Energy secretary considers federalized nuclear security

[TacticalPeek]

Energy secretary considers federalized nuclear security

Published Saturday, May 8, 2004

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Department of Energy is considering federalizing security forces at nuclear weapons facilities and plans to remove weapons-usable nuclear materials from some sites to protect against terrorists.

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said yesterday that consolidation of nuclear material to fewer sites is "one of the surest ways" to increase protection of weapons-grade uranium and plutonium from terrorists.

In a speech prepared for security personnel at the Savannah River nuclear site in South Carolina, Abraham said that the possibility of federalizing the guard forces at energy department weapons sites is being seriously discussed. He also said he is considering creating an elite unit to guard high-priority facilities.

snip

Currently private guards protect federal nuclear research laboratory and other facilities that are part of the vast nuclear weapons complex, including facilities holding plutonium and highly enriched uranium used in nuclear warheads.

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http://www.columbiatribune.com/2004/May/20040508News032.asp

[name not needed]

1. Good.

Somehow I think that federal SWAT teams are more qualified than rent-a-cops to guard a nuclear facility.

[TacticalPeek]

2. You think right.

A guy I know in the operator community told me that they have a drill where they test nuclear site security at various sites, civilian and mil. The site defenders are told(!) the 48-72 hr period when they will be hit. The various branches' commando types (SEALS, SF, Recon, etc.) get the training of putting black stuff on your face and sneaking past guards, and the guards get to practice interdicting infiltrators, whatever.

Anyway, for all the time this guy did this, the 'red team' role, they never got caught. Mission accomplished every time. And the scuttlebutt was that for as long as they have been doing this, the 'attackers' have not been stopped once. Not once.

Braggadocio? Perhaps, but for what he said about his own experience, I'd take it to the bank. Lead-lined vault recommended.