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Keep Threat From Crossing Our Borders

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 9, 2007

I couldn't do it. When the National Geographic Channel reran its award-winning documentary 'Inside 9/11' the other day, I couldn't bring myself to watch it again.

The documentary used declassified documents and scores of interviews to piece together how terrorists caught U.S. intelligence and security agencies off guard in the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001. When it first ran two years ago, I rode the same emotional rollercoaster I did that terrible day almost six years ago - with stunned disbelief, anger and grief - even though I knew the ending. And, as in 2001, I couldn't go to sleep that night.

In addition to reviewing the death and destruction of that day, an interview conducted for National Geographic News with Michael Scheuer, a former senior analyst of the Central Intelligence Agency, really left me in low spirits. He said terrorists would not have much more difficulty attacking the United States today than they did before 9/11.

Here We Go Again

'The reason it's going to occur is because we've done nothing about our borders,' said Scheuer, who was the head of the CIA's Osama bin Laden unit.

Comments the other day from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff seem to indicate he was right. Under questioning from Rep. Gus Bilirakis about two Egyptian-born University of South Florida students who were arrested for suspected terrorist activities, Chertoff said colleges should keep better tabs on foreign students.

Sure, that would help, but isn't that his department's job?

Chertoff discussed how the government needs the cooperation of colleges and universities to know when foreign students aren't attending programs or classes in which they are enrolled. Again, haven't we learned anything from 9/11?

Most of the talk I hear about 'protecting our borders' centers on the effects illegal immigrants are having on the job market, wages, public education and social services. Those are legitimate concerns, but national security should be the biggest one.

Let's Stop Them Over Here

Two years ago New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote a column that gave me false hope.

'New U.S. visa policies have made it much harder for bad guys to get into America,' said Friedman. 'If your name is Muhammad and you are a 21-year-old single Arab man and you have not visited Disney World yet, well, you may want to consider Euro Disney, because your chances of getting a tourist visa are very low. This is one of the sad byproducts of 9/11 - but it has undoubtedly made it more difficult for the few bad apples to get in as well.'

Actually, I didn't consider it a 'sad byproduct,' but a pragmatic policy. During World War II, people from Germany, Japan and Italy weren't allowed to emigrate to the United States. It was a tactical wartime measure to protect Americans.

I do feel more comfortable that if some foreigners with hostile intent should manage to slip in, they will be under more scrutiny than the 9/11 hijackers. The arrest of the two USF students proves authorities are being more vigilant, even if we still have a way to go.

Still, I would feel better if fewer of them were getting in. Our troops are fighting terrorists 'over there' so we won't have to fight them over here, says President Bush. I believe the safest policy is to make sure they never get here in the first place.

Joseph H. Brown is a Tribune editorial writer.

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