By John Cote MSSI, CPP

If I were to ask you what does a terrorist look like, more than 85 percent of you would say a male, between the ages of 18 and 35, dark or olive complexion, with dark hair.

This sounds just like the men who attacked us during 9/11. Al-Qaeda is keenly aware of the terrorist profile used by most police agencies and security organizations in order to determine potential hostile threats.

In my view, the next large attack will not be made by Middle Eastern men. My guess is that either Canadian nationals or members of the U.S. gang population will play a large roll in the next attack on the United States.

With all this in mind do you think you are terrorist aware at this moment? Do you think you would be able to spot the next group of people who would want to do us extreme harm. My guess is that you wouldn’t because Al-Qaeda knows what you are looking for, so therefore they will present a completely different threat profile. This is why we must keep our minds open to all the possibilities and not get caught in the tunnel vision of the past.

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Because of the recent terror-related events in Britain, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is immediately implementing the following changes to airport screening procedures:

NO LIQUIDS OR GELS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED IN CARRY-ON BAGGAGE. ITEMS MUST BE IN CHECKED BAGGAGE. This includes all beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, tooth paste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.

Exception:

• Baby formula and breast milk if a baby or small child is traveling; prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket; and insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines

• Beverages purchased in the sterile area must be consumed before boarding because they will not be permitted onboard the aircraft.
  
• Passengers traveling from the U.K. to the U.S. will be subject to a more extensive screening process.

TSA officials urge the traveling public to assist screening agents in carrying out their important security duties by:

• Packing lightly, without clutter to facilitate easier screening.
  
• Check with your air carrier well before your flight departs for information on when you shoudl arrive at the airport.
  
• Cooperating with TSA personnel at all checkpoints and gates because TSA Security Officers will be checking carry-on baggage at the gate.
  
• Being attentive and vigilant to any suspicious activity.

Related resources:
Air Travel FAQs (TSA)
Threat Level Change for the Aviation Sector (TSA)

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Bush

Democrats

Iraq

War on Terror

Media

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British authorities report today that they have put a stop to a major terrorist attack planned for several planes bound for the U.S.

24 suspects were arrested. Among them were the alleged master minds behind the plot. Although it is too early to speculate on all of the details because of the ongoing investigation, officials are able to confirm that liquid explosives smuggled in carry-on luggage was going to be used to target flights on United Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines.

The security-level is now at its highest [Red] in Britain with all carry-on luggage and liquids being banned on all trans-Atlantic flights. Medications (e.g. insulin) and baby milk/formula are being permitted.

The heightened security measures are sure to cause a ripple effect in all air travels in the U.S.

This morning, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced that the threat level for the U.S. is now High or Orange. Read Chertoff’s full statement

Related Stories:
U.K. Identifies Suspects in Terror Plot (Yahoo! News)
U.S. Travelers Adjust to Tighter Rules (CNN)
Liquid Explosives Easy to Make Aboard Flights(News Channel 4)
Officials: Martyrdom Tape Found In Terror Plot (News Channel 4)

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It's been nearly five years since the September 11 terrorist attacks. Is the United States a safer place to live?

That's what the Washington Post explores in a special homeland security report, "A Fight Against Terrorism -- and Disorganization".

The article examines the complex infrastructure of the nation's current homeland security and counterterrorism efforts.

Post staffer Karen DeYoung writes:

"In the years since Bush stood atop the smoldering ruins of the World Trade Center and pledged retaliation against "the people who knocked down these buildings," the federal government has undergone an unprecedented expansion and reorganization.

Yet the counterterrorism infrastructure that resulted has become so immense and unwieldy that many looking at it from the outside, and even some on the inside, have trouble understanding how it works or how much safer it has made the country."

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Sen. John Warner (R-VA) led a Senate Armed Services Comittee hearing on Iraq and Afghanistan Thursday.

The hearing includes testimony from Defense Secretary, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Gen. John P. Abizaid, commander of U.S. military operations in the Middle East and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace.

Abizaid and Pace give an assessment of the conditions in Iraq both agreeing that the sectarian violence is at its worst. Abizaid goes so far to say, "If not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move toward civil war."

Watch Video (source: C-SPAN)
Note: This content may require the latest RealPlayer, which is not available on Windows 95, Mac OS9 or Linux systems.

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Paulison surveys damage from Hurricane Katrina.

R. David Paulison looks to work with other agencies to expand FEMA's scope of operations.

Here's an interesting interview with FEMA director R. David Paulison. He discusses what's expected from FEMA in the future.

Related Links:
www.fema.gov

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Yesterday, the U.S. Government Accountablity Office (GAO) released the results of an investigation on the effectiveness of current U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screening procedures.

The 2006 GAO report , a follow up to an audit conducted three years ago, concluded that CBP procedures remain insufficient.

Before a Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, George D. Kutz - a federal auditor for GAO - testified that periodic tests conducted since 2002 show that "CBP officers are unable to effectively identify counterfeit driver licenses, birth certificates, and other documents". Also, people who enter the United States by land are not always asked for identification.

According to Kutz, "this vulnerability potentially allows terrorists or others involved in criminal activity to pass freely into the United States from Canada or Mexico with little or no chance of being detected."

Weighing In: The People Poll

Are you at all surprised by GAO's findings? We want to hear from you.

Post a comment on this topic.

Related Links:

U.S. Government Accountability Office

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Moussaoui mugshot.

Responding to the court of public opinion, the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, V.A. has posted evidence used in the trial of the self-professed Al-Qaeda conspirator, Zacarias Moussaoui.

Items on display include tape-recorded calls from victims in the World Trade Center and records that put Moussaoui at flight schools in Oklahoma and Minnesota.

Click here to view the exhibits. Please note that some of the exhibits are graphic and may not be suitable for all audiences.

Weighing In: The People Poll

Are you interested in viewing the evidence? Or has the courts crossed the line?

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