Chertoff defends DHS, aims to improve message
Secretary says it is his job to "clearly articulate" a vision to the public that includes the concept of risk management and tradeoffs.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday that his department must do a better job of explaining to the U.S. public and Democrats in Congress the department's strategy for protecting the country.
Chertoff said during a speech in Washington that he has heard and read criticism that the Bush administration's concern about homeland security is "overblown." Striking a somewhat defiant tone, he said the nation will feel the consequences of another terrorist attack and suffer the loss of lives if threats are not taken seriously.
He said it is his job as chief of the department to "clearly articulate" a vision to the public that includes the concept of risk management, tradeoffs when it comes to the costs and benefits of decisions, and choices about how best to protect the country. He added that he expects congressional Democrats to conduct more oversight of homeland security activities next year.
"I welcome increased oversight because I welcome debate about the fundamental strategy we are undertaking for homeland security," Chertoff said. "We need to make sure we define very clearly what is at stake and why we are doing what we are doing."
He noted that the department recently has been criticized for collecting and analyzing information using a traveler-screening program. "What we are doing is a sensible, totally constitutional and [a] privacy-rights-respecting effort," he said.
Chertoff said his priorities for 2007 fall into five general categories: protect the country against dangerous people; protect the country against dangerous things, such as cargo with weapons of mass destruction; ensure sufficient infrastructure protection; improve preparedness and response capabilities; and improve the management and integration of his department.
With regard to some of those matters, Chertoff said the department will issue new regulations Friday for the transportation of hazardous materials on trains. "We have to make sure we have better security when toxic chemicals are moving between chemical plants," he said.
He added that the department also will issue new regulations in "a few weeks" to increase security at facilities that use toxic chemicals. And he said the results of a survey will be issued by the end of December showing where the 75 highest-threat regions have gaps when it comes to communications equipment that can work across jurisdictions.