Focused on 9/11, U.S. Is Seen to Lag on New Threats

[DoYouEverWonder]

August 12, 2006

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 — The Department of Homeland Security has taken significant steps since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to make it much harder to turn a plane into a flying weapon. But a nearly obsessive focus on the previous attacks may have prevented the federal government from combating new threats effectively, terrorism experts and former agency officials say.

The arrests overseas this week of people accused of planning to use an explosive that would be undetectable at airports illustrates the significant security gaps, they said.

While the department has hardened cockpit doors and set up screening for guns and knives, it has done far too little to protect against plastic and liquid explosives, bombs in air cargo and shoulder-fired missiles, the experts say.

The nation is still at risk from the same “failure of imagination” cited by the 9/11 commission as having contributed to the success of the 2001 attack, several argued.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/12/washington/12homeland.html?hp&ex=1155355200&en=0bf31a287172a512&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Journeyman]

1. It's the regretable story of American military history. . .

always preparing for the last war.

[54anickel]

2. We were talking about that today. Then the BIL came up with a scary

thought...suppose the real test was to see how many people they could get stuck in a crowded airport. All it would take is a few guys with bombs strapped to their bodies mingling in the crowds in the areas before the security checks. Far fetched but it got everyone in the conversation thinking you just can't be prepared for every scenario that could unfold. Just the scare and ensuing confusion the other day could be considered a win for the "bad guys". Hit the airlines hard, caused all sorts of business to stop cold, created even more inconvience and less freedom yet again for the US and UK public. Yep, I'd say that's worth a couple of points on the board.

[HockeyMom]

3. Poison the food or water supply

of a major city. Kill far more people than a couple of planes, not to mention the FEAR generated in that. Not everybody flies, but the entire country eats and drinks.

I have always wondered why AlQeada would keep trying to attack planes. Yeah, the explosive media effect, but other means would be far more devastating. Are they really that uncreative?

[uppityperson]

4. Less safe now than 2001. Vote Democratic.

"failure of imagination"? BFEE? Them?