From the Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot, on the Secretary's visit to Portsmouth, VA, yesterday:
When the boss is in town, you had better put on a good show.
By all accounts, the Coast Guard didn't disappoint Monday morning, when its members performed an anti-terrorism exercise for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
The secretary boarded the cutter Frank Drew around 10 a.m. Soon after, the ship began making its way up the Elizabeth River under escort.
As it passed the shipping terminal, three 25-foot response boats swarmed up the water behind it. With one boat providing cover at the cutter's stern, Maritime Security Response Team members in the other boats clambered up the cutter's side toward the bridge.
A few minutes later, in the exercise's second phase, an MH-60J helicopter swooped in low behind the cutter and hooked a sharp left turn over its stern. A line dropped and, within 20 seconds, six team members had "fast roped" to the deck and proceeded to make their way across the ship.
And check out this report from WAVY-10 TV. They have some great video from the demonstration.
From the Associated Press, on increased cooperation between Mexico and the U.S. on curbing arms trafficking:
Mexico and the United States have agreed on a protocol for sharing information in arms trafficking cases.
Top officials of both countries say the guidelines are aimed at helping them bring more cases against weapons traffickers.
Mexican Attorney General Eduardo Medina-Mora made the announcement Monday at a joint news conference with John T. Morton, the assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Mexican authorities say much of the country's drug cartel violence is fueled by weapons smuggled in from the United States.
Public Events
9 AM PDT
DHS Chief Veterinarian Thomas McGinn III, DVM, will
participate in a panel discussion about public health and animal
health at the 2009 American Veterinary Medical Association
Annual Convention
Washington State Convention & Trade Center
800 Convention Place
Seattle, Wash.
9:30 AM MDT
DHS Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special
Representative for Border Affairs Alan Bersin will participate in a
media availability
Nogales Border Patrol Station
1500 West La Quinta
Nogales, Ariz.