Simulated Terrorist attack will test Nogales defenses.
SUSAN CARROLL The Arizona Republic
NOGALES - The Department of Homeland Security and the Mexican government plan to simulate a large-scale terrorist attack next month at the Nogales port of entry, the most extensive test ever at the Arizona border. The Nov. 16 exercise is designed to find weaknesses in federal, state and local responses to a major attack with weapons of mass destruction at the border, said Cam Hunter, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Homeland Security.
"A lot of these terrorism plans are new," Hunter said. "We can't learn what weak areas might exist without something like this."
Organizers expect about 500 participants from 60 agencies on both sides of the border for the event at Nogales' Mariposa port of entry, Arizona's busiest commercial gateway into the United States. Invitees include Tom Ridge, U.S. secretary for homeland security; his Mexican counterpart, Santiago Creel; Gov. Janet Napolitano and Sonora Gov. Eduardo Bours.
In the simulation, a chemical agent stolen in Mexico will be driven into the port of entry in a truck, then detonated. The exercise will involve a response to "mass casualties" and the spread of a biochemical agent, said Frank Navarette, director for the state Office of Homeland Security.
The capabilities of local, state and federal law enforcement will be tested. The drill also will measure the capabilities of emergency management, fire and hospital personnel to deal with a large-scale terrorist attack, he added.
The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection will monitor the exercise and simultaneously conduct an internal drill in response to the perceived attack, said Roger Maier, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman.
"You can have systems in place, but it helps to understand if there are areas that need improvement, communication breakdowns," Maier said.
"This is going to be, up to now, one of the major tests of what we've learned and what we've put together," said Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada. "It's going to be a full-blown exercise, with fireworks and everything else."
This charade is really to prop up our stupid Arizona Senator Kyl's and Bush administration's contention that we can expect a lot of terrorists to enter the US by trudging through a waterless Arizona desert in 110 degree weather. UH-HUH!
