21 November 2003
U.S. More Secure than Ever, Ridge Says
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's November 20 remarks
Tough measures taken since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have made the United States safer than ever before, according to Tom Ridge, the secretary of Homeland Security.
"The American people are more secure and better prepared than ever before," Ridge said in remarks prepared for the Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Summit held in Honolulu, Hawaii, November 19-21.
"Just as the United States and its allies adjusted priorities and tactics to defeat the enemies of old, we have developed strategies to meet the current and constant threat of terrorism," he said.
"It is no coincidence that the threat to the stability and peace of the world has coincided with the globalization of technology, transportation, commerce and communication," said the Homeland Security chief.
"The same benefits enjoyed by freedom-loving people across the world are available to terrorists as well," he noted, "That means that terrorists themselves have greater mobility, more targets and more places to hide than ever before."
That was why, he added, that on September 11th, 2001, the terrorists were able to turn passenger airplanes into missiles, with an "army" of fewer than two dozen men, and "a budget of roughly a half a million dollars."
The secretary warned that to fight back against terrorists, freedom-loving people would have to exploit their assets as well.
"We must investigate and prosecute and confiscate," Ridge said. "We must utilize diplomacy, intelligence, law enforcement and asset seizure -- a multi-lateral approach to a multinational problem. We must enlist stronger collaboration and cooperation, innovative technology and improved information-sharing, both within nations and between them."
In the end, Ridge said, "our mutual commitment to each other and our steadfast conviction in the justice of our cause will triumph over the weapons of fear and terror wielded by any enemy."
Ridge said "the enterprising and compassionate nations of the Asia Pacific have been at the forefront of this new sense of unity and purpose," and he said the United States joins them "full partners and fond friends in this cause."
The Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Summit and Exposition was the first of its kind in the region. It was jointly organized by the Office of the Governor of Hawaii, the State of Hawaii's Department of Defense and Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), the U.S. Pacific Command, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, the Pacific Basin Economic Council, the East-West Center, and the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.
The goal of the summit was to provide a forum for developing collective solutions to public and private sector security threats in the Asia-Pacific region.
Following is the text of Ridge's prepared remarks:
(begin text)
[Department of Homeland Security]
Office of the Press Secretary
Remarks by Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to the
Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Summit
November 20, 2003
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. And thank you, Governor Lingle for that kind introduction.
May I first say how sorry I am that I'm unable to join you in person today in the beautiful state of Hawaii. And I'm not just saying that because it's almost 20 degrees cooler here in Washington.
I say it, most importantly, because were I with you, I would welcome the opportunity to extend my thanks to the many organizers of this important forum. These events are important, and take a lot of effort to put together, and, given the vital and central issue of this forum, I appreciate the hard work of everyone involved.
And, were I with you, I would welcome the opportunity to pat the backs of the many state homeland security officials and first responders in the audience today.
This nation, like most nations, is facing one of the greatest tests of our times. And yet, rather than give up, give in or give way, you continue to give this moment all you can. And so, I commend you -- our nation's state and local officials, our law enforcement and intelligence communities, and our brave first responders for the relentless passion and patriotism you bring to your jobs every day.
And, were I with you, I would welcome the opportunity to shake the hands of so many dedicated representatives of the private sector who have joined you this morning. America values your role and looks to you to foster a spirit of cooperation within the international business community a spirit that must always be reflected in both the public and private-sector policies that daily shape the twin pillars of security and prosperity.
And, finally, were I with you this morning, I would especially welcome the opportunity to share my warmest greetings with America's many friends and allies in the audience today and to say thank you. For America has been emboldened and enriched by the common values and strong collaborations we so plentifully share with members of the Asia-Pacific region, for many decades, but particularly since the tragic events of September 11th, just a little more than two years ago.
The American people know that we will always find friends and strength in multinational partners -- in the Asia-Pacific Region, in the United Nations in a true "culture of cooperation." And that is important. Because the terrorist attacks in America, in Bali, in Jakarta, in Baghdad, in Istanbul as recent as today show terrorism for what it is a global scourge, not a regional one. And a global enemy requires a global response.
The U.S., by design and by desire, has been and will always be connected to the rest of the world. The interconnectedness of the world today spans many sectors military, economic, educational and, yes, even homeland or domestic security. No one country can be truly safe without the cooperation and like-minded commitment from all others. This type of "interdependence" is a good thing. It helps inspire one another to higher standards. It compels us to be innovative and unified in our approach to security. The terrorists who seek to harm freedom-loving countries and the people who inhabit them want to see a "house divided." They want to cause dissension and distract us from our common goal their defeat.
If we are to be successful against them, a worldwide commitment and worldwide resolve is required. And worldwide, that is what we are seeing. Since the events of September 11th, a counter-terrorism coalition of nearly 70 nations has begun working together in the critical areas of law enforcement, information sharing, transportation security, cyber security and financial asset seizure.
Many nations in the Asia-Pacific region have made integral contributions to the war on terrorism - significantly building and improving upon their counterterrorism capabilities in the immediate aftermath of the September 11th attacks. And certainly redoubling those efforts after the tragic Bali bombing in October 2002 the deadliest terrorist strike since 9/11. In the wake of that devastating attack, several nations, including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, worked quickly to track down and bring to justice members of Jemaah Islamiya, an al-Qaeda linked terrorist group believed to be responsible. The arrest of Asia's top terrorist, Hambali, serves as yet another great example of shared leadership and commitment, of information sharing and collaboration, as together, nations of the world, particularly Thailand, rooted out one of the world's most deadliest terrorist operatives.
Additionally, so many Asia-Pacific countries -- Japan, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines and many more -- have engaged extensively in the rebuilding of Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. It's been a wonderful demonstration of a strong transpacific partnership and a collective commitment to the cause of freedom -- wherever it needs safekeeping.
That said; on a personal note, President Bush and all of us in his Cabinet greatly value the personal and professional relationships we have with our investigative, security and military counterparts throughout the Asia-Pacific Region. We are more than just partners; we are friends. And we have been fortunate to work with you...but certainly learn from you as well.
It is not surprising that nations of the Asia-Pacific region have answered the call to fight terrorism, for it is a threat that you have faced for many years. From attacks by the Abu Sayyaf Group in the Philippines to the sarin gas attack in the subways of Tokyo, terrorism has been part of your Region's collective experience. It has become part of ours. Terrorism is now transnational...and connected.
To terrorists who continue to play out this tragic prologue...who continue to plague the world: I can tell you that your weapons will be destroyed; your tactics will be disarmed. Of great misdeeds and murder, your clocks and calendars will one day no longer record such times. Because, as the world has made clear: Your time is up.
As many of you have recognized: We have passed over into a far more menacing frontier of warfare -- potentially with far more horrifying consequences. International terrorism is the "new totalitarian threat." While terrorism incidents are down, the numbers of casualties as a result of terrorism are up. For the first time in history of humankind, a small group of people with weapons of mass destruction can wreak untold havoc in our cities and against our nations. These perpetrators seek chemical, biological and nuclear weapons -- and before them lay a map of the world. Today the international community faces two realities in the fight for broad security: One, the reality that terrorists find safe haven in hostile nations...or safe havens within the borders of failing governments and unstable regions. And two, the fear that terrorists have ready availability to weapons of mass destruction provided by hostile regimes...as well as varying weapons of scope and scale...built and tested in camps and caves across the deserts and mountain terrain in which they hide.
Surely, it is no coincidence that the threat to the stability and peace of the world has coincided with the globalization of technology, transportation, commerce and communication. The same benefits enjoyed by freedom-loving people across the world are available to terrorists as well. That means that terrorists themselves have greater mobility, more targets and more places to hide than ever before. That's why, on September 11th, 2001, they were able to turn passenger airplanes into missiles, with an "army" of fewer than two dozen men, and a budget of roughly a half a million dollars.
So to fight back, we too must exploit our assets. We must investigate and prosecute and confiscate. We must utilize diplomacy, intelligence, law enforcement and asset seizure -- a multi-lateral approach to a multinational problem. We must enlist stronger collaboration and cooperation, innovative technology and improved information-sharing, both within nations and between them. We must use every available tool to repel these shadow soldiers.
St. Thomas Aquinas said three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe, to know what he ought to desire and to know what he ought to do. We knew, minutes after the second plane hit the World Trade Center, what we would need to do -- that is, make the fullest protection of our people the highest charge of our nation. This vision and the actions that drive it offer no guarantees. The sheer depth and breadth of what occurs across America means that one slip, one gap, one vengeful person, can threaten the lives of citizens, at any time, in any number of ways.
We can say, however, that the American people are more secure and better prepared than ever before. Just as the United States and its allies adjusted priorities and tactics to defeat the enemies of old, we have developed strategies to meet the current and constant threat of terrorism.
One needs only look back to the way things were before September 11th in our country. Before that day, the idea of organizing major federal agencies to strengthen the U.S. government's ability to protect the homeland was viewed as intellectually very provocative but unlikely. But it happened...as it needed to happen.
Before September 11th, ticket agents asked who packed a traveler's bags, but little else was done in the airport or on the aircraft to provide security. Today, from the curb to the cockpit, more people and technology work to make airline travel safer.
Before September 11th, we never looked in a container of cargo until it got to our shores, and nearly 20,000 containers of cargo arrive in our ports every single day. And yet, as I speak, there is a U.S. inspector in Rotterdam, in Singapore, in Hong Kong, working alongside our allies to ensure the safety of cargo and world commerce. Before September 11th, our national stockpile of medications to protect Americans against a bioterrorist attack was drastically undersupplied. Today, we have stockpiled a billion doses of antibiotics and vaccines, including enough smallpox vaccine for every man, woman, and child in America.
Before September 11th, agencies in the federal government saw very little need to share information and intelligence between themselves, let alone with state and local officials. And yet, today secure communications technologies and expanded security clearances for representatives of state and local governments, along with the shared language of the Homeland Security Advisory system; create a powerful and constant two-way flow of threat information. This means more effective actions can be taken by homeland security professionals at all levels.
Before September 11th, many of our first preventers and first responders lacked the financial resources to respond to a crisis of 9/11 proportions. And yet, today, more than $6 billion in grants and funds have been distributed or made available to our state and local partners across the country -- and more than $2 billion will be available by the end of the year. Hawaii received more than $30 million in FY03 grants and will be receiving an additional total of more than $22 million from the FY04 budget.
These funds make a difference. With FY03 grants, police in Manchester, New Hampshire received new respirators. In Duluth, Minnesota, ballistic-grade helmets were purchased. Marquette County, Michigan, got an underwater video camera for coastline security. The Twin Falls, Idaho Police Department Bomb Squad used their new bomb robot recently to safely detonate four loaded pipe bombs discovered in the trunk of a car. And counties throughout Hawaii received protective "hot zone" suits to safeguard first responders and civil support teams from a bio attack. These investments and others, ladies and gentlemen, save lives.
Finally, when we talk about how things were before September 11th and how they are today -- we must speak to the stronger relationships we now have with our friends throughout the world. Together, we've worked relentlessly and successfully to disrupt terrorism at its source -- in cities and cells all across the world. Globally, more than 3,000 suspected terrorists have been detained in 90 countries.
From these collective actions, we have learned the value of building strong international partnerships -- partnerships that build barriers to terrorists, and build bridges to one another. Important, because our common interests go beyond our common enemies and our common values. We are also brought together by a highly integrated global economy...an economy where prosperity and security are inseparable.
And this is why governments everywhere rely on the very important role of the private sector. Here in America, 85 percent of critical infrastructure is privately owned. Across the globe, multinational companies based here and elsewhere turn the key daily on a global engine of economic growth. The Asia-Pacific Region knows -- your economy accounts for 60 percent of the world's GDP.
And so, it is in the global community's best interest -- in terms of both economic security and mutual security -- to develop a unified approach to the movement of goods and people across our regional and national borders. This calls for a robust partnership between the public and private sectors...and incentives to help businesses secure themselves, their customers and their supply chain. It calls for communication and coordination at every level of business and government - and, ultimately, the sharing of timely and appropriate information.
The United States is particularly sensitive to the historical, constitutional and cultural differences among nations. We are mindful of concerns over the issues of privacy and civil liberties with respect to biometrics, machine-readable passports, border security, student visas and other security changes. And that is why we are sitting down with our friends in the Asia-Pacific community, in the European Union and elsewhere, to seek common ground on these important issues. It's why we're working with the State Department and universities to ensure that students who pose no threat to this country are not delayed from entry any longer than necessary. Yes, we must remember that many of the 19 hijackers who perpetrated the attacks of 9-11 were here on fraudulent visas. But we also want to make clear that legitimate foreign students, and the skills and knowledge they bring to our campuses and country, are welcome and wanted.
Homeland security is a very human endeavor that is shaped by millions of human decisions and actions all across the globe. America knows we cannot seek a double standard. And America knows, we get what we give. So to suggest that there is a trade-off between security and individual freedoms -- that we must discard one protection for the other -- to me, is a false choice. After all, you do not defend liberty to forsake it.
The vision of homeland security, for homelands far and wide, is a future worth working hard for every single day. It is a time when our world will not only be stronger thanks to a network of virtually invisible security measures. But in the keeping of our safety, we will be hugely advanced by vast collaborations in information sharing, technology and economic development. And from these partnerships will come progress in every field of human endeavor -- commerce, science and technology, medicine and more -- such that perhaps true democracy and full prosperity will be in the hands, or close reach, of nations in want and need of those opportunities today.
To be sure, since September 11th, our world has changed. America has changed. But much of what is important remains the same. America is still a welcoming nation that opens her borders to citizens from all over the world. Our promise still rests on a respect for the vast diversity of people and cultures that enrich our lives. Freedom is still the hope of many and terrorism the choice of an embittered few.
Two years ago, and two years since, we have seen humanity at its worst...and at its best. We have learned that great powers can work together to do great things. In my country and yours, across the Asia-Pacific region and throughout the world, we are blessed by the covenant of shared values and shared vigilance. We are both determined and self-determining. So, in the war against terrorism, we will not give up, give in or give way. We will give the moment all we can.
And, in the end, our mutual commitment to each other and our steadfast conviction in the justice of our cause will triumph over the weapons of fear and terror wielded by any enemy. So much so that years from now, historians will one day tells the story of free nations, who in fighting for the freedoms and security of the world, surrendered neither. They will say that, together, their salvation was their solidarity -- and their solidarity became a force for freedom throughout the world. The enterprising and compassionate nations of the Asia Pacific have been at the forefront of this new sense of unity and purpose. And America joins you as full partners and fond friends in this cause. Thank you.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=November&x=20031121151750esrom0.9808924&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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