By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton is calling on federal and state authorities to provide greater protection from shoulder fired missile attacks on airplanes.
Last week's attempted terrorist missile attack on an Israeli airliner over Kenya was a close call. And, according to Senator Clinton, it should also be a wake up call.
Senator Clinton has sent letters expressing her concerns to both Secretary designate of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Governor George Pataki. She is asking for a coordinated defense from a combination of federal and state agencies. The senator says America needs a strategic plan to deal with the very real, ubiquitous threat of shoulder fired missiles.
Senator Clinton says citizens can also play an important role in deterring the terrorist threat.
These, and other interim measures, are necessary she adds because technological defenses may be a long way off. It's estimated that it would cost several millions dollars per plane to outfit American commercial airliners with anti-missile devices. Senator Clinton says no defense is 100 percent guaranteed. But she steps must be taken now to try to prevent another tragedy on home soil.
Working with airline security agencies in other countries is also essential to protecting American passengers.