance Minister Agustin Carstens signed a letter of intent announcing new areas of cooperation on the U.S-Mexican border during a press conference Monday at the Ronald Reagan Center.

In 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had agreed upon a bilateral program that allowed Mexico and the U.S to join forces in order to safeguard trade and combat illegal activity at the border.

Today’s announcement boosted the 2007 Bilateral Strategic Plan by updating agencies' technology, training Mexican officers for Border Patrol service, and preventing criminals from entering Mexico.

Napolitano praised the extension, saying “The U.S is a full partner with Mexico and the Calderon administration as we satisfy our twin goals of a secure border and a resilient border that allows legitimate trade and commerce to pass but that keeps out drugs, that keeps out weapons, keeps out the cash that fuels these cartels and... makes certain that the border is safe and secure for those who live there.”

Carstens reflected on the importance of this fundamental cooperation for the completion of both Mexican and American interests.

“We both acknowledge that...our joint efforts will translate into more secure and competitive North America,” said Carstens.

The 2007 initiative has already been met with considerable success.

“We have seized [three times] the amount of arms, we’ve seized 50% more drugs,” said Napolitano.

Bacon Won’t Close Borders

By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News Service
Wed, April 29, 2009
The death of a 23-month-old in Texas marks the first confirmed swine flu death in the U.S.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has implemented its emergency response and has determined that the flu contains genetic pieces from four different virus sources, one of which is
swine flu. The CDC continues to evaluate information to determine the potential impact of an outbreak on an international level.

President Obama has asked for an additional $1.5 billion to combat the disease.

Today, U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CO) said that “this swine flu is moving very quickly and harmfully.” Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue

On Sunday the flu was declared to be a public health emergency and the World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert to phase four.

United States Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said that the U.S. has 50 million courses of anti-viral medication and 25 percent of the stockpiled courses are being released with priority given to
states with confirmed cases and border states. By May 3rd all states will ultimately get resources. Work has also begun towards developing a vaccine since the currently flu shot doesn’t protect against the
swine flu. “This will be a marathon, and not a sprint,” said Napolitano.

Warnings have been issued for non-essential travel to Mexico but closing borders “has not been merited by the facts” said Napolitano, and would have “very very little marginal benefit in terms of containing the actual outbreak of virus within our own country.”

Napolitano affirmed that although named “swine flu,” no signs of this newly identified H1N1 virus have been detected in our nation’s swine, no illnesses have been attributed to handling or consuming pork, and
that there is no evidence that one can get the virus from eating pork or pork products. The virus is actually spread from human to human, similar to a seasonal influenza.

RADM, Anne Schuchat, M.D., said that “we are dealing with a novel virus, we don’t know yet all of the characteristics of how it will behave in human populations.”

While 36,000 people die every year from regular seasonal flu, the new virus brings risk for a future pandemic since “the general population doesn’t have immunity to this virus,” said Schuchat.

According to Lieberman, in Mexico more than 2,000 people have been hospitalized and 149 people have died from the flu. In the United States there are 66 confirmed cases in six states; New York, California, Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Indiana. Globally there are 39 confirmed cases in six other countries including New Zealand, Spain, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, and Israel.

“This is a case in which our government was prepared for the crisis, as best one can be prepared for a swine flu outbreak whose course is not clear,” said Lieberman.