NUCLEAR TERRORISM
Examining the Issues
06/12/07
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| Globally
speaking: Ruben Ramirez, Head of the Department
of Physical Protection and Safeguards
in Mexico (lower right); Allan Murray
of the Australian Nuclear Science and
Technology Organization (upper right);
Dr. Cynthia Jones, Senior Technical Advisor
for Nuclear Security at the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (lower left); Eric
Plaisant, Chief Superintendent of the
French National Police (upper left). |
Under
sunny skies in Miami, experts from around
the world are talking about a dark scenario:
the use of nuclear and radiological materials
by terrorists.
It
is day two of the "Global Initiative
to Combat Nuclear Terrorism Law Enforcement
Conference," a week-long event being
put on by the FBI for law enforcement, intelligence,
and security professionals from nearly 30
countries.
The
conference is examining the many sides of
the issue—from security at seaports to
the containment of radioactive sources throughout
around the world. The approximately 450 speakers
and delegates are sharing their stories—not
only what improvements they've made and plans
put in place, but also lessons learned along
the way.
All
agree that the threat is both serious and
complex…and that there are many questions
to answer. Think about what would happen—as
one presenter here pointed out—if terrorist
bombs set off in Bali and Jakarta in recent
years had also created blast areas contaminated
by radioactive materials.
Just
a few of the speakers and the issues discussed
on Tuesday:
-
Vayl
Oxford, Director of the Domestic Nuclear
Detection Office in the Department of Homeland
Security, talked about his office's many
initiatives and plans to prevent nuclear
and radiological attacks—including
the testing and deployment of a variety
of radiation detection devices. He said
that more than 90 percent of all cargo coming
into the U.S. is being scanned by such devices
and talked about city-wide and regional
plans to put comprehensive detection systems
into place, as well as the various international
initiatives his office is supporting. FBI
agents are detailed full-time to the Domestic
Nuclear Detection Office, he said.
-
Representatives
from Australia, France, and the U.S. discussed
security at nuclear facilities and the protection
of radiological sources in their various
countries and regions. Australia, for example,
is working with about a dozen countries
in Southeast Asia—including Indonesia,
Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines—to
shore up legal frameworks, standards, capabilities,
and expertise related to the security of
radioactive source materials.
-
Luis
Reyes, Executive Director for Operations
at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, detailed
the work that has gone into protecting nuclear
facilities in the U.S., including improved
physical security, risk assessments, security
exercises, and coordination with the FBI's
multi-agency National Joint Terrorism Task
Force.
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