Edwards Explains Bill, Criticizes Past Security

RALEIGH -- Under the metal walls of a helicopter hangar, Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., met with members of the N.C. National Guard just days after the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history.

Edwards fielded questions concerning Tuesday's attack and America's potential response from about 150 members of the National Guard as two military helicopters rested a few feet behind them.

Edwards -- a member of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, which oversees U.S. intelligence gathering agencies -- also talked about a bill that he unveiled in Congress on Friday meant to improve security at seaports and airports. The bill, titled the Airport and Seaport Terrorism Prevention Act, calls for improving airport security training.

"There have been serious questions raised about the quality and education of the people responsible for security," Edwards said. "We also have better technologies that we are simply not using. This legislation will remedy that."

Edwards said he has worked on the legislation for some time but that Tuesday's terrorist attacks forced him to speed up.

He added that while security will be extremely tight at airports and seaports for the next few months, steps need to be taken to beef up security permanently. "All the people involved in our airports and seaports are at a heightened state of alert right now," Edwards said. "But in the last 10 to 15 years we have really let our guard down when it comes to airport security."

But most of the National Guard seemed disinterested in Edward's legislation and instead steered the discussion toward the events of the past week and the impending military conflict.

Several members of the National Guard, dressed in full military fatigues, asked Edwards if he thinks the rest of the world would support America's efforts to fight Osama bin Laden and his forces.

Bin Laden -- who American officials have fingered as the mastermind behind the attacks -- is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, possibly under government protection. President Bush told the military and the American public Saturday to brace for a war against terrorism.

Edwards answered that he believes most of the world understands that any civilized country could be the target of the next terrorist attack. "My belief is that our NATO allies will fully support us," he said. "It is very important for us that we have other nations rally around us."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.