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"I can't be more specific as to the threats of attacks. We have received information that indicates there is an interest."

Maritime security has been a back-burner thing with DHS since the kickoff. The main thing was to get the airports secure once again.

Think of it this way: How many business commuters travel by container ship? Or by river barge and tug? The vast volume of human passengers travel by commercial air, and with the assets in place post-9/11, that was the high-payoff action to take.

Now that the commercial skies are more secure (not a 100% solution, but deterrence goes a long way), more assets can be tasked, and greater emphasis paid, to maritime security. Assets in place will be augmented first, therefore, before new things get tried.

UPSHOT: Now we're getting more rumblings about the ports and the ships. It's because there's more notice. And the enemy watches the increase in activity, too. They're seeing greater awareness and vigilance, so some targets might get bypassed as being too solid to take.

It's a massive chess-game, Folks. And we have a few Grand Masters on our side, too.

I would count you as one of the grand masters, you old Cold Warrior.

Sarge: stupid question, but maybe it can shed some light on something.

I see the current environment and the threat matrix evolving, and the question that it screams is this:

1) Is there any talk, plans, or possibilities of reviving the old Civil Defense network or something similar, yet updated? ( Believe me, it is very needed. Look at the thread. Most of the Cold War coporate knowledge has been lost on the last 13-14 years. DHS tells us to buy saran wrap and duct tape. Why dont they look at intensive programs instead of feel good programs like USA Freedom Corps?

2) With a declared low intensity guerilla war on our doorstep, why dont we examine some type of program to share skills that may be relevant to this war, but lost over the years to bring to bear on this issue? The similarities with the Cold War are very intriguing.

3) If we dont have enough Federal troops, why dont we revive State Defense Forces to stand border guard and take some of the strain and deployment stress off the NG, Reserves, and AD troops? A few million dollars would fund this program, and it would work.

I know you are just a cog in the wheel, but thanks for listening.