The emperor has no clothes
Jun 23, 2008 | 5:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Posts: 1,865
The emperor has no clothes
And finally someone has said so.
I know this article is talking about ships but the comparison with airports and planes is too close for comfort. Now maybe all of these plans that are at best inchoate or more likely otiose can be revealed for what they are, absolute farce. And a total waste of money.
National terror warning system 'useless'
The first global study into the effectiveness of mandatory anti-terror systems installed on merchant ships in the wake of the September 11, 2001, US terror attacks has concluded that they are "a complete waste of resources".
All international merchant ships, including 63 operating under the Australian flag, have been required by the International Maritime Organisation since 2004 to carry Ship Security Alert Systems to alert authorities in case of terrorist attack.
The first global study into the effectiveness of mandatory anti-terror systems installed on merchant ships in the wake of the September 11, 2001, US terror attacks has concluded that they are "a complete waste of resources".
All international merchant ships, including 63 operating under the Australian flag, have been required by the International Maritime Organisation since 2004 to carry Ship Security Alert Systems to alert authorities in case of terrorist attack.
A comprehensive study by Singapore's Rajaratnam School of International Studies found the system bordered on farcical and was utterly ineffective in stopping the use of merchant ships for acts of terrorism.
The report's author, Thomas Timlen, told The Australian: "They are useless if activated to prevent an attack on a ship in the control of terrorists about to launch an attack in or near a heavily populated coastal city."
The study found that when a merchant ship triggered the alarm there was either no response from authorities or such a delayed response as to render the warning useless.
This was blamed on false alarms and the requirement to pass the alert between at least three authorities in different parts of the world before action could be taken.
The report's author, Thomas Timlen, told The Australian: "They are useless if activated to prevent an attack on a ship in the control of terrorists about to launch an attack in or near a heavily populated coastal city."
The study found that when a merchant ship triggered the alarm there was either no response from authorities or such a delayed response as to render the warning useless.
This was blamed on false alarms and the requirement to pass the alert between at least three authorities in different parts of the world before action could be taken.
