Securing the transnational movement of trade and people in the era of global terrorism

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has today released its latest Strategic Insight addressing important national and homeland security issues faced by the United States after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the potential for departmental cooperation in national security. 

Former Commissioner US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Robert Bonner spoke at a National Security Policy seminar in Canberra which was co-hosted by ASPI and Unisys on Wednesday, 24 May 2006. The Insight is a transcript of his presentation in which he described the evolution of the US strategy to safeguard homeland security.

‘We definitely had to increase security in the post 9/11 era, in the age of global terrorism, but we had to find a way to do that without choking off the flow of legitimate trade and travel, without shutting down our economy in the process.’ 

‘We had to find ways, strategies to achieve the ‘twin goals’ of greater security, but also facilitate the flow of legitimate cross-border trade and travel. This led to initiatives such as the Container Security Initiative (CSI), Advance Passenger and Cargo Information (APCI), Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) and the 24-Hour Rule, to the National Targeting Center (NTC) and its Automated Targeting System (ATS), and to the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C TPAT). Not one of these initiatives existed before 9/11 he says. 

‘Our strategy includes a strong offense with our allies and coalition partners carried out overseas and must also include an effort to diffuse the hatred and misunderstanding in the Muslim world that fuels al-Qaeda. That’s a huge task, I know, but we must address it.’ 

‘I firmly believe that America and our allies, working together, will defeat the forces of global terrorism. I do not doubt it, even for a moment.’