Senators skeptical of TSA transit security assessment

Transportation Security Administration chief Kip Hawley Wednesday described security on the nation's mass transit systems as "outstanding," drawing skepticism from Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee leaders.

"Think about that word, 'outstanding,'" said Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine. "I don't know how you could make that assessment when TSA has not finished its risk assessments."

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ranking member Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., was likewise critical. "Self-evidently, the mass transit security in our country is not outstanding," he said.

The hearing was called to examine recent terrorist bombings in London and Madrid and see what lessons could be applied to U.S. mass transit systems.

Senators did not fault Hawley, who was installed as TSA director in July, for doing a swift assessment of the mass transit security and coming to the conclusion that the many systems were doing several things right. Instead, they insisted there is a long way to go.

Collins and Lieberman did not underestimate the difficulty of beefing up security in systems that are inherently open, have many entrances and exits and do not lend themselves to the kind of security at U.S. airports.

"Mass transit is not a closed system," Lieberman said after the hearing. "It's going to be hard to bring it up to that level, but there's a lot more we can do. If you have random checks, if there are police around, you are going to deter terrorists and it's worth it,"

Collins, speaking to reporters, also charged that mass transit security has not been a Homeland Security Department priority, of which TSA is a part. "We get all these warnings from around the world," she added, focusing on the London and Madrid train and bus bombings.

Hawley said the department is proceeding with plans to install more closed-circuit television cameras in train stations, to increase bomb-sniffing dog patrols and to work on enhanced technology for detecting bombs from a distance.

He said the dog patrols are particularly helpful because they can be moved quickly from one site to another if there is a tip that a terrorist plot may be unfolding. To that end, Hawley and other terrorism experts suggested that intelligence and stopping bombers before they get to their targets should be the objective.

"Our focus must be on detection and response before the terrorist gains access to the target," said Rafi Ron, an Israeli anti-terrorism expert.

Ron and Mike Brown, chief operating officer for the London Underground, the site of last July's bombings, also said that transit workers, not just security personnel, should be relied upon to recognize terrorists, because they are most familiar with how people behave in train stations.

"They know the difference between a lost tourist... and someone who is about to perpetrate a terrorist act," Brown said.