http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/15352644.htm
No clear solution in sight for shoring up agro terror defenses GREG BLUESTEIN Associated Press ATHENS, Ga. - It's been called by federal lawmakers the "soft underbelly" in U.S. homeland security, the "weak link" in the nation's network of terror defenses. What they can't settle on is how to protect the nation's $270 billion agriculture industry from a terror threat. At a House Homeland Security Committee hearing Thursday, agricultural experts offered up a steady stream of options, each promising to overhaul the nation's food supply defenses - and prompt a new burst in federal spending. Embracing a "one-medicine approach" could help scientists recognize emerging infectious diseases in animals before they become a risk to public health, said Dr. Jeff Runge, the Department of Homeland Security's chief medical officer. Lonnie King, a senior veterinarian with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, echoed his concern, calling for more "strategic alliances between public health and animal health." Corrie Brown, a University of Georgia veterinary professor, warned that all the federal preparations could be useless without investing in training locals, from firefighters to farmers, to respond to a threat. Rep. John Linder, R-Ga., one of several Georgia congressmen at the hearing, griped about the lack of "proportionality" in homeland security spending, noting that one-eighth of the budget is spent on airline precautions. Even the selection of Athens, a finalist for the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, for the field hearing was a signal of the jockeying for federal dollars that has already begun. Whatever decision federal lawmakers make about how to shore up the nation's food supply defenses, experts say any terror attack on the food supply would likely aim to cause mass hysteria, not mass casualties. The researchers who drafted the state's agrosecurity training manual seem to agree. Its worst-case scenario doesn't involve a shadowy terrorist plot to poison a water supply, but an exotic disease that could wipe out Georgia's peach crop or threaten its chicken coops. The best way to spend money to handle the threats - whether manmade or not - is still a matter of contention. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," said Rep. David Scott, D-Georgia. Two seats over, Republican Rep. Charlie Norwood disagreed. "If we think we're going to prevent it, we're wrong," he said. The lawmakers did signal, however, that they'd be willing to buck conventional thinking to find better ways to combat bioterror threats. As his final question, Linder asked the panelists why none had discussed lifting the ban on pesticide DDT - which he said was "eliminated on a theory" - presumably to destroy infected crops. Brown exchanged a confused look with the other panelists. "I'll have to look into that," she finally said. [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: osint@yahoogroups.com 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. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
