Oceania must be protected from Eurasian terrorists.

[url]www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-locemerg30113001nov30.story?coll=orl%2Dnews%2Dheadlines%2Dlocal[/url]

Tighter security in state's future

By David Damron
Sentinel Staff Writer

November 30, 2001

Florida's new domestic security task force on Thursday backed increasing police powers and closing some public records, asking for more tax money to help local officials prevent and respond to terrorist
attacks.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Tim Moore told Gov. Jeb Bush's Domestic Security Advisory Panel at an Orlando meeting that many new anti-terror weapons are already in place.

For instance, Moore said, more than 10,000 public health and emergency officials have been trained in recent weeks to handle bioterrorism assaults.

[b]But more preparedness and police surveillance tools are needed, including a database to collect intelligence on Floridians, Moore said.

"To not do it would be irresponsible," Moore said, comparing the spy powers to what's being done in the war on drugs.[/b]

This second public meeting of the panel was mainly a rundown of current and proposed anti-terrorism measures in the works since Sept. 11.

The appointed panel -- a group of mostly law-enforcement, emergency and military officials, chaired by Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood -- also heard an "intelligence briefing" from two Israeli security
specialists. The briefing was closed to the public.

Florida has earmarked $20 million for public health and security measures since Sept. 11, but another $45 million is needed to guard seaports and protect public facilities and food supplies, officials said.

That includes $3.6 million the state wants from the federal government to create urban search-and-rescue teams in Orlando and Jacksonville. The highly skilled teams would be similar to those that searched
through the rubble of the World Trade Center after the twin towers collapsed.

The advisory panel also is supporting 10 proposals before the state legislature that would close records that are now open for public scrutiny and [b]strengthen law enforcement's hand in monitoring Florida
residents suspected of being involved in terror activities.[/b]

The proposals would block public access to a variety of information, from hospital emergency plans to cell phone and pager numbers of police officers. [b]They also would ease rules on how police can use
wiretaps and other surveillance.[/b]

[b]If that upsets "liberals" -- critics who fear a too-powerful or invasive police state -- "shame on them," Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary told the panel.[/b]

Hood hosted the meeting in the city's new $11.3 million emergency command center on Andes Avenue near Orlando Executive Airport.

(continued)

All the experts Thursday stressed that the next phase of Florida's anti-terror campaign will take place inside cities and towns. Training workers to deal with bomb threats, biological and chemical attacks will
be as crucial as keeping the public informed of threats they face.

"You could not give the public too much information," said Craig Fugate, director of the state's Division of Emergency Management.

Moore ordered the meeting closed to the public at one point while two Israeli terrorism experts shared a global view on terror threats. Moore contended that the presentation, by former Israeli Brigadier Gen.
Doron Tamir and security expert Amos Golon, was exempt from Florida's open-meetings law because it contained sensitive intelligence matters.

The general counsel for Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth would not comment on the situation but said some intelligence meetings can be closed to the public, but only when specific local defense
plans or threats are being discussed. "It's a rather broad exemption," Pat Gleason said. "But there are, of course, parameters."

After the closed portion of the meeting, Hood said the presentation addressed only international terrorist issues, not specific local threats or plans.

Your posts make my head hurt.

What is that Sheriff smoking?  He is calling people, who believe in Constitutional rights, liberals!  I guess I'm a liberal then.z

I guess I'm liberal too then.  There's too much of a knee-jerk reaction going on here.  I hate to say it, but the American public is way too emotional.  We get attacked and suddenly everybody is ready to have their civil liberties trampled on if it will give them a false sense of security.  

OW!  I now have whiplash - cause by the sudden change of my position from conservative to liberal... who do I sue?!

Yup, and all this time I thought I was a charter member of the vast-right-wing-conspiracy...  now where did I put that card...