Thu, Jan 16, 2003
TSA's Foot-Dragging, Lack of Vision Contribute to
Vulnerability
The Government Accounting Office has released its
December report on the vulnerabilities and challenges to security
that our air cargo system faces, and offers a few ideas on how it
could most-efficiently be beefed up. The entire report (31 pages)
is cited at the end of this article; but, to pique your interest,
here's the bottom line (from, of course, the beginning of
the report):
Federal reports, industry groups, and security experts have
identified operational and technological measures that have the
potential to improve air cargo security in the near-term.
Examples of the measures include checking the identity of
individuals making cargo deliveries and implementing a computerized
cargo profiling system. In addition, long-term improvements, such
as developing a comprehensive cargo-security plan, have been
recommended by the above sources, but not implemented by TSA.
Each potential improvement measure, however, needs to be weighed
against other issues, such as costs and the effects on the flow of
cargo. Without a comprehensive plan that incorporates a risk
management approach and sets deadlines and performance targets, TSA
and other federal decisionmakers cannot know whether resources are
being deployed as effectively and efficiently as possible in
implementing measures to reduce the risk and mitigate the
consequences of a terrorist attack.
GAO recommends that TSA develop a comprehensive plan for air
cargo security that identifies priority actions on the basis of
risk, costs, and performance targets, and establishes deadlines for
completing those actions.
[Flashy writing style aside, there are a lot of good
ideas in there --ed.]
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