Thread: Report sees holes in U.S. aviation security

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7177441/

Report sees holes in U.S. aviation security
Al-Qaida may be turning sights on charter aircraft
The Associated Press
Updated: 7:36 p.m. ET March 14, 2005

WASHINGTON - The nation’s aviation system remains vulnerable to attacks by al-Qaida and other terrorists who may be targeting noncommercial aircraft and helicopters, according to a government report.

But officials said the report by the Homeland Security Department and the FBI concludes that commercial airlines also remain susceptible to attack, despite billions of dollars worth of security investments. Moreover, members of al-Qaida are believed to be examining and testing U.S. security systems for weaknesses, officials said.

Terrorists shifting focus?

The confidential report, dated Feb. 25, reflects what officials have long said: that beefing up security in one sector would inevitably prompt terrorists to target other areas that might not be under the same level of scrutiny.

However, the report, drafts of which have been circulating since late last year, is the first to pull the intelligence together in a single package, officials said.

It was distributed to state, local and private sector officials who deal with counterterrorism concerns, said Homeland Security spokesman Brian Roehrkasse.

“We have made dramatic improvements to security in all components of the aviation industry over the course of the past three years,� Roehrkasse said.

The report was first reported Sunday evening by The New York Times on its Internet site.

Billions spent on commercial airline security

A counterterrorism official said helicopters were singled out as potential targets in intelligence that surfaced last August. That intelligence also led Homeland Security to raise the terror alert level in Washington, New York and northern New Jersey to protect financial institutions there.

More than $12 billion has been spent on explosive detectors, armored cockpit doors, screeners, air marshals and other aviation security systems since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. President Bush has proposed giving the Transportation Security Administration $5.6 billion in 2006 â€â€

"Report sees holes in U.S. aviation security"
Gee, do you think????
24 illegals are busted at Greensboro, NC airport and there are holes in aviation security??? The Associated Press did not seem very interested
in spreading the Greensboro story and they wonder why there are holes
in security?

Originally Posted by dataman

"Report sees holes in U.S. aviation security"
Gee, do you think????
24 illegals are busted at Greensboro, NC airport and there are holes in aviation security??? The Associated Press did not seem very interested
in spreading the Greensboro story and they wonder why there are holes
in security?

Naw, it's all in our imagination. Too alarmist ya know.

Did you see the lastest report that terrorists might target private and charter planes?

Seal up a worm in one end and it crawls out the other.

Then we need to seal both ends.
(what a novel idea)

Originally Posted by dataman

Then we need to seal both ends.
(what a novel idea)

What if the worm tunnels up thru the ground?

Say .. haven't there been stories of tunnels being built between the borders?