Aerospace Daily & Defense Report September 10, 2004
Airliner Attacks Prompt Russia To Look At NORAD Operations
By Rich Tuttle

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Russian officials, in the wake of the loss of two airliners in that country to terrorist actions, have expressed interest in operations of the U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command, according to Gen. Ed Eberhart, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command.

He said the United States and Russia might cooperate in this area.

"The Russians are very interested in how we at NORAD operate because of our air patrols, our rules of engagement, our interaction with FAA," Eberhart said Sept. 8. There may be an opportunity for some assistance, he said, although he added that it's "more hypothetical in nature right now."

NORAD and NORTHCOM, in turn, are interested in Russia's investigation of how terrorists got aboard the airliners, Eberhart said.

"We are very interested, as is TSA [Transportation Security Administration], as is the Department of Transportation, FAA, and others, how they got through security. We believe [it was] the classics - they showed up late, they switched tickets at the very end, and they had to run to get on. And, therefore, they bypass some of the normal security, because [Russian airline agents] want to sell a ticket, they want to be nice. ... We're very interested in exactly how they did it."

Eberhart was responding to questions after remarks at a seminar on homeland security here sponsored by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation and the El Pomar Foundation of Colorado Springs.

He also said that while the NORAD agreement between the U.S. and Canada already covers defense against cruise missiles, "we don't have much capability" against them. "It's a question of cueing."

He said NORAD and NORTHCOM run scenarios of possible terrorist attacks that are "parallel in nature" - simultaneous catastrophes such as air attacks, forest fires, dirty bomb attacks - "because, frankly, I think that's how it will come next time," or the time after next.

"We try not to just focus on air attacks, or air attacks like we saw on 9/11," Eberhart said. "We try to focus on unmanned aerial vehicles, business jets, those kinds of things - cruise missiles - and at the same time, what the maritime attack might look like: From offshore? Standoff with UAVs or cruise missiles off of ships? Or coming into port with high explosives?"

The two commands thus "try to avoid ... fighting the last war because we believe that the terrorists know that we are fairly well prepared" to defend against the use of airliners as missiles.

Let's give them the security details of Fort Knox too. Just to be inclusive and friendly-like.

Quoted: Let's give them the security details of Fort Knox too. Just to be inclusive and friendly-like.

Look the Russians need help; we can help them without giving up the farm. We have the expertise and know how to help them be safer.

This could be a turning point... the Russians also now understand the Presidents view of preemption. It is our own self interest to help them.

It is to our advantage the Russians may now know that this war cannot be fought without defensive and proactive action on both our parts.

Quoted: Quoted: Let's give them the security details of Fort Knox too. Just to be inclusive and friendly-like. Look the Russians need help; we can help them without giving up the farm. We have the expertise and know how to help them be safer. This could be a turning point... the Russians also now understand the Presidents view of preemption. It is our own self interest to help them. It is to our advantage the Russians may now know that this war cannot be fought without defensive and proactive action on both our parts.

+1

Regarding the people who switched tickets, they probably bribed the airline workers.  Last time I was in Moscow I saw people bribing Aeroflot ticket workers with nice crisp $50s and $100s.

GunLvr

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Let's give them the security details of Fort Knox too. Just to be inclusive and friendly-like. Look the Russians need help; we can help them without giving up the farm. We have the expertise and know how to help them be safer. This could be a turning point... the Russians also now understand the Presidents view of preemption. It is our own self interest to help them. It is to our advantage the Russians may now know that this war cannot be fought without defensive and proactive action on both our parts. +1

+1 more

It is really unfortunate that it took an attack on Beslan to open the eyes for the Ruskies to share GWB Jr's view on terrorism and terrorist.