Vito Fossella: “On October 6, 2005, New York City was once again the site of a potential terrorist attack, an apparent plot to hide…”

“On October 6, 2005, New York City was once again the site of a potential terrorist attack, an apparent plot to hide bombs in baby strollers, briefcases, and packages and set them off in the city's subways. Unfortunately, New Yorkers who tuned in to the news that day for information received conflicting messages. On one hand, local officials announced that a credible threat was aimed at the city's subway system; on the other hand, Federal officials downplayed the severity of the threat, even describing it as 'specific yet noncredible.' The incident in New York was not isolated. Just weeks later, Federal officials responded to a bomb threat in the I-95 tunnel in the Baltimore Harbor, a threat that local officials learned about from the news media. The information was either credible or not credible, but it certainly wasn't both. I strongly support efforts by antiterrorism forces at the Federal, State, and local levels; but it disturbed me, and I am sure others, to watch the confusion that unfolded in these situations. Where improvement is needed is how different levels of government interact with each other when terrorist threats are elevated. Everyone needs to be on the same page and, when credible threats occur, the public needs to be informed in a coordinated manner. In short, what is needed is a 911 call center for first responders.”