Preparedness Against Terrorist Attacks: Congressional Hearing

Front Cover
Tillie K. Fowler
DIANE Publishing, 2002 - 90 pages
Witnesses: Brett Burdick, Terrorism Program Mgr., VA Dept. of Emerg. Serv.; James Clapper, Jr., Vice Chmn., Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabil. for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction, accomp. by Mike Wermuth, Rand Corp., and Paul Maniscalco, Sr. Emerg. Mgmt. Services, N.Y. City; John Eversole, chief, Chicago Fire Dept., and Chair, Haz. Materials Committee, Internat. Assoc. of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); P. Michael Freeman, Chief, L.A. County Fire Dept., and Chmn., Terrorism Comm., IAFC; Robert Fudge, Weapons of Mass Destruction Program Mgr., LA Office of Emerg. Prepared.; and Norman Rabkin, Dir., Nat. Sec. Prepared. Issues, and Stephen Caldwell, Assist. Dir.

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Page 48 - ... resources, obtainable but fairly sophisticated production facilities and equipment, quality control and testing, and special handling. In many cases, the personnel of a terrorist organization run high personal safety risks, in producing, handling, testing, and delivering such a device. Moreover, the report notes, the more sophisticated a device, or the more personnel, equipment, facilities, and the like involved, the greater the risk that the enterprise will expose itself to detection and interdiction...
Page 44 - Madam Chairman and distinguished Members of the subcommittee, thank you for giving me the opportunity to submit the following statement to you on the issue of domestic response to terrorism.
Page 53 - Naughty Oklahoma T-Shirts." The posting described the sale of shirts featuring offensive and tasteless slogans related to the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Those interested in purchasing the shirts were instructed to call "Ken" at Zeran's home phone number in Seattle.
Page 63 - For more than 3 years we have evaluated and reported on a number of issues concerning federal programs and activities to combat terrorism. A list of related GAO products appears at the end of this statement. Our testimony will first highlight Important information on the threat, focusing specifically on the threat of terrorist attacks involving chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) materials.
Page 67 - In our view, by using worst case scenarios, the federal government Is focusing on vulnerabilities (which are unlimited) rather than credible threats (which are limited). As...
Page 45 - ... preparedness, the progress of Federal training programs for local emergency responses, and deficiencies in Federal programs for response to terrorist incidents involving WMD; to recommend strategies for ensuring effective coordination of Federal agency response efforts and for ensuring fully effective local response capabilities for WMD terrorism incidents; and to assess appropriate state and local funding for response to WMD terrorism. 8 To meet those objectives, the Panel determined that it...
Page 66 - US intelligence agencies had reported an increased possibility that terrorists would use chemical or biological weapons in the next decade. However, terrorists would have to overcome significant technical and operational challenges to successfully produce and release chemical or biological agents of sufficient quality and quantity to kill or injure large numbers of people without substantial assistance from a foreign government sponsor. In most cases, specialized knowledge is required in the manufacturing...
Page 48 - ... suggests that some public pronouncements and media depictions about the ease with which terrorists might wreak genuine mass destruction or inflict widespread casualties do not always reflect the significant hurdles currently confronting any nonstate entity seeking to employ such weapons. The report acknowledges, nevertheless, that the situation now facing a terrorist could change dramatically because of new discoveries, further advances in technology, or other material factors. No matter how...
Page 65 - Intelligence and law enforcement agencies assess the foreign and domestic terrorist threats to the United States. The US intelligence community — which includes the Central Intelligence Agency...
Page 4 - I will ask if you will stand and raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give in this hearing will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

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