In the midst of the mostly well deserved media attention to the attacks in Mumbai, the GAO has released a report, "Northern Border Security: DHS's Report Could Better Inform Congress by Identifying Actions, Resources, and Time Frames Needed to Address Vulnerabilities." PDF file
We know from the Mumbai attacks that arrival by waterway is now a proven tactic for terrorist elements, what we don't know is whether the Department of Homeland Security has given enough attention to what that means along our northern border.
More below the fold.
The Bush Administration and associated right wing allies who have been focused on the U.S. southern border as a route for possible terrorist "invaders," have both made security along the northern border a lower priority. While we still don't know much about the planning and execution of the Mumbai raids, the reports seem conclusive that the perpetrators arrived by sea, and took advantage of a landing area in which they did not encounter security forces, but only some fishermen whom they told to "mind their own business." The other element that seems important is that this was not one of those "high-tech" attacks that seem to have taken hold of U.S. security planners. There were no radio-active devices, indeed not much technology was employed other than cell phones, watches, rifles, and grenades. All these items could be conveniently and easily be transported by small water-craft. Given this scenario, the GAO report highlights some glaring gaps in U.S. security.
This doesn't mean that the recent criminal acts in Juarez should be minimized, but it does argue that we have not given sufficient attention to the security issues involved in protecting Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, or other major U.S. cities along our northern borders which have waterfront access.
"In particular, DHS provided a listing of northern border vulnerabilities and initiatives to address them, but did not include recommendations and additional resources that are needed to protect the northern border. [...] budget documents do not reflect the resources needed over time to achieve control of the northern border. The lack of this information makes it difficult for Congress to consider future actions and resources needed."
It appears that consideration of an attack coming by water is still in the early planning stages.
"DHS officials are currently developing strategic plans that are intended to provide its component agencies with overall direction in addressing vulnerabilities in northern border security, as well as more targeted direction specific to vulnerabilities in the air and water environments." [...] DHS also does not discuss initiatives to address the vulnerabilities cited in the report related to maritime security, such as the lack of video capabilities in marinas, unregulated access that small private vessels have on the Great Lakes and other border waterways, and insufficient resources to access boats on the open water."
A reasonable person might conclude that the xenophobic tendencies of the right have actually made us more vulnerable by combining nativist reactions to Central American immigration with national security issues to narrow the focus to the south. Further, the focus on high tech gadgets (and the attendant contracts for their development) has caused DHS to ignore the obvious, i.e. that it is perfectly possible to create significant damage and loss of life with a few simple tools in the wrong hands.