CFR Publications - America Still Unprepared -- America Still in Danger

"The Task Force identified six critical mandates that deserve the nation's immediate attention:

• Empower front-line agents to prevent terrorist attacks and make first responders ready to respond; 650,000 local and state law enforcement officers are operating in a counterterrorism information vacuum, and first responders are not nearly ready enough to respond to catastrophic events.
• Make trade security a global priority; the system for moving goods affordably and reliably around the world is ripe for exploitation and vulnerable to mass disruption by terrorists.
• Set critical infrastructure protection priorities; some potential targets pose a graver risk for mass disruption than others.
• Enhance America's public health system so that it is able to quickly detect and respond to biological attacks.
• Move quickly to clear federal obstacles to forging effective private-public security partnerships by addressing industry concerns with respect to potential antitrust conflicts, public release of sensitive security information by way of the FOIA, and liability exposure.
• Fund, train, and equip the National Guard to make homeland security a primary mission. "

The CFR brings together Hart and Rudman for a reprise of their last report, which was widely ignored in Washington when it was presented in March of 2001.  Hopefully this time around they'll have a more receptive audience.

"viameta"