The Security Week That Was: A Recap - April 30-May 6, 2005

May 6, 2005
SIW Editor Geoff Kohl gives a weekly surveillance of news shaping your profession

On Wednesday, SIW staff members made it to a luncheon with Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss. Chambliss' speech was largely focused on intelligence reform, but he also addressed the issues of the national ID standard for driver's licenses ("Real ID") and the issues of border security. It wasn't the only discussion we caught this week...

Last night former Pennsylvania Governor and former DHS Secretary Tom Ridge appeared on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. In case you haven't seen this show, it's a Comedy Central evening program that spoofs the day's news and entertainment and performs the standard late-night "celebrity interview on a couch." Ridge was a thoughtful guest, commenting on how the DHS keeps threat alerts from being used as fear-inducing political tools and the balance of control between the executive and legislative branches and that effect on the fight against terror. Ridge also proved his humorous capacities, noting that he wears yellow ties when the threat level is "elevated". Want to hear more from Ridge? The best place to catch him may be at the GE Security Conference. Or check out our newly redesigned and now-searchable events page to see what else is coming up in your industry.

It was nice of Ridge and Comedy Central's Jon Stewart to end Thursday with a little humor, especially since the day in New York started with dreadful undertones of 9/11 following an explosion outside the British Consulate. And then, it followed with an instance of workplace violence involving a murder-suicide of oil company lawyers in Houston.

Want to know what else is happening in security this week? Here's a quick run-down: ... Kentucky Derby tightens security. ... GE affirms its earnings projections. ... The Airforwarders respond to a call for screening of all cargo. ... Jacksonville's port uses radiation detectors to screen all exiting shipments. ... ADT landed a major contract with Boston Logan Airport. ... Diebold buys international integrator TASC.

To close this column, if Tom Ridge can be part of a comedy program, we can at least point you to a humorous story. Chalk this one up as something you can learn from someone else's mistakes... What was the mistake? Shutting down a school, putting officers with guns on rooftops, all because someone thought a big burrito could have been a weapon.

Finally, here are the top stories for the week, as voted on by your peers' mouse-clicks in case you haven't checked them out yet: