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Terrorism expert: Security should be unpredictable

Brian Jenkins, senior adviser RAND Corp.
Brian Jenkins, senior adviser RAND Corp.

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Brian Jenkins
September 11 attacks
Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As investigators searched Wednesday for a missing man booked on Air France Flight 68, non-U.S. flights entering the United States continued to be scrutinized for possible security concerns.

CNN's Bill Hemmer discussed counterterrorism efforts with Brian Jenkins of the RAND Corp., nearly three weeks after the Department of Homeland Security heightened the nation's terror alert status to high, or orange.

HEMMER: How do you explain all the precautionary airport delays, searches, cancellations and other counterterrorism activities that have occurred during the heightened U.S. terror alert level?

JENKINS: These are -- I think -- appropriate reactions to the threat that continues, it's not simply the Orange Alert. We've known now -- certainly before September 11, since September 11 -- that we have a dedicated terrorist enemy that is determined to carry out attacks against the United States.

They've increased their pace of operations since September 11 and they remain fascinated with commercial aviation, whether it's sabotage, or firing missiles at commercial airliners -- both of which they've attempted to do since September 11 -- or hijacking airliners.

HEMMER: What do you make of today's Washington Post story suggesting that over the New Year's holiday at least five nuclear scientists were patrolling five different major airports carrying detection devices hidden in golf bags and brief cases -- what's your reaction to that?

JENKINS: You know, actually, that's not the first time that we have sent out teams that have gone out quietly looking for evidence of detection. There have been incidents in the past when there were suspicions or concerns about the presence of nuclear material, in some cases even communicated threats. And these were quietly investigated by scientists with special detection equipment. Given the attention that has been given to so-called "dirty bombs" -- or radiological devices, it seems a relatively routine precaution.

HEMMER: The contrarian would argue that a lot of the security checks going on now are put on in a very public manner to make sure that the word gets out in many different parts of this world that it's happening. What truth do you believe is there to that theory?

JENKINS: Well I think it's appropriate that the word does get out. You know, the fact is that we're dealing with an opponent that would -- like a terrorist planner would -- would love a security system that is completely predictable. It enables them to study the details of that system, calculate ways to defeat that system and then, perhaps, carry out some type of an attempt to attack us.

We don't want to have systems that are completely predictable. So when we advertise something like the security people in France being exceptionally alert and catching wires in that jacket -- or when they do something as they did in Baltimore where they decide whether or not they have specific information to alter their procedures and take a look at every single car. That complicates the planning for the terrorists.

HEMMER: What are the politics right now? There's a report in The New York Times about how the White House goes about during an election year keeping the country safe without playing politics. How difficult will that line be to walk during the next ten months?

JENKINS: There always will be allegations of people playing politics. It's nothing new with this administration or any previous administrations -- people playing with politics on the security issue. But the fact is that the threat is real. The threat is not being invented in Washington. The threat exists.

These actions are taking place. We know that, as we speak, there are terrorists out there that are planning new attacks against us, attempting to prepare those. Security ought not to become a political football. I think there are a lot of people involved -- people in politics on both sides of the spectrum -- that are attempting to carry out the very, very difficult and demanding task of keeping this country safe. This is not a political issue.


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