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.]

FMI: www.gao.gov/new.items/d03344.pdf