Open Source Homeland

There are more bird strikes reported because more people are reporting bird strikes accurately. We have to tell the truth to each other before data can make any sense.

Why the increase in bird-strike reports?

Airports and airlines have become more diligent about reporting, said Mike Beiger, national coordinator for the airport wildlife hazards program at the Agriculture Department. But experts also say populations of large birds like Canada geese that can knock out engines on passenger jets have increased.

Bird-Plane Collisions Near Record 10,000 - CBS News.

Interesting unclassified reports below…

The review of our security and intelligence systems following the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day has been completed. The President spoke two days ago about “the urgency of getting this right,” and the identification of failures in this review, along with the immediate ordering of reforms and corrective steps both today and in the days since this incident, are a recognition of that urgency. This review is also a recognition that while there is no place for partisanship and the old Washington blame game in dealing with Al Qaeda and the threat they represent, keeping American safe depends on honest and direct accountability.

• Read the summary of the security review (pdf).
• Read the President’s Directive on corrective actions (pdf).

Release of the Security Review Conducted After the Failed Christmas Terrorist Attack | The White House.

At airports around the country nearly two weeks after a thwarted terrorism attempt on a flight to Detroit, dozens of travelers told of remarkably different experiences with security measures. For domestic flights, many noticed little new, aside from more police dogs in terminals and, in some instances, random pat-downs and bag checks.

New Routine for Airports - Contradictions, Delays - NYTimes.com.

Last night I watched the movie United 93. A crushing, horrible, beautiful film about people cooperating and trying to be safe. About people using the communication tools in front of them— seat-back phones, cell phones, cockpit alert systems— best they could. In the course of the 2 hours that it took for the whole thing to happen, technology failed them and technology was their best ally.

I remembered why I care about this stuff— about using simple technology to make things better. The government can’t do everything for us. The FAA and the military and the executive branch— they are full of competent, courageous, loving people who were of limited use. They couldn’t even get a hold of the President for a shoot down order. They were watching CNN for their information.

I say “that’s OK”. I would never rail against the deficiencies of these systems or the limitations of these people. We just have to open the circle, just like the passengers of United 93 did. Open wider the circle of those who are of use, who can be effective, who can kill terrorists with their bare hands and devise plans to try to stay alive.

We can do more. Let’s do more.