http://www.hstoday.us/briefings/today-s-news-analysis/single-article/tsa-cal ls-for-increased-vigilance-due-to-threat-of-rail-plot/ee3a737e6470b70bf35d05 bc696c3c82.html
TSA Calls for Increased Vigilance Due to Threat of Rail Plot By: Mickey McCarter 05/09/2011 ( 1:15am) The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) continued to be on heightened alert over the weekend, following evidence that al Qaeda has been developing a potential plot to attack US rail systems on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. TSA provided US rail companies with a security bulletin, continuing its practice of sharing information and intelligence about relevant threats to transportation industry partners. While TSA had no specific intelligence on an exact or imminent threat, the agency took the step of warning US transportation systems to increase vigilance for possible suspicious activity. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Thursday that it sent an intelligence message to state and local governments about the al Qaeda plot, apparently hatched in February. The information was gathered from material that US forces retrieved earlier in the week when US Navy SEALs raided the compound of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, earlier in the week and killed the terrorist leader. However, DHS chose not to raise alert level in the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) because no immediate threat was detected from examination of the available intelligence. "We want to stress that this alleged al Qaeda plotting is based on initial reporting, which is often misleading or inaccurate and subject to change," DHS Press Secretary Matt Chandler said in a statement. "We remain at a heightened state of vigilance, but do not intend to issue an NTAS alert at this time. We will issue alerts only when we have specific or credible information to convey to the American public. Our security posture, which always includes a number of measures both seen and unseen, will continue to respond appropriately to protect the American people from an evolving threat picture both in the coming days and beyond." Since the death of bin Laden, DHS generally continued to work with other agencies to take protective measures such as reviewing terrorist targets and critical infrastructure. The department sent officers and agents to boost security at various areas, including some US airports. Not everyone approved of the DHS decision to not issue an NTAS alert. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, questioned Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about the decision in a hearing May 11. Friday, she reiterated her position that DHS should raise the alert level in light of intelligence concerning the plot against US rail systems. "Earlier this week, I urged the Secretary of Homeland Security to increase the threat level, at least for the next two weeks, while an intelligence assessment is conducted of the data seized from Osama bin Laden's compound and as a precautionary measure given the possibility of a retaliatory attack. I continue to question the secretary's decision not to increase the threat level," Collins said in a statement. William Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), stressed the history of terrorist attacks against rail lines and buses. Al Qaeda and other Islamist extremists have attacked rail transit systems in London, Madrid, and Moscow in recent years. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in 2002 that one-third of terrorist attacks globally target transportation systems, Millar noted. "The threat to public transportation still clearly exists and the federal government needs to step up to the plate and adequately fund our nation's public transportation security needs. Transit security is national security and national security is the responsibility of the federal government," Millar said in a statement Friday. Federal funding for transit security has been too low, Millar argued. In fiscal 2011, DHS provides only $250 million in transit security funding outside of airport security. The White House has proposed $300 million in its fiscal 2012 budget. "Both of these levels of investment are inadequate," Millar said. "The 9/11 Commission Act [Public Law 110-53] called for the need for increased investment in transit security and authorized funding at the following levels: $650 million (fiscal 2008), $750 million (fiscal 2009), $900 million (fiscal 2010), and $1.1 billion (fiscal 2011) or $3.4 billion over four years. In fact, over the past four years, Congress has only appropriated less than half of the funding it authorized in the 9-11 Commission Act." Millar cited a recent survey that determined US public transportation systems require $6.4 billion over the next five years to adequately secure their infrastructure. He called upon Congress to enact legislation to "dramatically" increase federal transit security spending. _____ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [email protected]. -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [email protected] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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