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(Article information from Free Press News Services)
From airports to cattle feedlots to nuclear plants, the government
began tightening security Tuesday to fortify America against
terror.
The plan, called Operation Liberty Shield, goes far beyond
the government's previous responses to threats of terror because
officials say war with Iraq increases the possibility of attacks
on U.S. soil or against U.S. interests abroad.
It envisions close cooperation among federal, state and local
governments, as well as private businesses such as chemical
plants and banks.
Much of the plan is geared toward protecting the nation's
transportation system, including random searches of cars at
airports, restricted airspace over certain cities, police
or National Guard members protecting railroad bridges, enhanced
identification checks for truckers who haul hazardous materials
and more Coast Guard escorts of ferries and cruise ships.
The nation's terror alert status was raised from "elevated"
to "high" Monday night after President George W.
Bush said the U.S. military was ready to attack Iraq unless
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his sons left the country
by 8 tonight Eastern time.
U.S. intelligence officials said the elevated warning is
based on the belief that Al Qaeda and perhaps Iraqi operatives
will try to retaliate for a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Part of the security plan requires that anyone seeking political
asylum in the United States from 33 countries with known terrorist
presences, including Iraq, be detained while the government
considers claims they face political persecution at home.
This has drawn criticism from Amnesty International and other
human rights organizations.
Last year, 577 people from those countries -- including 348
from Iraq -- claimed asylum out of more than 58,000 who sought
entry in the United States, according to immigration officials.
The Coast Guard also is providing greater protection for
petroleum and chemical plants near large cities. The General
Accounting Office, which is the investigative arm of Congress,
said in a report Tuesday that some of these 15,000 plants
"may be attractive targets for terrorists intent on causing
massive damage."
The report noted that nine months ago, Bush administration
officials agreed on the need for mandatory security plans
for such facilities, but no such plans have been proposed.
Security also is being increased at nuclear power plants,
electric grids, subway systems and government buildings including
the White House. Also, the government is stepping up its tracking
of the Internet for signs of terrorist activity and boosting
security at financial markets, banks and other major parts
of the economy.
Food-supply monitoring is being enhanced, including more
checks of imported food and Agriculture Department action
to encourage greater scrutiny of feedlots, stockyards and
storage areas. A separate GAO report Tuesday found possible
gaps in food-supply security because industry guidelines are
voluntary, not enforced or monitored by the Agriculture Department
or the Food and Drug Administration.
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