02 February 2004
Ridge Lists Improvements in U.S.Aviation Security Since 9/11
Op-ed column by secretary of Homeland Security
(This column by Tom Ridge, who is secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, was published in USA Today February 2 and is in the public domain. No republication restrictions.)
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U.S. is More Secure
By Tom Ridge
Terrorists lie. They forge documents and disguise their intentions. An open, welcoming nation cannot guarantee a foolproof system. But we are working hard to make it much harder for terrorists to fool us.
Since 9/11, we have strengthened aviation security from the curbside to the cockpit. We've hired tens of thousands of highly trained screeners, placed hundreds of air marshals on selected flights, required advance flight manifests, imposed random inspections of air cargo, armed pilots and secured cockpit doors. Above all, we now use and share information as never before.
US-VISIT is in place at nearly 130 airports and seaports, and will be expanded to many more. It uses biometrics, such as fingerprint scans, to confirm the identity and visa compliance of foreign visitors. It also uses visa data obtained by U.S. consulates overseas.
In just a few weeks, dozens of "hits," or positive matches, have been made. One convicted felon who used five identities and three birth dates was caught. And a fugitive drug trafficker was captured after 20 years on the lam. Terrorists lie; fingerprints do not.
Another important tool is our Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System, or CAPPS II. Scheduled for launch this year, CAPPS II uses routine passenger information and commercial and criminal databases to spot "high-risk" fliers who may pose a threat to others' safety.
CAPPS II will help us preserve privacy as we protect lives. Bank and medical records and credit card purchases would not be accessed. Almost all passengers' data would be deleted immediately after a flight. And false positive matches would be greatly reduced.
We have made good progress with our European allies and other nations to ensure access to advance passenger data on U.S.-bound flights. By focusing on individual behavior, we can reduce our reliance on more arbitrary standards, such as nationality. A person should be judged by the content of his character, not the conduct of his country.
US-VISIT and CAPPS II will help homeland-security professionals focus our people and technology on the greatest risks. These tools are improving our ability to keep our borders open, planes flying and people safe.
Our hearts ache for the victims of the 9/11 attacks. We cannot turn back time. But we can unmask terrorists today -- and prevent their attacks from succeeding tomorrow.
(Tom Ridge is secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.)
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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