Securing the Homeland; GAO Recommends Areas for Increased Congressional Oversight in 2007

By Victor Comras

We got through 2006 without any new terrorist attack at home. But, most terrorism experts are convinced that 2007 remains fraught with danger. Internationally, terrorism continues to rage with no letup against US and allied assets and interests. And we have engaged the increasing wrath of terrorism supporting countries such as Iran and Syria. Al Qaeda cells and influence continue to spread, and there are increasing signs that Hizbollah and Hamas will target US facilities and interests. Homeland security, and combating terrorism and terrorism financing worldwide must, therefore, remain one of our greatest priorities and challenges this new year.

Looking ahead, my attention was drawn to a letter sent by Comptroller General David Walker to key Congressional leaders in November 2006 outlining his recommendations for needed increased congressional oversight during the next year. While the letter provides a cross-the-board assessment of key issues facing the 110th Congress, his recommendations concerning homeland security and combating terrorism are particularly poignant.

High among these oversight targets are: (1) the effective integration and transformation of the Department of Homeland Security, (2) ensuring a strategic and integrated approach to prepare for, respond to, recover, and rebuild from catastrophic events, (3) transforming and strengthening our national intelligence community, (4) enhancing border security, (5) ensuring the safety and security of all modes of transportation, (6) strengthening efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their delivery systems, (7) enhanced computer security, and (8) otherwise ensuring the effectiveness and coordination of U.S. international counterterrorism efforts. Further congressional oversight and action are also required, the Comptroller’s letter indicates, to improve the overall US image overseas.

Congress has passed much legislation focused on these priority areas and on improving U.S. efforts to combat terrorism here and overseas. “As such,” the Controller General writes, “the Congress has an important role to play in overseeing the implementation of these recommendations and in assessing the effectiveness and coordination of U.S. diplomatic, military, intelligence, and law enforcement efforts to combat terrorism {here and} abroad.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been given a front-and-center role in combating terrorism and protecting us at home. It was charged by Congress in 2003 with digesting some 22 agencies into one department with the objective of enhancing our overall domestic security. But, the GAO has found some serious shortfalls in the integration of these agencies and in the ability of the new Department to set its priorities, particularly in the area of risk assessment and security planning. It has also expressed concern with the continuing lack of internal accountability and oversight. Border security, transportation security and critical infrastructure protection remain critical areas requiring increased Congressional oversight, the Comptroller General says.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, underscored how weak border security measures and ineffective enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws can be exploited by terrorists. While increased funding has been provided for passport and visa security procedures, and for securing the borders, little has been done to mitigate the potential domestic security risks posed by millions of undocumented aliens in this country illegally. The GAO recommends, the letter says, that Congress take steps quickly to better assess DHS progress in implementing its multibillion-dollar Secure Border Initiative, and require DHS to better balance its resources devoted to border security and enforcing immigration laws in the interior. Further improvements are also called for re DHS and State Department efforts to improve passport and visa security procedures and to mitigate the risks posed by the visa waiver program.

Major challenges remain, the Comptroller’s letter also states, when it comes to securing our transportation infrastructure. Safety, even more than terrorism, remains the highest threat with an average of over 40,000 traffic deaths, 6 commercial airline, and over 350 general aviation fatal crashes annually, and over 2,200 major pipeline accidents over a recent 10-year period. Nevertheless, terrorism concerns remain strong.

Another area for increased oversight, the letter recommends, is the steps being taken by the Administration to transform and strengthen our national intelligence community and its ability to gather, analyze and share critical intelligence information. While the intelligence community is much better now at “connecting the dots,” many problems remain. The letter recommends that Congress increase its oversight of intelligence agencies generally with special emphasis on the National Counter Terrorism Center and the Counter Proliferation Center and the steps they are taking to improve the quality of intelligence and how it is shared.

Our efforts overseas also remain critical to our domestic security. Congress has a particularly important role to play to ensure the effectiveness and coordination of these international counterterrorism efforts. This includes evaluating the management and effectiveness of U.S. programs designed to assist foreign countries to prevent, combat, and respond to terrorism, as well as assessing U.S. efforts to protect overseas personnel, facilities, and interest from terrorist attack.

This year will be critical in our efforts to combat terrorism as we change our course and strategy in Iraq, strengthen our resolve to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan, and combat international terrorism, its causes, perpetrators, supporters and financiers. The Comptroller General and his GAO staff have helped underscore for all of us the important role Congress must play in making sure that we get these efforts right.

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