Threat Is Here To Stay, U.S. Must Remain Vigilant, Says Ridge

Fmr. Governor of Pennsylvania and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said at a forum on homeland security today that Americans must acknowledge a post-911 reality where terror is a reality, but should not live in fear.

Ridge, who spoke at a forum held by the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, said that terrorist threats to the United States are still very real and prevalent, but that does not mean Americans should be losing sleep at night.

“We ought to accept that reality and do everything we can to reduce the risk, manage the risk, reduce the threat,” said Ridge.

In the aftermath of last week’s foiled terrorist plots, the question of intelligence and international collaboration has once again found its way into the national discussion. Ridge reiterated the point that intelligence is the single greatest tool that we have in keeping America safe, but its development is also our greatest challenge.

“At the heart of combatting terrorism, is information,” said Ridge, who expressed concern that the U.S.’s information sharing capacity is still lacking.

“There is no reason to think that we have that system refined very well.”

Ridge called for increased communication on an international, national, state and local level, but said Americans should continue to live their lives.

“We need to leave the worrying and the sleepless nights…for the intelligence community, the law enforcement community, and the soldiers, the brave men and women serving overseas.”

Ridge: U.S. Is Safer Since 9/11, But Room For Improvement Exists

By AJ Swartwood - Talk Radio News Service

Are Americans safer now than they were before 9/11? That was the question put to former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Tom Ridge and U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) on Monday.

Ridge, the former Governor of Pennsylvania (R) and the first person to ever lead the relatively new DHS, said the answer is ‘yes,’ but added that the nation’s national security efforts must remain vigilent.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we are doing a better job,” he said. “Are we to the point where…we don’t need to improve anymore? I doubt it.”

Dent, a three-term Congressman who currently sits on the House Homeland Security Committee, echoed Ridge’s sentiments, but provided some caution.

“We have invested hundreds of billions of dollars to improve our once lax security systems, and we are in fact safer now…Are we safe from all terrorists threats?” he asked. “Absolutely not.”

Earlier this year, Dent introduced a bill in the House that would’ve stripped suspected terror abetter Anwar al-Awlaki of his American citizenship. The government alleges that al-Awlaki, a former Imam who was born in New Mexico and attended college in the U.S., has inspired Islamic terrorists to carry out attacks in the U.S.

Because the nation faces so many threats, Ridge said, the role of national security agencies must be to minimize risks. One way to do that, he said, is for agencies to collaborate on intelligence. Ridge said priorities have changed in the years since the Cold War ended.

“It may have been a need to know then, but now it’s a need to share,” Ridge said.