Critical Infrastructure

By poking a touch-screen computer, crews aboard Maryland State Police helicopters can now calculate more efficient flight plans to add inspections of dams, bridges and other "critical infrastructure" to their daily missions. The choppers were equipped last month with hand-held tablet computers linked to navigation satellites, digital maps and databases with the locations of hospitals, chemical factories and other sensitive facilities. That allows airborne troopers to quickly find and patrol such sites looking for damage or terrorist threats.

S ecretary of State Hillary Clinton has commendably warned states, terrorists and their proxies that America will protect its computer networks. To do so, however, the federal government must do much more to reach out to the private sector, which controls the vast majority of U.S. critical infrastructure, from banks to communications to energy. Cyber security affects every American. It enables the operation of nearly every part of the economy, from banking to manufacturing to retail to health care.

At a time when the public and elected officials alike are clamoring for more disclosure and accountability in the corporate world, a little-noted provision in legislation establishing a Department of Homeland Security could make corporate dealings even more obscure and less accountable. Despite criticism from members of Congress and public-interest and press groups, the administration is insisting on "information-sharing" language for the legislation that would allow the new department to exempt businesses from the legal requirements of the Freedom of Information Act when voluntarily submitting "critical infrastructure information" to the department.

By poking a touch-screen computer, crews aboard Maryland State Police helicopters can now calculate more efficient flight plans to add inspections of dams, bridges and other "critical infrastructure" to their daily missions. The choppers were equipped last month with hand-held tablet computers linked to navigation satellites, digital maps and databases with the locations of hospitals, chemical factories and other sensitive facilities. That allows airborne troopers to quickly find and patrol such sites looking for damage or terrorist threats.

I wonder how many of those who voted for Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley realized they were also voting for an open-ended, statewide expansion of citizen surveillance that includes "watch centers" and "watch lists"? You may think this sounds Orwellian, but it's no joke. Mr. O'Malley never hid his strong intention to expand the use of technology and police resources to fight crime and terrorism; he simply failed to outline any safeguards that would ensure such increased surveillance wouldn't be abused to spy on law-abiding citizens for political or any other reasons.

WASHINGTON - House Republican leaders have drafted legislation creating a Department of Homeland Security, making a few changes to President Bush's proposal but failing to deal with its main flaw: It tries to do too much. Mr. Bush was right to propose creating a new department. The homeland security task has long been treated as an afterthought, with more than 100 federal agencies claiming a role. Good organization cannot guarantee security, but bad organization invites disaster. Yet when it comes to reorganizing the federal government, caution is warranted.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has commendably warned states, terrorists and their proxies that America will protect its computer networks. To do so, however, the federal government must do much more to reach out to the private sector, which controls the vast majority of U.S. critical infrastructure, from banks to communications to energy. Cyber security affects every American. It enables the operation of nearly every part of the economy, from banking to manufacturing to retail to health care.

Regardless of past mistakes, the new Iraq still can be saved. In my opinion as an adviser to the Iraq Study Group, any rescue plan should focus on basic measures, including U.S. troop redeployment, prevention of oil theft and corruption, training of Iraqi troops, recognition of the influence of Iran and Syria, and promotion of democracy. Redeploy troops. Coalition forces should redeploy around critical infrastructure. They should have a defined space to defend instead of being sitting ducks for insurgents on the streets.

With the Rio summit finally wrapped up, it is fair to ask what was accomplished, for all the sound and fury. The first thing is obvious: This, the biggest, best-attended summit ever, put the environment front and center in every nation.President Bush was right to remind the delegates of America's past leadership. A White House report notes that in the fight to save whales, eastern Pacific grays have rebounded since the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, while other nations still hunt whales.

When a Web user clicks onto the site of the Muslim Hackers' Club, the sound of an explosion crackles from the computer speakers while a ball of flame appears on the screen. Under the headings "Hacking" and "Viruses," the site contains hundreds of pages of detailed instructions - mostly borrowed from U.S. hackers - on how to break into computer systems and wreak havoc. Among the offerings are tips on hacking into a Pentagon system and a list of code words and radio frequencies used by the Secret Service.

I wonder how many of those who voted for Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley realized they were also voting for an open-ended, statewide expansion of citizen surveillance that includes "watch centers" and "watch lists"? You may think this sounds Orwellian, but it's no joke. Mr. O'Malley never hid his strong intention to expand the use of technology and police resources to fight crime and terrorism; he simply failed to outline any safeguards that would ensure such increased surveillance wouldn't be abused to spy on law-abiding citizens for political or any other reasons.

Regardless of past mistakes, the new Iraq still can be saved. In my opinion as an adviser to the Iraq Study Group, any rescue plan should focus on basic measures, including U.S. troop redeployment, prevention of oil theft and corruption, training of Iraqi troops, recognition of the influence of Iran and Syria, and promotion of democracy. Redeploy troops. Coalition forces should redeploy around critical infrastructure. They should have a defined space to defend instead of being sitting ducks for insurgents on the streets.

WASHINGTON - Like millions of Americans, Jeannie Hong owns her own business, the Magic Dry Cleaners in Ellicott City. She has never been contacted by the Department of Homeland Security in Washington and doesn't expect she ever will be. She learns about terrorist threats and raised terror alert levels like most everyone else - by watching television or reading the newspaper. "I wouldn't think any of that has anything to do with dry cleaning," she says. Al Martinez-Fonts believes his new mission as head of the private-sector office at the Department of Homeland Security is to prove her wrong.

At a time when the public and elected officials alike are clamoring for more disclosure and accountability in the corporate world, a little-noted provision in legislation establishing a Department of Homeland Security could make corporate dealings even more obscure and less accountable. Despite criticism from members of Congress and public-interest and press groups, the administration is insisting on "information-sharing" language for the legislation that would allow the new department to exempt businesses from the legal requirements of the Freedom of Information Act when voluntarily submitting "critical infrastructure information" to the department.

WASHINGTON - House Republican leaders have drafted legislation creating a Department of Homeland Security, making a few changes to President Bush's proposal but failing to deal with its main flaw: It tries to do too much. Mr. Bush was right to propose creating a new department. The homeland security task has long been treated as an afterthought, with more than 100 federal agencies claiming a role. Good organization cannot guarantee security, but bad organization invites disaster. Yet when it comes to reorganizing the federal government, caution is warranted.

When a Web user clicks onto the site of the Muslim Hackers' Club, the sound of an explosion crackles from the computer speakers while a ball of flame appears on the screen. Under the headings "Hacking" and "Viruses," the site contains hundreds of pages of detailed instructions - mostly borrowed from U.S. hackers - on how to break into computer systems and wreak havoc. Among the offerings are tips on hacking into a Pentagon system and a list of code words and radio frequencies used by the Secret Service.

WASHINGTON - Like millions of Americans, Jeannie Hong owns her own business, the Magic Dry Cleaners in Ellicott City. She has never been contacted by the Department of Homeland Security in Washington and doesn't expect she ever will be. She learns about terrorist threats and raised terror alert levels like most everyone else - by watching television or reading the newspaper. "I wouldn't think any of that has anything to do with dry cleaning," she says. Al Martinez-Fonts believes his new mission as head of the private-sector office at the Department of Homeland Security is to prove her wrong.

With the Rio summit finally wrapped up, it is fair to ask what was accomplished, for all the sound and fury. The first thing is obvious: This, the biggest, best-attended summit ever, put the environment front and center in every nation.President Bush was right to remind the delegates of America's past leadership. A White House report notes that in the fight to save whales, eastern Pacific grays have rebounded since the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, while other nations still hunt whales.