Ridge steps up homeland security

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0317/web-home-03-18-03.asp

By Judi Hasson 
March 18, 2003

On the brink of an almost certain U.S. attack on Iraq, Homeland
Security Secretary Tom Ridge has ordered America's terrorist alert
raised to orange and increased security at ports and land borders,
airports, critical infrastructures and across the Internet.

Known as Operation Liberty Shield, Ridge said the Homeland Security
Department is ratcheting up security, increasing public health
preparedness and making sure that the federal response can be deployed
quickly. It has assigned one emergency response team to the nation's
capital in the event of a terrorist attack.

"The intelligence community believes that terrorists will attempt
multiple attacks against U.S. and coalition targets worldwide in the
event of a U.S.-led military campaign against Saddam Hussein," Ridge
said in a statement March 17, moments after President Bush gave Saddam
Hussein 48 hours to get out of Iraq or face certain attack by the
United States.

Ridge said he has spoken with the nation's governors and asked them to
deploy the National Guard and additional police at critical locations
throughout their states.

Among the department's actions:

* Increased security at U.S. ports and waterways with armed guards on
  every "high interest vessel" arriving or departing from U.S. ports.

* Temporary flight restrictions over New York City and Washington,
  D.C.

* Increased border screening of people and vehicles by Bureau of
  Customs and Border Protection agents.

* Security zones around critical infrastructure sites in key ports.

* Monitoring the Internet for signs of a potential terrorist attack.

* Increased disease surveillance and food security.

* Increased security at railroads, chemical plants and nuclear
  facilities.
 
 

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