Homeland Security Chief Takes Global View

Michael Chertoff, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, has spoken out about global security, saying security officials across the globe need to make it possible for people and goods to move quickly, safely and easily.

According to an Associated Press report by Lara Lakes Jordan, Chertoff made the remarks late last week at Center for Strategic and International Studies, just prior to his meetings in Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands this week. Lakes Jordan says experts have told her that the speech marked an important shift in the DHS's efforts to enlist allies to accomplish that goal.

"There are obviously domestic characteristics to terrorism, but in terms of what the public is concerned about and certainly what the department was formed in order to address first and foremost, it is global, radical terrorism," Chertoff said in his speech..

Chertoff told the audience that international standards for passenger and cargo screening, information sharing and law enforcement cooperation would foster "security envelopes," which would enable legitimate travelers and goods to move quickly and easily, avoiding delays from repeated identification checks. He said it was the first step in a worldwide effort.

According to Chertoff's speech, the current systems to check passengers and cargo are "the most primitive kind of screening in many respects," and he is urging that we use more sophisticated technology.

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