Danger Of Terrorism Is Real

The news that British authorities foiled a plot by terrorists to detonate explosives on flights destined for the United States is yet another reminder that the danger posed by terrorism is real and demands our constant vigilance and smartest strategies to defend our nation against the threat. We must fully support our homeland defense, constantly adapting and strengthening our security and preparedness in light of new and evolving risks to our safety.
New Yorkers understand deeply what is at stake and as Senator from New York, securing our country has been my greatest priority. Since September 11, 2001, I have fought to ensure that our limited resources to protect the homeland are distributed based on risk and facts on the ground - not politics in Washington. These past several years, as attacks have been carried out on transit systems throughout the world, I fought in the Senate for measures to finally bolster our rail security here at home. And joined by many colleagues I have fought in the Senate to strengthen security at our ports, which remain vulnerable.
Sadly, too often, tough talk about securing America has been just that: talk. There is far more we can and must do to defend our country, and recent revelations only underscore the need. In fact, this past December, the 9/11 Commission gave a grade of &#8220F” for airline passenger pre-screening, describing &#8220[m]ajor vulnerabilities… in cargo and general aviation security.”
It's a larger pattern: we have seen a refusal in Washington to increase port security, safeguard our railways, protect vital infrastructure. And we all witnessed the Department of Homeland Security's failed response to Hurricane Katrina. What's worse, the Department of Homeland Security has announced steep cuts to anti-terror funding for New York even as the non-partisan Government Accountability Office has uncovered billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse within the Department - funds meant to keep us safe.
As we approach the fifth anniversary of September 11th, as we reflect on recent news of the continuing threat, we must ask ourselves if we are as prepared as we can, should, and must be.
Aviation security is a case in point. So we must ask ourselves the following - why did the TSA make the decision a few months ago to allow scissors, screwdrivers, and other tools back onboard aircraft? Why do passengers need books of matches in the cabin if there is no desire to do harm? And why is the TSA currently considering allowing lighters back into the main cabin of the aircraft?
While I applaud TSA's focus on identifying potential explosives, I do not believe that we can overlook other potentially dangerous items that make it easier for terrorists to harm passengers, flight attendants, or the aircraft itself. The TSA must realize that allowing items back into the cabin - items similar to the box cutters used by the terrorists on 9/11 - does not make the flying public safer. Our screeners must be able to look for bombs, knives, guns, box cutters, and any other item that could endanger the flying public.
We can be safer, but to accomplish that goal, smart reform is needed at all levels of government. And perhaps most importantly, we cannot let our guard down, and revel in our accomplishments - we still have a lot of work to do.
- Hillary Rodham Clinton is a New York State Senator