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Fact Sheet

Food safety, increased airport security on U.S. agenda

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SUMMARY:

Improved food safety, televised court proceedings, VIP strip searches at airports and a federal fine in the shutdown of a major airport are garnering attention in an age of increased security in the United States.

UPDATE:

The Food and Drug Administration will publish new voluntary guidelines to protect the nation's food supply against intentional contamination by terrorists. The recommendations, which go to food producers, processors, transporters and retailers, include: checking the criminal backgrounds and immigration status of all employees and watching out for employees who stay at work unusually late and try to get access to files. (Full story)

Stricter searches at airports have required a 75-year-old congressman -- U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Michigan -- to drop his pants during a screening and U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta to remove his belt, empty his pockets and take off his jacket, a Transportation Department spokesman said. (Full story)

The Federal Aviation Administration has fined a man $3,300 for a security breach at Atlanta, Georgia's Hartsfield International Airport that temporarily shut it down and disrupted flights all along the Eastern Coast. The FAA found Michael Lasseter, 32, of Gainesville, Georgia, violated security regulations November 16. (Full story)

The only man charged in connection with the September 11 attacks wants live TV coverage of the trial that may show how Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network planned acts of terror. His attorneys contend a TV broadcast ensures a fair trial, but federal prosecutors countered that live television would endanger witnesses, jurors and even marshals guarding the courtroom. (Full story)

Another September 11 hijacker had a run-in with the law in the days before the attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and heavily damaged the Pentagon. Police in Arlington, Virginia, said Tuesday that Hani Hanjour was pulled over for speeding in August. Hanjour was the third hijacker who apparently had been stopped for traffic violations. (Full story)

KEY QUESTIONS:

What is the government currently doing to prevent terrorists from attacking U.S. food supplies? (Click here for more)

Should the federal government issue national security alerts in response to undisclosed, vague threats?


  • Summary

  • Update

  • Key questions

  • Who's who

  • Victims

  • Impact



REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS

  •  Emergency information

  •  Partial list of victims

  •  Victims story archives


Attack on America
 CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT
 CNN NewsPass Video 
Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998
 MORE STORIES
Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects
Report cites warnings before 9/11
 EXTRA INFORMATION
Timeline: Who Knew What and When?
Interactive: Terror Investigation
Terror Warnings System
Most wanted terrorists
What looks suspicious?
In-Depth: America Remembers
In-Depth: Terror on Tape
In-Depth: How prepared is your city?
 RESOURCES
On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands?
On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

Should the federal government issue national security alerts in response to undisclosed, vague threats?

What is the government doing to fortify homeland defense? Click here for more

What are tips to know in the wake of the attacks? Click here for more

WHO'S WHO:

George W. Bush: U.S. president Click here for more.

Laura Bush: First lady of the United States, she has become more visible since the terrorist attacks, making public appearances urging parents and teachers to help reassure children that everything is being done to try to keep them safe. Click here for more

Tom Ridge: Director of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security, a new Cabinet-level position Click here for more

Richard Clarke: Head of efforts to safeguard information systems for the Office of Homeland Security Click here for more

Wayne Downing: Retired Army general tapped as deputy national security adviser Click here for more

Joe Allbaugh:The chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Click here for more

Dr. David Satcher: Surgeon General of the United States

Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan: Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Click here for more

Rudy Giuliani: Former mayor of New York

Michael Bloomberg: Mayor of New York

Anthony A. Williams: Mayor of Washington

Dr. Ivan Walks: Director of the Department of Health for the District of Columbia

Paul O'Neill: Treasury secretary

Norman Y. Mineta:Transportation secretary

Jane Garvey: FAA administrator

VICTIMS:

The latest figures provided by federal and local officials give the following numbers of people dead or missing from the September 11 attacks:

WORLD TRADE CENTER: According to New York officials, the estimated number of dead -- including 157 people on the two hijacked planes -- is 2,893: 622 confirmed dead, 309 missing with no death certificates issued, and 1,962 death certificates issued for victims whose remains have not yet been identified. The initial death estimate was as high as 6,500 people, but the number has fallen for several reasons, including elimination of duplicate reports.

PENTAGON: 64 dead on hijacked plane; another 125 missing and presumed dead

PENNSYLVANIA: 44 confirmed dead on hijacked plane

IMPACT:

The attacks of September 11 have sparked new debate about balancing the protection of U.S. citizens with the protection of the civil rights of those suspected of terrorism.

While the United States is proud of the freedoms and the legal rights guaranteed by the Constitution, authorities and many citizens have argued those people who seek to destroy America do not deserve such protections while they represent an ongoing threat to the country. Others argue that it is those very freedoms which the terrorists seek to curtail, and that to limit individual rights provides them with a victory.

While those arguments continue, so do the threats against U.S. interests. Security remains high at airports, certain industries and many government facilities.



 
 
 
 



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