Failing
to Curtail
Terrorist
Travel:
failing to implement
9/11 Commission
recommendations
One of the key phrases from the 9/11 Commission report is that, “for terrorists, travel
documents are as important as weapons.” The 2009 Christmas Day plot aboard
Northwest flight 253 made clear to the world that, not only are travel documents as
important as weapons to terrorists, but that executed terrorist plots aimed at the
United States on 9/11, and subsequently, have normally incorporated air travel as an
essential component. What we have learned about terrorist travel has been significant.
Incorporating those lessons learned into an operational architecture has improved
aviation security but, as Janice Kephart explains, we have some way to go to assure it.
T
he incredible devastation caused strategies whereby plots unfold prior travel. For some passengers, that
by 9/11 emboldened al Qaeda to the perpetrators reaching the United process can begin the moment they
to keep trying to perpetrate States. Thus, both Richard Reid’s 21 apply for a visa.
such acts. They are well aware that December 2001 and Abudulmutallab’s The loopholes where aviation security
loopholes in our aviation security system 25 December 2009 “explosive fashion” meets border security are still wide
exist and, as such, they will continue attempts were on planes originating from enough for terrorists to exploit them,
to exploit them until they are closed. Europe, bound for the United States with especially where those loopholes are
Interestingly, the installation of strong the plot unfolding in the air, prior to their magnified due to constraints placed
biometric-orientated controls and having reaching any U.S. border checkpoint. upon the United States outside U.S.
watch-list information available at U.S. That border security must begin borders by other nations. Yet these
ports of entry, including the ‘freezing’ beyond our physical borders was a key loopholes need not exist. In fact, if the
of passengers’ identities upon arrival, lesson learned from 9/11, including 9/11 Commission recommendations
has propelled al Qaeda to revert to the use of intelligence to curb terrorist had been fulfilled in both letter and
54 Register now for FREE instant access to ASI online by visiting
www.asi-mag.com February 2010 Aviationsecurityinternational
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