Security Briefs - Dec. 4 - 7
The Latest Headlines:
- Fmr. Canadian PM Says Nafta-like Security Pact Needed
- Postal Service Continues Focus on Mail Crimes, Despite Terrorism
- Canadian Official Says Border Security Necessary
- TSA Chief Cargo Says Trailer Locks Coming
- Postal Service Continues Focus on Mail Crimes, Despite Terrorism
Fmr. Canadian PM Says Nafta-like Security Pact Needed
Brian Mulroney, the former prime minister of Canada, said that his country should enter into a continent-wide security pact with the United States, similar to the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Toronto Star reported Monday.Mulroney has proposed a system similar to the one used by the European Union where travelers check in once upon entering the continent, but then can travel freely between countries, the Star reported. Current Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien opposes such a plan.
The Bush administration has pushed Canada to adopt a common security perimeter by bringing their immigration and security rules in line with those in the United States, the Star said.
Postal Service Continues Focus on Mail Crimes, Despite Terrorism
The United States Postal Service said that its inspectors have continued to focus on mail crimes, even as the threat of domestic terrorism forced the agency to shift focus, the service said in a Dec. 10 release.The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said in its annual report that since last fall’s anthrax mailings, it has handled 17,735 incidents related to suspicious mail, handled more than 84,000 mail fraud complaints and made nearly 11,000 arrests for mail-related crimes.
In addition to its homeland security role, the Postal Inspection Service handles complaints of mail fraud, mail theft, drug trafficking and other illicit mailings. Transport Topics
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Canadian Official Says Border Security Necessary
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister John Manley said that those wishing to cross the border into the United States will just have to accept more layers of security, the Canadian Press reported.Canadians have protested some of the methods used by the United States on the border, including lengthy interviews and fingerprinting, CP said. Other security measures that have been suggested for the border include the production of national identification cards for U.S. and Canadian citizens, photographic of drivers and vehicles and profiling.
Manley and U.S. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge both said that none of the proposed security measures would clog border crossings, CP reported.
Canada will benefit from the increased security, Manley said at a dinner honoring Ridge. He said that Canada’s standard of living may depend on working through and accommodating the security concerns of the United States, CP reported. The United States is one of Canada’s largest trading partners, making easing border congestion a priority for both countries. Transport Topics
TSA Chief Cargo Says Trailer Locks Coming
WASHINGTON - The director of cargo security for the Transportation Security Administration, George Rodriguez, said that despite some oppostion from the trucking industry his agency will move forward with a plan to require locks on all trailers."It is our view every[trailer] should be locked -- it's that simple," he said at the Eyefortransport Cargo Security Forum & Expo here Dec. 5.
Rodriguez said he expected the government to file a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register early next year, followed by a public comment period lasting several months. Neil Abt
