Terror Condition Raised to High on War Preparations

The United States raised the terror warning to “condition orange” or “high” as the United States prepares to go to war in Iraq.

“The intelligence community believes that terrorists will attempt multiple attacks against U.S. and coalition targets worldwide in the event of a U.S. - led military campaign against Saddam Hussein,” Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said in a statement.

The threat condition was raised immediately after President Bush addressed the nation and world in a television address Monday night, giving Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave Iraq or face military conflict.

As part of the alert, the Trucking Information Sharing and Analysis Center, at the request of the American Trucking Associations, has asked the industry to take appropriate steps to maintain safe and secure highways.

Those steps, outlined in a March 14 memo, are as follows:

Assign your management crisis team, verify their 24/7 contact information and place them on "ready alert" through the period of High Alert.

Reduce your internal tolerance for "security anomalies," such as overdue or missing vehicles, perimeter of physical plant intrusions, unverified visitors, evidence of tampering and the like. Report suspicious activities, especially those fitting any profiles presented in threat alert advisories, immediately to law enforcement and/or the nearest FBI field office.

Conduct emergency/contingency procedures reviews with drivers, dispatchers and line management personnel. Brief personnel on the threats that triggered the alert and how these threats may present themselves in the field.

Test your emergency communications systems.

Identify state and/or local emergency planning agencies, industry resources and the like through which event response and recovery information can be obtained.

Assure that company personnel monitor news and other information sources for events or changes in conditions and respond as appropriate.

The Department of Homeland Security said that it has begun implementing a series of protective measures in conjunction with other federal agencies, state governments, local and private sector leaders. This program has been named “Operation Liberty Shield,” Ridge said in his statement.

Ridge said in his statement that he has asked the nation’s 50 governors to deploy National Guard troops and additional police officers to bolster security at potential targets in their states.

This is the third time ever that the threat condition has been raised from “elevated” or “condition yellow” to “high” or “condition orange.”

(Click here for the full press release from ATA about raising the terror threat.)

(Click here for the full press release on trucking’s preparations.)