Airport and port security measures and frameworks

Airport and Port Security

The statement, "where the tactics of the weak confound the tactics of the strong" refers to the concept of Fourth Generation Warfare. This kind of warfare appears "weak" in terms of military size and base. Indeed, there is no territorial army base. Instead, this type of warfare is based upon temporary and small territories, which can blend in much more easily with the general population than the traditional army base. This is then what also makes this type of warfare dangerous when opposed by the apparently "strong." This type of warfare tends to support initiatives that are political, diplomatic, and economic.

Rethinking asymmetric threats means there is a reconsideration of the phrase in terms of both linguistics and utility. The author argues that the term's traditionally accepted use is no longer as relevant as when it originated. Hence the need to "rethink" it. Furthermore, such rethinking is vital in terms of the new types of threat currently being faced.

In rethinking the term, the author is also critically deconstructing it. He argues that the linguistic meaning of asymmetric threats is as important as the actual concepts it denotes. Hence, in rethinking the term, the actual threat is also redefined. In this way, policy and strategy that are being formulated in response to the identified threat can more clearly define both the threat being faced and the necessary response to this threat.

3.

A dirty bomb is an explosive device that incorporates radioactive materials. It is also known as a radiological weapon or radiological dispersal device (RDD). The initial blast is a result of the conventional explosive, which kills or injures. The radioactive material is the secondary threat, killing by airborne radiation and contamination.

Dirty bombs do not take particular expertise to make, as opposed to a conventional bomb. The most challenging part of constructing the device is obtaining the radioactive material itself. Although they are not much more difficult than conventional bombs to make, it is also a fact that cruder constructions are less dangerous than their more sophisticated counterparts. Hence, the more experienced bomb builder can make a more dangerous weapon.

Although radiological attacks do not cause as many deaths as a nuclear bomb, for example, they do pose a significant threat to port security. Air- and seaports contain significant amounts of civilians, military, police service, and other personnel on a daily basis. The detonation of a dirty bomb in one of these areas would therefore contribute significantly to terror in the country. Furthermore, these ports are also receptacles for foreigners, which makes them potentially vulnerable to smuggling activities as these relate to dirty bombs or even materials to construct such bombs.

Furthermore, there are no effective ways to decontaminate buildings where such bombs were detonated. Often, the detonation of a dirty bomb inside a building necessitates demolition. This in turn results in the loss of large amounts of money.

4.

Although it is neither easy nor simple to obtain nuclear weapons and smuggle them into the United States' seaports, the threat is not unthinkable. Terrorists have various ways in which they might smuggle nuclear weapons into seaports, and hence the reality of the threat must be considered, particularly because of the resulting destruction.

Containers for example offer a possible route for nuclear weapons to find their way into the United States. Nearly 9 million containers enter the United States by ship per year. While Customs and Border Protection screens data for all containers, only about 6% of these are in fact inspected. This makes them an attractive route of smuggling the bombs into the United States.

An attack by means of a nuclear bomb in a container would halt container shipments. Given the size of the industry, this would have devastating effects not only upon lives, but also upon the economy of the country. Because of its size, it would be very easy to hold a nuclear bomb in a container. Terrorists have several plausible avenues of obtaining bombs; they could approach Russia or Pakistan, or build their own.

1.

Airport operators have a responsibility to maximize the security at their facilities. In order to do this effectively, they must be aware of changing security concerns, and have security and safety contingency measures in place that match these. They are also to liaise with security coordinators, planners and designers in an integrated manner to ensure that all the necessary security measures are in place.

Aviation Security Contingency Plans must be tailored according to the specific airport in question. This means that all the systems and procedures surrounding security should correspond to the specific threat levels. When an enhanced threat condition is declared, the airport operator is responsible to implement AVSEC security measures appropriately. There should also be an FAA-approved Airport Emergency Plan, to be included in the Airport Operations Manual.

The implementation of all these measures should be incorporated in the design of the airport and its systems with the help of the professionals involved in constructing these design measures. Operators should work together with these professionals to ensure that effective safety measures are in place.

2.

Airports are by definition vulnerable to terrorist attacks. This is why it is vitally important that all airport facilities have security measures in place to adequately address such threats. The problem is however that not all airports have sufficient funds available to cover all contingencies in this regard. Indeed, more than 90% of airports in the United States are small or medium hub airports. Generally, these have limited funding, and must plan carefully to mitigate their security threats.

The most common form that terrorist attacks take are bombs. It is therefore likely that this is the type of attack that terrorists will levels against airports. Furthermore, knowing that small and medium airports are more vulnerable in terms of security, terrorists are more likely to concentrate on these. While the number of people at such airports are not as great as at their larger counterparts, the level of terror that attackers can create at these airports is significant. Airports with limited funding should therefore specifically concentrate their resources upon this threat.