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Post by Ladypowerdriver on May 2, 2011 11:35:16 GMT -5
Posts;
US Offices Worldwide on Terror Alert
U.S. embassies and other government sites around the world were on alert Monday and the State Department issued a travel alert for Americans abroad in case of retaliation following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
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Carriers, Ports Heighten Security
Carriers and ports notched up their security programs Monday morning following the announcement that U.S. special forces killed Osama bin Laden on Sunday.
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Osama bin Laden Confirmed Dead
President Obama announced Sunday night that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the terror September 11 attacks on the U.S., is confirmed dead.
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Pacer Rebounds From Loss to $2 Million Profit
Intermodal service provider Pacer International posted net income of $2 million in the January-March period, up from a $500,000 loss in the 2010 quarter.
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American Railcar Cuts 1Q Loss as Car Demand Returns
American Railcar Industries trimmed its first quarter loss to $5.3 million from $7 million in the 2010 period but reported a surge in new car manufacturing receipts and car shipments as rail equipment demand rebounds.
and Etc.
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Post by Ladypowerdriver on May 2, 2011 13:47:02 GMT -5
U.S. embassies and other government sites around the world were on alert Monday and the State Department issued a travel alert for Americans abroad in case of retaliation following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
The State Department said U.S. government facilities worldwide "remain at a heightened state of alert" on news of the raid in Pakistan that killed the leader of the September 11 terror attacks.
"These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture," the department said in a statement issued late Sunday.
Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations," the department said.
UPDATE 9:30 a.m. May 2, 2011
Added security was evident across the New York City area the morning after the raid in Pakistan.
"In light of the events that are unfolding, the port authority has directed its police to increase its presence at all port authority facilities, including the World Trade Center site, and to coordinate with local, state and federal law enforcement as required," said Chris Ward, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. "This response is not based on a current threat, but out of an abundance of caution until we have the chance to learn more. In the meantime, all port authority facilities remain fully operational and at normal service levels."
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Post by Ladypowerdriver on May 2, 2011 13:51:07 GMT -5
DHS remains at high vigilance but issues no specific threat warning
Carriers and ports notched up their security programs Monday morning following the announcement that U.S. special forces killed Osama bin Laden on Sunday.
"We generally heightened security overall," said William Ferguson, director for security at NYK Line (North America) in Jackson, N.J. "When there's news like this, we generally begin to look around more, and keep our Blackberries on."
The Department of Homeland Security so far has not issued a specific warning to freight carriers.
Two weeks ago Homeland Security put a new incident warning system into effect, abolishing the five-step color code system that had been in place since 2002. Under the National Terrorism Alert System, the department now sends out advisories in case of an "elevated threat" or "imminent threat" of a terrorist attack.
"We remain at a heightened state of vigilance," DHS said Monday morning. "Secretary Napolitano has been clear since announcing NTAS in January that we will only issue alerts when we have specific or credible information to convey to the American public. Our security posture, which always includes a number of measures both seen and unseen, will continue to protect the American people from an evolving threat picture both in the next days and beyond."
An official with the International Air Transport Association said the organization had not received any word from DHS. The Airforwarders Association hasn't either, but expects the Transportation Security Administration to issue a notice later Monday, said President Brandon Fried.
"TSA sees air cargo a significant threat," Fried said. "All the hard work, dedication and rules will definitely help keep the skies safe." He said that other countries as well are taking steps to protect their citizens.
Seaports are taking precautions, but the American Association of Port Authorities had no concrete information to share with members, said spokesman Aaron Ellis.
"Port security people are aware of the circumstances, but we're awaiting guidance from DHS as to what to do," Ellis said.
Chris Ward, executive director of the Port Authority of NY & NJ, released the following statement:
DHS remains at high vigilance but issues no specific threat warning
"In light of the events that are unfolding, the Port Authority has directed its police to increase its presence at all Port Authority facilities, including the World Trade Center site, and to coordinate with local, state and federal law enforcement as required. This response is not based on a current threat, but out of an abundance of caution until we have the chance to learn more. In the meantime, all Port Authority facilities remain fully operational and at normal service levels."
-- Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.
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Post by Ladypowerdriver on May 2, 2011 13:57:07 GMT -5
Osama bin Laden Confirmed Dead
May 2, 2011 3:12AM GMT
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story
Washington
Terrorist mastermind killed by U.S. troops in Pakistan
UPDATE 11:45 p.m. EST
President Obama announced Sunday night that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the terror September 11 attacks on the U.S., is confirmed dead.
Bin Laden, a founder and a leader of al-Qaeda, was killed Sunday after a small team of U.S. troops launched a targeted attack on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where the terrorist was located. A firefight ensued and bin Laden was killed. U.S. troops took his body into custody and later conducted a burial at sea.
U.S. embassies and other government sites around the world were on alert Monday and the State Department issued a travel alert for Americans abroad in case of retaliation following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Obama said that he was first briefed on a possible lead of bin Laden's whereabouts in August 2010, and decided last week to take action after receiving what he referred to as "enough intelligence" to go forward with an attack on bin Laden's location.
The announcement of bin Laden's death comes nine years, seven months and 20 days after the September 11 attacks.
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11:12 p.m. EST:
President Obama is expected to announce Sunday night that Osama bin Laden has been killed in Pakistan and that his body is now in U.S. custody, according to reports.
News of bin Laden's death was first reported at 10:45 p.m. Sunday night. According to reports, bin Laden was killed by armed U.S. forces, but when the attack occurred is unknown at this time.
Obama is expected to make a statement shortly.
-- Contact Dana L. Brundage at dbrundage@joc.com . Follow her on Twitter @brundage_joc.
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Post by Ladypowerdriver on May 11, 2011 17:08:06 GMT -5
Report claims covert investigators able to access port in truck loaded with fake explosives
Members of Congress are having second thoughts about the Transportation Worker Identification Credential system now that a Government Accountability Office report is questioning the effectiveness of the program.
The system was established after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
According to the report, released Tuesday at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, GAO covert investigators were able to go onto port property with TWICs acquired by fraudulent means. In one case, they entered the property in a truck loaded with fake explosives, said Stephen M. Lord, director of homeland security issues.
?Government and Regulation news from JOC:
Committee Considering Bill to Streamline Background Checks.
The GAO said that the Transportation Security Administration lacked the internal controls to assure the eligibility of TWIC applicants to acquire the biometric card. It also said that TSA did not establish standards by which investigators could judge the eligibility of an applicant after he or she had been rejected.
Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, testified that the GAO report “raises a disturbing question: Are America’s ports actually safer now than they were a decade ago?” He said that after 10 years and $500 million in government funds, the U.S. still does not have a workable port security card.
“I think we’re looking at a Rubik’s Cube here. You don’t know where to start or quite where to stop,” said Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who presided at the hearing. He asked witnesses to rate port security on a scale of 1 to 10.
TSA Administrator John Pistole told Lautenberg that he gives the program a 3 rating. “It’s clearly not what anybody intended, especially going back to post 9-11,” he said, adding that he had asked GAO to do a top-down review of the TWIC program.
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