Critical Releases in Homeland Security: October 3rd, 2007

"This testimony will address what GAO [Government Accountability Office] investigators found during a limited security assessment of seven border areas that were unmanned, unmonitored, or both-four at the U.S.-Canada border and three at the U.S.-Mexico border. In three of the four locations on the U.S.-Canada border, investigators carried a duffel bag across the border to simulate the cross-border movement of radioactive materials or other contraband. Safety considerations prevented GAO investigators from attempting to cross north into the United States from a starting point in Mexico."

"The updated attacks data we provide in this letter are sufficiently reliable for establishing general trends in the number of enemy-initiated attacks in Iraq. To determine the reliability of the data, we reviewed MNF-I's attacks reporting guidance, compared the unclassified data to classified sources, and discussed how the data are collected, analyzed, and reported with DIA and MNF-I officials. While the attacks data provide a reasonably sound depiction of security trends, DOD documents and officials acknowledge that these data provide only a partial picture of the violence in Iraq because not all attacks against civilians and Iraqi security forces are observed by or reported to coalition forces. Our latest analysis of attacks data was conducted from June through August 2007 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards."

"According to the U.S. State Department 2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, 'Saudi donors and unregulated charities have been a major source of financing to extremist and terrorist groups over the past 25 years.' The September 11, 2001 attacks fueled criticisms within the United States of alleged Saudi involvement in terrorism or of Saudi laxity in acting against terrorist groups. The final report released by the bipartisan National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the 9/11 Commission) indicates that the Commission 'found no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded [Al Qaeda].' The report also states, however, that Saudi Arabia 'was a place where Al Qaeda raised money directly from individuals and through charities" and indicates that "charities with significant Saudi government sponsorship' may have diverted funding to Al Qaeda. U.S. officials remain concerned that Saudis continue to fund Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. […] In the 110th Congress, Section 2043 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act (P.L. 110-53, signed August 3, 2007) finds that 'the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has an uneven record in the fight against terrorism, especially with respect to terrorist financing,' and requires the Administration to submit a report 180 days after enactment describing the long term strategy of the United States, 'to work with the Government of Saudi Arabia to combat terrorism, including through effective measures to prevent and prohibit the financing of terrorists by Saudi institutions and citizens.'"

"This report represents an abbreviated version of our official use only report assessing the Automated Targeting System used by Customs and Border Protection inspectors at ports to help select intermodal cargo containers for inspection. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable documents. [...] This audit was performed at various Department of Homeland Security locations along the east coast; and covered transactions and procedures current as of June 2006. [...] CBP is not consistently monitoring entry data for all shipments, resulting in some high-risk containers being allowed to leave ports without mandatory examinations. Furthermore, flaws in the Cargo Enforcement Reporting and Tracking System may result in improper container releases, and CBP still has not automated its integration of examination findings into ATS. Finally, some ports need to improve their controls over high-security bolt seals."