Bush to create anti-terror department
US President George Bush today launched plans for sweeping changes to US domestic security including new ways to protect the country from nuclear and chemical attacks.
Mr Bush said the blueprint, that proposes centralising 22 federal agencies into one Cabinet-level department, would show the world America is ‘‘working together’’ to win the war on terrorism.
The 88-page strategy being sent to Congress suggests ways to reduce the nation’s vulnerability to terror strikes, or in the worst-case scenario, limit the damage from an attack and increase the speed of recovery.
Proposals include developing new screening tools to detect nuclear and radiological devices at borders and ports, in particular through increased inspections of international shipping containers.
It also calls for research on new vaccines and antidotes, to be able to respond to chemical and biological attacks.
Mr Bush said: ‘‘Our unity is a great weapon in this fight.’’
‘‘By acting together to create a new and single Department of Homeland Security we will be sending this world a signal that the Congress and the administration will work together to protect the American people and to win this war on terror.’’
The plan is reported to propose a new ‘‘intelligence threat division’’ using experts who would act
like terrorists and plot attacks on vulnerable targets so that ways to prevent real strikes can be devised.
It also urges the first thorough inventory of the country’s infrastructure, including highways, pipelines, agriculture, the Internet, databases and energy plants, and a secret plan to protect them from attacks.
Other proposals include the overhaul of the FBI, the establishment of national standards for state driver’s licences, expanding extradition agreements with other countries and reviewing the role of the National Guard in preventing domestic terrorism.
The proposals must now go before Congress which will draw up a final bill.
But Democrats in the House Appropriations Committee have attacked the White House for being too ‘‘secretive’’ while drawing up the plan, which they claim means it is ‘‘poorly constructed’’ in many areas.
