The most glaring problem with the “100 percent” model is that it goes against the globally accepted consensus that a risk-analysis and layered approach is a far more comprehensive and effective security model than the concept of “100 percent scanning.”

Immigration Watchdog » Arab firm is first international port operator to be certified for security by U.S.
A leading Gulf firm in the United Arab Emirates whose plans to operate six U.S. ports was last year rebuffed by Congress, has been certified as a partner in a U.S. port security program.
The state-owned Dubai Ports World has [...]

As Chairman of the Safe Commerce Coalition, I’ve spoken to a number of audiences lately about the issue of cargo and supply chain security. I find myself often having to remind folks that when we stood up the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, we had a two-fold mission when it came to border security. First was to secure the borders. The second mission, which is sometimes forgotten, is to maintain the free and efficient flow of commerce and people.

Aviation Daily on Airports: New!! Towers and Tarmacs - The Radio Show!
I’m a big fan of Podcasts. I have at least 10 different shows loaded on my iPod, and most of them update their shows daily or weekly. So the light bulb went on - why not do one for Towers and Tarmacs?
There’s [...]

Schneier on Security: Airlines Profiting from TSA Rules
Before 9/11, airlines and security personnel — and I use the term “security personnel” loosely — might have let a nickname or even a maiden name on a ticket slide. No longer. If you have the wrong name on your ticket, you’re probably grounded. And there are two [...]

When former Secretary Tom Ridge departed DHS, the international registered traveler program was placed on hold with the new leadership focused on a range of other significant international travel issues. However, CBP continued to press the case for its risk management tool and DHS approved the initiative earlier this year which was branded Global Entry and announced in April of this year. To truly succeed in fulfilling its potential, however, the Global Entry program will need a number of important enhancements.

Resiliency is emerging as the underlying theme for protecting infrastructure, integrated in both policy drafting and boots-on-the-ground tactics across a number of different transportation industries. Two recent conferences - one focusing on the maritime industry and one on the trucking industry - illustrate that to move towards resiliency, there needs to be a solid infrastructure established by the government as well as a business incentive for industries to take action.

We see the “100 Percent” debate playing itself out between DHS and Democrats on the Hill — in the areas of employee screening at our nation’s airports, the screening of air cargo, and the screening of shipping containers coming from overseas. In all these instances, Democrats have passed legislative mandates requiring DHS to implement the costly solution of 100% scanning. DHS has been correct to push back, and they should do so more forcefully.

An article last week implies that the Amtrak’s rail security upgrades are akin to smoke and mirrors. I might remind these critics that every government agency and business has competing budgetary needs and face a challenge of achieving their missions with the money, staff and resources on hand. Amtrak is no different. Securing operations is only a part of its mission, and trying to spread the available money as far as possible is never easy.

The Heritage Foundation will host next week a forum on cargo security entitled Homeland Security and Inspecting Shipping Containers: Debating the Way Forward. Two of Security Debrief’s contributors will participate – former DHS Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson, who is also now head of the Safe Commerce Coalition, and Dr. James Carafano, who is the senior fellow for foreign policy, homeland security and counter-terrorism issues at the Foundation.

The 2004 Madrid subway attacks and the 2005 London subway and bus attacks demonstrate that the terrorists consider passenger rail and mass transit as preferred targets. The rising fuel costs for automobiles and congested air travel could logically push more passengers to rail throughout the course of the year and beyond. This is where DHS and DOT should place their emphasis.

The TSA got it right - this time anyways! A number of security events have occurred in the airline industry over the past week that warrant mention and evaluation – some of them show sound judgment by TSA and other government agencies while others show that we still have a lot of work to do.

We’ve heard it being discussed for several years – a more streamlined, simplified and technologically advanced airport security checkpoint process. This past Monday, TSA unveiled the first version of its “Checkpoint Evolution,” designed to lower passenger agitation, increase passenger throughput and improve security by allowing TSO’s to better observe the public.

Aviation Daily on Airports: Now Taking Off - TSA’s Airport Security Checkpoint of the Future
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) unveiled a pilot program at Washington National that will test features for the airport security checkpoint of the future, which I covered in the April 1 issue (subscribers only) of Aviation Daily.

You don’t have to be a PR expert to expect that the words “nipple” and “pliers” composed in the same sentence of any afteraction report is likely to end badly.

California is considering legislation that would place the state on the front lines of the looming battle between the federal government and states resisting the REAL ID mandates. Citing privacy concerns, implementation costs, and security concerns, state lawmakers have introduced a resolution that would require California’s Congressional delegation to take the fight back to Congress. Ryan Singel of WIRED’s Threat Level has more, writing that while the state has not taken as hard a line as South Carolina, Maine, and Montana, the move “still might boost the anti-Real ID movement given the state’s size, clout and dire finances.”

It seems somehow fitting that the state that launched the Civil War is once again leading the charge to defy the federal government — though in this case the stakes are far less deadly. Rather than bullets flying, you can expect a lot of curses. And even then only at airport terminals.

First of all, the changes are very visible. There is an increase in uniformed officers and K-9 support units, in the stations and on the trains. I spoke to a number of the uniformed officers and they sounded pleased and motivated by the new approaches.