HOT TOPIC
What real benefits have come/will come from increased security since Sept.11?
“The attacks acted as a catalyst for actions that would not have occurred otherwise. Government and corporate budgets now include a full range of funding for necessary investments in security that previously were ignored or deferred to the future. Equally important, government was forced to abandon its haphazard approach and adopt a far more systematic response.”
P.W. Singer, Olin Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Brookings Institution
“The creation of the Office of Homeland Security will provide for the development and implementation of a national strategy to secure the U.S. from attack. The goal of interagency participation of federal departments, agencies, state, local governments and private entities is ambitious, yet with leadership, cooperation and focus towards a common end, greater degrees of security may be attained. We will see tremendous amounts of money spent in the areas of physical security, transportation security, securing America’s borders, protecting critical infrastructure, defense against bioterrorism, support to first responders and strengthening health systems.”
Alan Mather, physical security officer, Joint Inter Agency
Task Force (JIATF) East, Key West, Fla.
“Emerging technology that permits the visual transfer of information between planning centers and responders is an example of technology that would greatly enhance responder effectiveness and safety. The real-time exchange of maps of affected areas, resources and staff locations, pre-planned facility information, etc. could be very useful in dealing with incidents of all types, and certainly terrorist attacks.”
Rebecca Denlinger, fire chief, Cobb County (Ga.)
Member of Executive Session on Domestic Preparedness
