Access Control
& Security Systems

The following are excerpted remarks of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge to the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

"Civilization itself is under attack. That fact was brutally brought home when one of your own, Daniel Pearl, was killed in barbaric fashion, simply for doing his job representing a free press and a free nation. We're in a two-front war against terrorism -- one overseas, and one here at home. But a newspaper can do much more than bring the problems of the world literally to our doorsteps. It can offer solutions -- stir people to action -- and calm a nation's fears. All three are necessary to Homeland security.

"Homeland security encompasses the food we eat and water we drink; the air we breathe; the energy we use; the banking and finance systems that ensure our prosperity; our transportation and public health systems; and the new frontier of cyberspace. The challenge is vast. But we are making real progress.

"Let me directly address what the federal government has done to date. We launched the largest criminal investigation in history. Passed the USA PATRIOT Act to bring federal law into the Information Age. Put hundreds of air marshals on our planes and new federal screeners in our airports. Deployed the National Guard to protect the border. Refocused the mission of the Coast Guard toward defending our coastline. Distributed more than a billion dollars to states' public health systems to build up their bioterror response. Acquired more than a billion doses of antibiotics. Stepped up security at our national monuments and nuclear power plants. Conducted a top-to-bottom security review of our entire energy infrastructure. Created the Homeland Security Advisory System, which has garnered widespread praise from first responders and law enforcement. And led a team of federal, local and state experts to give the world the most secure Olympic Winter Games ever.

"A careful balance needs to be struck. Tough judgment calls have to be made if we are to secure our homeland and preserve our national principles and values. But we will not, as Ben Franklin said, trade away our essential liberty in the process."

This month in Access Control

• Targeting The Customer
• Electronic Pedigrees
• One Hero Among Many
• Who? What? When? Where? Why?
• More from September's issue