Reply #94: Thanks seems. Heard of the 1993 exercise "Impending Storm"?

[Minstrel Boy]

How Al Qaeda might strike the US by sea

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The issue is serious enough that on May 6 the Department of Defense held a little-noticed "Impending Storm" exercise that simulated several kinds of shipborne attacks on US cities. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz participated, as well as high-level intelligence and Coast Guard officials and congressional representatives from coastal districts.

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Other officials confirm that US intelligence believes Al Qaeda controls at least 15 ships. Representative Bell says he's gravely concerned about port security. He represents Houston, which has an inland port with many lightly defended petrochemical plants near the water. "If one of those is bombed, and those toxic chemicals are released into the atmosphere - with that much exposed coastline the threat becomes very apparent," he says.
http://csmonitor.com/2003/0515/p02s02-usgn.html?related

On Tuesday, September 23, 2003, I participated in a Strategic Policy Forum crisis-simulation exercise, codename: Impending Storm, which was sponsored by the National Strategic Gaming Center at the National Defense University in Virginia. These exercises were conceptualized and developed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to provide senior government officials insights into the nuances and complexities of emerging global security challenges. These demonstrations allow us to evaluate our readiness to deal with a major terrorist incident and to provide suggestions on how to improve our ability to stop a pending attack.

Tuesday's scenario focused on a major terrorist attack against our Nation's maritime transportation system. The scenario involved multiple incidents that affected sea, land, air and rail transportation. As such, in addition to the thirteen other members of Congress present for the demonstration, I joined with the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, the Transportation Security Administrator, Admiral Loy, along with representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, FBI, Dept. of Homeland Security, U.S. Northern Command, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Although, this exercise pointed out some areas in which improvement is needed, I am very pleased by what I witnessed on Tuesday. Only through constant preparation and evaluation will we be ready in the horrible event that our country is attacked again.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/nj01_andrews/92503.html


Staged attack offers lesson in port security
BY RON MENCHACA

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Brown said Charleston's port was hit by a "dirty bomb," resulting in a major blockage of its shipping channels. An oil tanker blew up in Houston's port, he said.

In the end, most of the group agreed that sealing off seaports would be a bad idea, Brown said. "If you close for one day, it takes 10 days to catch back up."

Tuesday's simulation, called "Impending Storm," was part of an ongoing effort by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to teach members of Congress about the nuances of national security, Haas said, adding that it included terrorism incidents at some landside transportation sites.

Those participating included Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and Asa Hutchinson, Homeland Security's undersecretary for border and transportation security.
http://www.charleston.net/stories/050703/loc_07game.shtml

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