http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-usterr135498862dec13,0,1715634,pr int.story
Chertoff pledges vigilance against terror threat BY CAROL EISENBERG [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]&subject=Chertoff%20pledges%20vigilance%2 0against%20terror%20threat> December 13, 2007 <http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/3627/0/0/%2a/d;163246962;0-0;0;1292781 1;4307-300/250;23910653/23928506/1;;~sscs=%3fhttp://www.macys.com/index.ognc ?PartnerID=newsday&BannerID=x111> WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff came out swinging against his critics yesterday, vowing to remain vigilant against "an implacable and remorseless enemy," and promising ramped-up immigration enforcement and a renewed push to make driver's licenses more secure. "The enemy has not lost interest," Chertoff said in an end-of-year speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, a Washington think tank. "And if you have doubt about it, look at yesterday's reports about bombings in Algeria." Chertoff suggested it was no accident that an al-Qaida affiliate had targeted a court and a UN development agency in twin truck bombings Tuesday. "What they struck against was the rule of law, and efforts to bring development ... to people who need help in North Africa." He warned that the threat against this country was no less severe because there had been no attack since 9/11. "When I hear people say the terrorist threat is diminished, or maybe we don't need to take it so seriously, or they're concerned that security is going to be inconvenient, or it's going to cost too much, I have to say these excuses will ring hollow if we're attacked again." Assessing the failed congressional effort to achieve immigration reform earlier this year, Chertoff acknowledged that he and others had underestimated the public fury over illegal immigration. "I don't think an issue on the domestic front has been more emotional and of greater public concern during my lifetime, except perhaps for the civil rights revolution," he said. Although he said he continues to support a broad solution, he vowed to play hardball with violators as "a downpayment on credibility with the American people." But he said that push-back against enforcement was coming not just from immigrant groups, but from business interests "because in some parts of the economy, most of the workers are illegal." While sympathizing with businesses' concerns, he said there was a right way and a wrong way to address them. "The wrong way is to shut our eyes to lawbreaking and create what I call a silent amnesty." To that end, he said, he planned to install more than 380 miles of additional fencing on the southern border next year, bringing the total to 670 miles, and to continue prosecutions of violators. Another major priority next year, he said, would be persuading states to sign on to a system of standardized driver's licenses, recommended by the 9/11 Commission to make it harder for terrorists to obtain counterfeit documents. That effort has been resisted by states, which have complained of the cost burden, as well as by critics who cite privacy concerns. But Chertoff said that revised regulations would be cheaper to implement. As for privacy, "I've yet to have anybody explain to me why I'm better off as a citizen, if a 16-year-old in a college town can take my identity, phony-up a driver's license and pretend to be me." Another focus for 2008 would be on fortifying cyberspace, which he called an "emerging and increasing threat." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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