International Response:  U.N.  Studies Shows Some Antiterrorism Efforts Are Ineffective

The U.N. Security Council’s travel and arms embargo on individuals linked to al-Qaeda is not stopping the global terrorist network from carrying out attacks, according to a 42-page, unpublished U.N. draft report cited in Saturday’s Washington Post.

According to the report, since the sanctions were imposed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, no terrorist or weapon covered by the measures has been detained or seized at an international border.

“Despite the travel ban,” the report reads, “members of the al-Qaeda network have retained a high degree of mobility and have been able to carry out and contribute to terrorist attacks in several countries around the world.”

The report indicates that a U.N. list of over 220 people and groups said to be linked to al-Qaeda contains many misspellings and errors.  Thirty-four suspects are identified by a single name, and translations from Arabic to English vary. Also, the United States and other countries have reportedly refrained from releasing certain names to the United Nations because of concerns about compromising their own investigations.

The report indicates that efforts against al-Qaeda have been successful in some areas, with a number of senior al-Qaeda members having been arrested over the last year, but that recent attacks in Casablanca, Morocco, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, show that terrorists are “still willing and able to strike at targets of their choosing.” The group that carried out the attack in Casablanca is not directly linked to al-Qaeda, but according to the report, the incident demonstrates the organization’s ability to recruit new adherents.

Terrorists still have access to millions of dollars, according to the draft. The United States and other countries, the report indicates, are unable to freeze some al-Qaeda-related assets, allowing al-Qaeda members to “acquire adequate quantities of weapons and explosives where and when they need them” (Colum Lynch, Washington Post, June 21).

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U.S. Response:  U.S. Company to Begin Producing New Radiation Detector

The U.S. company ORTEC is set to begin production of a handheld radiation detector developed by the U.S. Energy Department’s Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Energy Daily reported today (see GSN, March 3).

Laboratory officials yesterday signed an agreement with ORTEC representatives on commercializing the RadScout radiation detector, which laboratory officials have said is both portable and easy to use.  In addition to detecting radiation, the detector uses software to identify what materials are likely producing the radiation, according to the laboratory’s Michael Dunning.

The RadScout is primarily designed to detect gamma rays and X-rays, but it also is equipped with a small neutron detector, Dunning said.  “This will address the vast majority of radioactive materials,” he said (Energy Daily, June 20).

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U.S. Response:  U.S., Industry Representatives Meet to Discuss Chemical Plant Security

More than 400 U.S. and industry chemical and transportation security experts met yesterday in Philadelphia for the start of a three-day “summit” on improving security at U.S. chemical plants, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (see GSN, May 13).

“Let me be very, very clear.  If we do not talk about the actions we are taking, and publicly illustrate our commitment, then we will allow our detractors to attack this industry and erode the effectiveness of our efforts,” Greg Lebedev, chief of the American Chemistry Council, said during his keynote address.

Representatives from the U.S. Homeland Security Department urged chemical companies to make plant security improvements a higher priority.

“You and your employees must understand what’s at stake,” said Sally Canfield, a Homeland Security policy director.  “That’s half the battle.  Too many companies believe security is a low priority, if it’s a priority to them at all,” Canfield said.

During the first day of the summit, many chemical industry executives agreed that many of the largest — and potentially most dangerous — chemical plants lacked intensive security measures, such as armed guards, the Tribune-Review reported.  Industry executives said, however, that they have made some improvements in protecting both plant workers and area residents.

“The chemical industry recognizes it has a responsibility,” said Joseph Acker, president of the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association.  “We know we have to act quickly and we’ve come a long way,” Acker said (Carl Prine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, June 18).

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