Science Talk

strabo · Guest

Aw, Chertoff is real concerned about US borders.

Hey, Mr. False-Flag! They can fly to Mexico and walk across!
Or, hop any friendly Chinese ship and sail in!

Chertoff: European terrorists trying to enter US
Jul 18 02:56 AM US/Eastern
By EILEEN SULLIVAN
Associated Press Writer

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is shown in this June file...

WASHINGTON (AP) - European terrorists are trying to enter the United
States with European Union passports, and there is no guarantee
officials will catch them every time, Homeland Security Secretary
Michael Chertoff said Thursday.

Chertoff's comments on Capitol Hill comes as the country is entering a
potentially vulnerable period with the presidential nominating
conventions coming up next month; the presidential election in November;
and the transition to a new administration in January—all of which may
be attractive targets for terrorists.

In his last scheduled appearance before the House Homeland Security
Committee, Chertoff said that the more time and space al-Qaida and its
allies have to recruit, train, experiment and plan, the more problems
the U.S. and Europe will face down the road.

"The terrorists are deliberately focusing on people who have legitimate
Western European passports, who don't appear to have records as
terrorists," Chertoff told lawmakers. "I have a good degree of
confidence we can catch people coming in. But I have to tell you ...
there's no guarantee. And they are working very hard to slip by us."

Chertoff and other intelligence officials have delivered similar
warnings before, and he offered no new information about specific
threats or an imminent attack.

Chertoff reiterated his concern that terrorists could sneak radiological
material into the country on small boats or private aircraft. This
material could be used to create an explosive device known as a "dirty
bomb."

The Homeland Security Department has a strategy to protect against this
small boat vulnerability and is testing radiation detection equipment in
Seattle and San Diego ports.

Chertoff said that getting out a regulation to prescreen and enhance
security of general aviation aircraft coming to the U.S. from overseas
is one of his top priorities.

He also said he expects to approve new radiation detection technology
this fall.

Responding to a question from Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, Chertoff dismissed
any rumor that he is on a list of potential running mates for Sen. John
McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Chertoff
quipped that the only list he has for next year is a list of vacations.

Chertoff's term as the country's second Homeland Security Secretary ends
when a new administration takes over the White House in January.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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