U.S. tightens its defences

March 19, 2003

19 March 2003

U.S. tightens its defences

The following article is exerpted from the 19 March 2003 on-line edition of “globeandmail.com”.

The United States has begun locking up asylum seekers from predominantly Muslim countries, screening food imports and deploying hundreds of new border guards in an unparalleled plan to thwart a wartime terrorist strike that officials say is now a "virtual certainty."

The security crackdown, dubbed Operation Liberty Shield, was ordered after the White House's decision Monday [17 March] to raise its colour-coded terrorism alert to orange — or high — from yellow as war against Iraq becomes imminent….

Some of the measures could have a significant effect on the movement of people and trade across the Canada-U.S. border, in spite of assurances from Mr. Ridge that U.S. officials would do everything to minimize disruption to "legitimate people and legitimate goods."

Responding to a request on Monday night from Mr. Ridge, the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency began screening trucks and selected passenger cars Tuesday before they crossed the Southern Ontario border into the United States.

"They did ask us to take some additional measures as of last evening and we have implemented through the revenue agency some exit supervision of vehicles leaving the country on a random basis," Mr. Manley said. "We'll be responding over the next few days as the situation develops."

U.S. officials acknowledged that the added personnel at its land borders would be used to conduct more checks of vehicles and cargo, more interviews and more secondary screening.

There are also plans to deploy additional planes and helicopters to monitor the vast and often uninhabited areas between border stations along the 6,500-kilometre frontier….

The crackdown has rekindled fears of the long delays and border disruptions after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist strikes against New York and Washington.

"I'm not hearing people panic, but could there be some hiccups and slowdowns? That seems inevitable," said Bob Keyes, a senior vice-president at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce….

In a statement Monday night, Mr. Ridge bluntly said groups "will" attempt to strike. Yesterday, U.S. officials noted that attacks — either inside or outside the country — are a “virtual certainty" during a war, which could begin as early as Wednesday night, but is not likely before the weekend….

The United States has also ordered the deployment of U.S. National Guard troops to watch over key infrastructure across the country, including bridges, tunnels and power plants. But Mr. Ridge said that troops won't be sent to the Canadian or Mexican borders "at this juncture."….


Topic(s): 
Canadian Economy & Politics
Information Source: 
Canadian News Channel
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