but they can't give it to me. when i work with ceos and other companies on the private side all the ceos and presidents can be in agreement until you get the legal team in. then the minute you guys do something you have all kinds of antitrust issues and more importantly, a different standard of whatever you do that is that out in the standard to regulation or. >> joining us, editor of technology executive briefing. >> thank you. now, you spoke about the need for the result of cooperation being that you are sitting in the standard. he should be in charge of setting the standard? we have seen some debate on that as part of this. >> that is one of the real issues. the u.s. only standard or not? i think if you look at it you

have to be careful to go by what sector. passports and, great job in terms of third-generation is a passports and the next generation in terms of it. let's leave that. as you come to the u.s. you have a plethora of standards, some creative, some that are developed by industries on their own that are defective standards. and the nist has a role to play in helping us to what is a sensible in terms of encryption or protection of data as well as what is the policy procedures behind how you use it. >> of course setting the floor itself is the base of the controversy. >> that is correct. >> do you believe is necessary for the government to establish a baseline? >> i do, i really do. let me tell you why. today if you want to -- one of

the most significant piece of legislation a broad security to the forefront is california 1386. unfortunately we now have 30-plus states with their own legislation and laws in place, but it said if you in a cryptic protected data you had a carrot and stick. if you had done that you did not have to disclose it, you did not have to disclose it, and you're protected from class-action. if you have not you are subject to notification and breach and a fine. it turns out to the class-action. may not be useful to our country or the good guys. the encryption they're using and how you use it and protect it is critically important.

i don't think people want to do the wrong thing. this is the availability to pick up things that you think good but are not. you need to have someone helping and industry understand what that floor is. >> of course we saw some difficulty in terms of compliance standards getting updated with the federal and permission security management act which is also part of the reform proposals from both sides. but the question is then, how do you effectively set the standards come these baselines' in such a dynamic sector where things a changing so quickly, faster than the government? >> i think that is why i go after the minimum because i think minimum has changed a lot. they have no meaning. i know in washington it is very popular to want to create a cyber security organization to oversee this, and i think that's just folly. and the reason i think it's folly is having done this before , energy and great and

nuclear a very different than financial infrastructure and telecom than health in terms of the information, held businesses work, the information trying to be taxed, and the ultimate risk liability in terms of the company, country, and individual. and so i think -- a look at the joint force advisor report. it is a great model. they join forces, you still have army, air force, marines and coast guard, and they all know what they're supposed to do best join forces, sit and coordinate and work across the best people, and some of them back carbon to that. that doesn't mean i asked vhs or nsa to sit and know more about energy and energy who already has the relationships and process these in what are the perris the need to do. think we need to lead to the back, give them money, give them

resources and say take 10 percent and forced between public and private in a meaningful sharing, not just with isp. suppose to be secured. at the end point, it's not about anymore. that is what is getting knocked off. so that is why i get out of the frameworks because you have got to get into the businesses of what is the risk and how you deal with that at that level. >> in your testimony at the hearing today you said, what we face is a threatening cyber environment where warfare is being conducted by foreign governments, international crime rings and common thieves in the u.s. takes everyone working together to defeat this. then you go on to talk about moore's law. and we have been talking about standards and procedures. are we outdated as soon as we

formed the standards? >> stand is by definition always going to be lagging because someone is going to take it vantages on the good or bad. in that building does the issue. you still need standards demanded still need a floor to say this is how you operate. i think the differences, if you allow people to innovate and people like us to grow and take off some of the shackles and share meaningful content, not just here in the u.s., we have five intelligence groups around the world that coordinate. you look today. they share some stuff publicly with the companies. they share other stuff not publicly, and they shared across borders with other people around the world. the way they did with air, land, and see.

the next battlefront is where we have got to take some of the lessons and replied to a digital age instead of the brick and mortar, bullets and missiles. >> at today's hearing, the hearing they were just testifying at, what level of interest would you say members of congress have in this issue and low level of comprehension? >> that's a great question. the 11 years of dealing with this subject and being one of the first ones. i saw today actually after, the morning after, the joint session , and they spoke on cyber and the need to start to look at that as a piece. indelicate that today. gasol talking. we have made great strides in progress. this is something that will be

done with once and we have done. more like quality. if you looking at the last few years and the amount of time i spent personally not for profit on this subject, trying to get a lexicon, just like they do with politics. so i think that lexicon in governance and in companies and in government is better than has ever been. on the corollary country states and criminal intent, organized-crime people also understand that they can make money in that ambiguity. that is the case thereat in terms of understanding. when people say the costs of security is too grave, that is the quality. what is the cost? is a really the cost to do it once and to keep it up jack is the total cost, people starting with quality, it's a process.

the true cost to understand it. let's not do it. the quality in the bully pulpit. they finally got the lexicon. got, it is actually cheaper than the total cost in terms of that. several security in all this have to the learn this is good for us. it can be a difference here. the total cost, for those as an individual, small business or company, they quickly understand the cost. as you heard today, from the question of congressman rogers, this companies, even insecurity, out of business today because they were breached. that is the message that we have to focus on. what can we do and take that and hopefully. >> we have time for one more question gautham nagesh. >> the test upon one of the

roots of this debate which is that industry, critical infrastructure providers are really saying that it costs them too much to implement the latest technology or to take several precautions. have you as a security expert evaluate the argument given, as you said, the potential for catastrophic damage? >> had to define cost. economists will find -- the fine and one white. the up-front cost to fix everything. it i would offer a lot of what they're spending today that is not even relevant. they could cut their costs and be more relevant and use some of the latest technologies that could be used to protect the upper structures. >> in their view long-term versus short-term. >> we have been talking with bill connor, president and ceo of entrust. thank you for coming to the communicator's studio. gautham nagesh, you as well.

this program as well as the hearing that we have been discussing is available to watch online at c-span.org. the hearing was held on february february 8 to c-span, and you can search it in our video library there. >> we will be going live now to coverage of the american israel public affairs committee annual conference happening here and washington d.c. some of the speakers tonight, house democratic leader nancy pelosi and israeli prime master benjamin netanyahu. in a few minutes we will be hearing from the senate republican leader mitch mcconnell who says that he will be giving a major policy address tonight. live coverage of the american israel public affairs committee here on c-span2. >> in their arms spaced as american hero, thank you and god bless.

♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome former aipac president, tim will year. ♪ >> for 27 years we have been able to account senator mitch mcconnell as one of the great friends of israel and aipac. [applause] at a time when partisan divisions are plainly evident on other issues the senate republican leader has been a force for ensuring that support for israel is bipartisan and

unwavering. [applause] the senator recently played an instrumental role to blast the -- pass crippling sanctions against the central bank of ron. [applause] has a co-sponsor of the last two pieces of major around sanctions legislation senator mcconnell has continued to put the weight of his behind was to escalate the pressure on iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program. whether the issue is a ron or assuring that israel can defend itself from a variety of threats or opposing palestinian efforts to seek statehood without direct negotiations with israel, senator mcconnell lead has been

steadfast and long-term. please welcome back to aipac, our friend, the senate republican leader, mitch mcconnell. [applause] ♪ >> thank you very much. the very kind introduction. all of you for having me here tonight. i am delighted to be here to affirm the strong and indeed unbreakable bond that exists

within the united states and israel. [applause] also to express my own personal commitment to promotion and offensive that bond and out of season. these are the sentiments of afford to share with prime minister netanyahu tomorrow as well. before i get to the substance of my remarks i would like to acknowledge a few people here in the audience. one of the best friends i ever had was the late great public mitchell. [applause] of and i saw eye to eye on just about everything. we shared a deep love a public service, college football, and their families. i'm glad to see that his wife and three daughters and their husbands are here carrying on the family tradition.

[applause] made a lot of good friends over the years. i also want to just mention norm brownstein. great friends over the years. [applause] recognize aipac president and the immediate past president and current chairman, lee rosenberg and, of course, of course, howard corporation -- howard kohr. [applause] thank-you for this service, for your service to this vital organization which has helped me and my staff immensely over the years. finally, i want to acknowledge all the kentucky is who are here . we may not have a large jewish population, but i would like to think we make up for in hard. [applause] in fact, one aipac supporter

that the work could years ago in louisville some of the attitude of most u.s. kentucky is pretty well, i think. here is what he said. he said permits, there is only one race that is better than the jews, and that is the kentucky derby. in addition to the strategic interest that binds us, we were born and conflict and built by immigrants and pioneers, and both have always been firmly committed to democratic ideals that have enabled the people to flourish. because of these things israel has always enjoyed strong bipartisan support here in washington. but we support israel does not necessarily in short. that is what i wanted to come here tonight to share not just my good wishes but to offer a concrete plan that would put our

shared interest to the test. because, let's face it, in the four years since i last spoke at this conference very little, if anything has changed in terms of america's stated commitment with respect to israel. and i think we all have to admit that when it comes to the threat of a nuclear arms around we have now reached a point where the current administration's policies, however well-intentioned, simply aren't enough. [applause] four years later, four years after i spoke to this group the actions of iran and several other facts suggest that it has made today in progress in its quest to develop the capability to build a nuclear weapon. so let's review.

iran has now believed to have produced at least five years' worth of media interest uranium for its medical reactors. according to the experts such quantities raised serious suspicions about the military intends to. in the fall of two dozen 90 u.s. -- the uk and france presented detailed evidence to the international atomic energy agency that iran had for several years been busy building a covert enrichment facility near. the implication of the report was clear. not only does iran have the ability to conceal in richmond from the iaea and the rest of the world, but also the and sent since i last spoke to this conference iran has also rejected an offer by the five permanent members of the un security council in germany,

that -- plus one, to peace changed its stockpile of low-interest uranium to be processed and returned in sufficient quantity for medical use. further, the iaea report of november 2011 raised serious concerns about the military dimensions of the nuclear problem -- program stating that iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device. and iran recently denied the iaea access to the facility where it may have conducted a test in association with nuclear materials. once more, it refuses to explain the purposes of its activities. finally, and perhaps the most ominously, iran has a knowledge

and the iaea has confirmed that it is enriching uranium at the underground facility, enabling it to accelerate in richmond in an apparent attempt to shield it from a military strike. taken together, taking all of these things together, these things present not only a compelling case, but also wrathfully against the current administration's efforts to halt the regime's nuclear weapons program. [applause] for years after expressing grave concerns about the iranian threat i regret to conclude that those concerns have only become more acute. now, some people might raise the question at this point why exactly is a nuclear-armed iran

so dangerous? my answer to them is this. if iran behaves the way it does without a nuclear weapon, then how would it be eighth with one? [applause] so let's leave aside for a moment the way it has treated weapons inspectors and the u.n. and just look at the rest of its record, the rest of its record. first, iran is this a spoor terrorism which pros to hezbollh and hamas. it is an about ally of syria which continues to provide it with material support even now. it recently attempted to assassinate the saudi ambassador to the united states right here in the u.s. for a really flouting u.s. and international law.

it has provided weapons and training to militia with then iraq and shipped weapons from inside iran that were later used against u.s. military personnel. it recently threatened to close the strait of hormuz. it continues to develop ballistic missiles, raising legitimate suspicions about the intended use of these missiles as vehicles for nuclear weapon. and it provides sanctuary for financial backers of al qaeda. now, ladies and gentleman, these are not the actions of the state that is comfortable with this place in the world. they are the actions of a self-described revolutionary state that is determined to shift the balance of power in the middle east. a nuclear-armed iran would pose

a threat to israel, saudi arabia, jordan, the united arab emirates, and bahrain. it would threaten sea lines of communication and commerce, and it would be further emboldened in its support for terrorist groups and arms proliferators as president obama conceded before yesterday. make no mistake, make no mistake , iran has a goal in mind , one that it has pushed for years through terrorism, covert actions, and i believe, through the active pursuit of a nuclear weapons program that would only bring its broader goals within closer reach. as the great dearest of international relations once put it, the principal means by which a nation endeavors with the power at its disposal to maintain or reestablish the balance of power, armaments.

this is what we are witnessing in iran. it must be stopped. [applause] now, in the weeks and months ahead israel and the united states face a day of reckoning. we either do what it takes to preserve the balance of power within the broader middle east or risk a nuclear arms race across the region that is almost certain to appended. now, president obama knows all this as well as i do. that is why he has said repeatedly and as recently as yesterday that he is determined to prevent a nuclear iran, and i appreciate this affirmation of our common goal. [applause] it is in the service of this

goal that the president has also insisted since taking office that all options are on the table. the question, however, is not whether we have the same goal. we do have the same goal. the question is why the administration's efforts have not succeeded in halting the iranian nuclear weapon program. that is the question. [applause] so let me suggest an answer to the question. the reason the administration has succeeded in halting the iran nuclear program is that its policy contains a critical flaw. here is the problem. do you recall that upon taking office president obama took several steps to pursue negotiations with around -- iran the famous and suggested that if countries are willing to a unclench the fest there will

find an extended hand from us. he recorded the message to the iranian people. he also reportedly wrote a letter to the iranian supreme leader in fighting and to talk without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. this was the engagement phase. it was during this phase that the president presented iran with two deadlines by which they could demonstrate progress, one september 202,009 and 1 december of 2009. instead of using this to demonstrate progress, continues to to continue enriching uranium and to divide the international community. one of the former advisers who have to admit that the air restoration had in his words

discounted the extent of which the iranian theocracy use engagement with the u.s. as a threat to its be ideological identity. meanwhile, congress was growing impatient. that is why, as the administration was trying and failing to negotiate a weight the iranian nuclear program, members of both parties in the house and senate came together and began to put in place a sanctions strategy directed the iranian petroleum sector. many in this room strongly support this effort and made it quite clear that you did, despite the demonstrations reluctance to embrace it. but at congress's urging endures the president did reluctantly signed a comprehensive iran sanctions accountability and divested act into law on july the first 2010.

[applause] make no mistake with this legislation, with this legislation congress and the president a tool that he did not see, a tool he did not ask for. last year i worked to strengthen the sanctions with an amendment to the defense authorization act which sanctioned foreign banks for doing business with the central bank of iran. this amendment became the basis for negotiation with the obama administration on how best to sanction iran without causing a shock to global oil markets. senator mark kirk who is unfortunately not able to be with us tonight -- [applause] not able to be with us tonight that they flee is recovering well was the primary author of this legislation. ..

through its welcome decision to seize iranian purchases starting in july which is a step in the right direction. and the oil purchases starting in july which is a step in the

right direction. now the administration has attempted to rely on this ambiguity of its military policy by claiming at every stage that it continues to keep all options on the table. we've seen a talking point will not detour iran. [applause] look, what is needed when it comes to iran is the one thing the administration hasn't yet provided and that is a clear declaratory policy that states what we will do and why. here's the administration's mistake. here's the administration's mistake in attempting to preserve all options it has inadvertently blurred the most important one, and that is a determined military campaign to end iran's nuclear program.

[applause] the administration has used the same language about preserving of options and to the lifting its policy toward libya, iran, and nasiriyah. clearly the threats have lost its intended purpose and the markers of this administration has identified whether they be a program to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels or decision to construct a weapon are only true leader ret lane six crossing them brings about

painful consequences. another way to put it, another way to put it is that the administration's mistake has been to pursue negotiations and sanctions consecutive league rather than simultaneously. without articulating a clear military consequence for crossing those red lines. but in my view the only way that the regime can be expected to negotiate to preserve its own survival rather than simply delay as a means of pursuing the nuclear weapons is if the administration imposes the strict sanctions while at the same time enforcing a firmer declaratory policy that reflects a commitment to the use of force. [applause]

this is so crucial a step that tonight i am prepared to propose such a policy, that is a policy which has the clarity and the specificity that the situation demands, and that policy is this, this is the policy i recommend, if iran at any time begins to enrich the uranium to weapons grade fulfills or decides to go forward with a weapon program, and the united states will use overwhelming force to end that program. [applause]

in my judgment there is broad bipartisan support for the administration's stated goal with respect to iran and a strong declared free policy like this can be expected to have the support of strong majorities of both parties in congress support the american people. all that's been lacking until now is a clear declaratory policy. the devastation as reluctant for some reason to articulate that congress will attempt to do it for them. [applause]

so, tonight i make the following commitment in support of the policy of your proposed and it is this if at any time the intelligence committee present to congress an assessment that iran has begun to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels or has taken a decision to develop a nuclear weapon consistent with protecting classified sources and methods i will consult with the president and joint congressional leadership and introduce before the senate in authorization for the use of military force. [applause]

this authorization if enacted will ensure the nation and the world that our leaders are united in confronting iran and will undermine the perception that the u.s. is wounded were retreating from global responsibilities. [applause] with the authority is it just will to ensure the people of iran and the international community that our disagreement is not with the population of iran or for that matter with the muslim world. the authorization will not prevent the administration from pursuing diplomatic measures, continued negotiations and consultations with our allies. on the contrary, it will strengthen come it will strengthen those efforts.

this authorization will make clear that any effort by iran or its proxy forces to retaliate against the interest of the united states whether the personnel become a basis or freedom of the seas will be met by overwhelming force. [applause] for the u.s. this debate and passage of an authorization for the use of military force insurers that we have a coherent, unified policy towards iran and that we not take on another military action without bipartisan support. [applause] a decision to take military action against iran should not be taken lightly.

it should have the broad bipartisan support of congress. for israel and it ensures iran will never enter into a zone of immunity from which it can co worse and intimidate other countries. [applause] for the broad least it ensures that iran will not be a regional hegemon free to export its revolution either by terror or propaganda especially into the country's unrest and political turmoil after the arab spurring. it isn't a clear national the interest of the united states to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons across the middle east to end iran's support of terror and the shipment of arms to hezbollah and to protect the freedom of the season and the persian gulf and the indian ocean. we share these interests with

israel. we have exactly the same interests. [applause] so we must face the threats of those together. four years ago marking the 60th anniversary of israel and noted while the bond between the u.s. and israel had gotten strong over the decades it wasn't until the event of my knowledge and that most americans fully appreciated the sacrifices that israel has made to preserve gradual peace. [applause] but as strong as they have become, we cannot allow past or even current expressions of mutual respect and good will to obscure the urgency of the threat. rather, we must build on that history of shared interest and shared respect to overcome the full policy and develop the

right one that the current situation demands. congress has played that role in the past. current events compel us to do so again, and we will not shrink from that duty. [applause] israel's security is not negotiable. [applause] we can't shrink from affirming that to the rest of the world, and we certainly can't shrink from telling a sitting president

how we think it is best achieved. after all we share a common goal. and we will only achieve that goal as long as we work together. in all candor and a mutual respect. and once we have, and this current threat has passed we will celebrate many more anniversaries. and an even stronger bond of friendship yet. thank you, ladies and gentlemen. ♪ ♪

ladies and gentlemen, please welcome her former aipac president, amy friedkin. ♪ throughout her distinguished career in congress, house democratic leader nancy pelosi has been relentless in her efforts to strengthen the u.s. israel relationship. she has led congressional delegations to the jewish state. she was among the first calling for dramatic sanctions to stop iran's nuclear weapons program.

and she has made sure that israel and receives the security and assistance it needs to remain safe and strong in the face of growing and unpredictable threats. she has demonstrated incredible dedication and leadership on so many pro-israel issues, but it was her commitment to one in particular that i want to speak about this evening. for nearly five years, leader pelosi traveled the world with a set of dog tags that belonged to the illad shalit. both served as a reminder of the sacrifice that so many americans and israelis have made in the

pursuit of the shared values that unite the two nations. nancy pelosi was the leading voice in congress, calling for and working towards his release. i want to take this opportunity to personally and publicly thanked her for all that she did to remind the world about the state. [applause] and take a moment of course to share the joy over his release and return home this past october. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the house democratic leader, nancy pelosi. ♪

>> good evening. thank you, amy friedkin for your generous introduction commit your friendship and your ongoing leadership. now and as a president of aipac. tonight is a true honor to be here with the leader of the jewish state of israel, prime minister benjamin netanyahu. [applause] i will never forget the great honor of visiting the prime minister in his office last may when he took great pride in showing us an ancient seal and

artifacts dating back 2700 years found in the recent evaluations near their of western wall it was inscribed with the name had netanyahu in hebrew, a direct connection to the history of the jewish people. [applause] yesterday you honored the extraordinary career as a true visionary, a legend of history and a founder of the jewish state president paris. [applause] fi join you in celebrating his life. he helped establish the state of israel which many of us consider the greatest political achievement of the 20th century. [applause] he has dedicated his life to a cause of peace ever since that

continues to this day as the president of israel. the united states, israel, and the entire world is better off for the leadership of president. [applause] they all congratulate the president peres that the president obama will honor him with a presidential medal of freedom, our highest honor. i thank eni for mentioning it but aren't we glad this year as we come together he is home with his family. [applause] but we must never forget all of the missing and captured israeli

soldiers. i am pleased to be here with senator mitch mcconnell the republican leader of the senate here tonight reaffirmed our support for israel is bipartisan, even if we don't speak with the same voice tonight. congratulations to aipac's leadership, the new president, the chairman rosenberg, executive director howard cord and all of the leaders of aipac for organizing another outstanding policy conference. [applause] more than 13,000 strong this year all of the delegates in the community act this year are effective voices on behalf of a strong u.s. israel relationship. let us all recognize the future leaders of the nation and of our u.s. israel relationships, our

students who are here tonight. [applause] of course i especially want to honor my delegation for my own state of california. [applause] thank you, aipac, for your support of the foreign minister. your efforts to offer them a support for israel. anyone that cares about the alleviation of poverty, the eradication of hunger and disease owes you a debt of gratitude for your strong advocacy of foreign aide. thank you. the last time i spoke to the plenary session, i spoke to you about my jewish grandchildren. i had one more since then. tonight i want to talk about another member of my family. more than 70 years ago the

congressman invited here from maryland i think i hear howard and david. from baltimore took the floor of the house to call on his colleagues and allies to ensure they seek is security and the future of the jewish community in europe. leader of the height of the holocaust, he declared that the land then known as palestine must be kept open as a haven to the jewish people. and once world war ii ended and before the system will shred of israel, he noted that the jewish community can find no peace in places they once called home. it's not yet. the congressman was my father, he was early to stand strong for people persecuted for who they are. [applause] he was to stand firm for the

cause of the jewish state. his calls of conscious and principal were part of a lifetime commitment to the people of what will become israel. a commitment he passed down to his children. my brother, another former mayor of baltimore, thomas iii has a sports stadium named after him in recognition of his own unwavering support for the jewish state. [applause] this same commitment is one of a share today for our family israel has always been a special place. for america israel has always stood as a beacon of hope, a partner in democracy and an ally in the fight for security. from the founding to the present day, our pledge remains the same. israel and america are friends

and partners now and forever. [applause] our bonds of friendship are founded on the theme of this year's policy conference, shared values come shared vision. our shared commitment to security and desire for peace, the drive to perfect the world in the pursuit of justice and the common good, the belief in democracy and embracing the right to free expression and press and respecting the rights of women. [applause] the more than six decades this has been the foundation of our unwavering promise, the united states, israel relationship is unbreakable, the united states commitment to israel security is unshakable. [applause]

if our friendship for ruda only in shared a values and vision and shared a vision, it could be said that would have been enough. but our friendship goes far deeper. it's a friend should not just of words but of deeds and the of congress those have meant tangible results for israeli security. our actions rest on a strong pledge, mutually beneficial aid to israel must and will remain a top priority for the united states congress. [applause] that is why we acted then under democratic leadership to codify our country's memorandum of understanding. until then it was a memorandum of understanding we made it the law.

until then, you could say we were speaking loudly and carrying a small stick. but what they called a fighting memorandum of understanding, we needed the law to invest $30 billion in over ten years. [applause] that is why we will continue to expand on our work to restore, preserve and strengthen israel military edge with record of levels of age and investment in the iron dome and the missile defense system. we will build on what america and the defense leaders have hill as an era of unprecedented cooperation and intelligence sharing and military exercise. in the time of regional instability and uncertainty among israeli neighbors, we will

always to stand strong for the israeli security. [applause] today the u.s. and israel agreed there is no more pressing threat to the israeli security and regional security van the threat of iran's nuclear weapons program. but even without the strategic partnership in the u.s. and israel iran with nuclear weapon would be an urgent threat to global security and to the security of the united states of america. [applause] the pursuit of the world free of nuclear weapons is a key pillar in u.s. foreign policy. it is in the interest of american security. it has been the policy of democratic and republican presidents alike. it is a critical part of building a safe world for our families and the next generation

we must say to all of our partners around the world we are measuring our relationship with you on your commitment to join us in presenting iran from developing a nuclear weapon capability. [applause] that is what is called a top, and that is exactly what the obama administration is doing and much more. the president and obama have acted on this commitment turning our promises to action and crippling sanctions against the iranian regime. thank you to aipac for your leadership and your support and your efficacy. german berman be enacted

legislation ever passed by congress. the companies that sell iran's technology services know-how and materials for its energy sector. we offered foreign banks a choice. they can deal with institutions that support weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, or they can do business with the united states, but they can't do both. [applause] in december this time under the republican leadership we build on those measures targeting the central bank of iran and further isolating the regime from the economy. the united states is leading the charge of our allies and at the u.n.. in recent weeks under pressure from president obama and his administration, the iranian bank has been put on a path to

expulsion which is an international network used to transfer money. this action would cut off one of iran's only avenues left to conduct business in the global economy. [applause] the industry are suffering. iran's partners are cutting off their ties with commerce and the funding of iran's nuclear activity. in short, iran is feeling the light of our sanctions, our actions reaffirm our message. it is time for iran to suspend the uranium enrichment, return to the table and abandon its reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons. [applause] but the president was very clear on sunday as he said in this room iran is leadership understands i do not have a

policy of containment, have a policy to prevent iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. [applause] our support for israeli security will remain a paramount concern of priority for the united states. and because of its own history, character and strength. the story is one of courage and bravery and perseverance of pioneers who made a desert bloom and halt a democracy flourish. last year on the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of the state of israel, i repeat one of the greatest political achievements of the 20th century our bipartisan delegation witnessed the extraordinary transition from israel's day of remembrance to its day of

independence from the loss of life to victory, from sadness to joy, from mourning to celebration. then we remembered the victims of terror, the sons and daughters who went to war and never came home. we pray always for the day that israeli children, all of the children could ask my father hopes find peace in a place they call home. we were reminded the jewish people remain a symbol of democracy that we must continue to fight for the day when the existence is a fact recognized by every face on the earth. [applause]

and we found it found on our shared values and shared vision we pledge to work to usher in an era when israel can reel line in the spirit of its international anthem the hope to be a free people living in peace and security in the jewish homeland. thank you come aipac, for inviting me to join you tonight and advancing the cause of a thriving u.s. israeli relationship. together our work will continue. our alliance will grow deeper. the friendship that the united states and israel will stand strong now and forever. may god bless israel and may god bless the united states of america thank you all. ♪

♪ >> it was the fifth of october, 73, we had a surprise. all i knew was that we needed assistance because we started to waste ammunition, we started to

lose their plans. the ambassador called me up to his office and it was close to midnight and he said to me put a tie on yourself for the president. it was the first time in my whole life in the office of any president, not just the president of the united states of america, it was the president of the word and i looked at him and i said mr. president, this morning i was driving down to the pentagon, and all of a sudden i don't see my way because i had tears in my eyes

thinking what's going on, who rely representing in this country? everything goes so bad it's close to a disaster. we need your assistance and i am not asking you to send any manpower, any soldiers come any brave people to assist us, and asking for aluminum, steel, all the things which can support my people to fight. it was quiet in the room, nobody open his mouth. thank you, mr. president. and they discussed it on the site of the table and they

looked in the eyes of the secretary of defense schlesinger and they could read his eyes that it's going to be okay. i didn't get it in writing but i got it deep in my heart, and i know what i said inside me at that time, god bless america, but out loud i said thank you, america, and the same to them again. thank you, america. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome brigadier general. ♪

>> thank you. 38 years ago, my country was on the verge of disaster. from the north, from the south and east our neighbors wanted nothing less than our total destruction. thanks to our determination and of the united states support was unveiled. i know more than most what could have happened had american not been there for israel.

almost four decades later, my country and once again faces a nuclear iran but will not only pose a threat to israel, but that is to the entire free world enabling escalation to terrorism and supporting its by their fundamentalist regime. as soon as i did in 1973, on a stand before the great decision makers of america and with a deep belief that the united states will do everything in its power to prevent iran with

accomplishing its strengths. america is the world's greatest democracy and the freedom and we continue to leave the global efforts to ensure iran never has the capability to obtain nuclear weapons. [applause] thank you, god bless the state of israel and god bless america. ♪

>> ladies and gentlemen, there is still more to come. the prime minister will be arriving shortly. don't go anywhere. ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

>> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome aipac president, michael ♪ >> we are honored tonight to be told by the prime minister of israel benjamin netanyahu. [applause] we are tremendously fortunate to have him and the first lady of

the state of israel here at the aipac. [applause] welcome back. [applause] we are so happy to have you on the anniversary last week. [applause] nearly ten months ago the prime minister delivered words on this stage and then gave a rousing address before congress the next morning. [applause] those memorable speeches sent a clear message of his commitment to the u.s. israel alliance. but tonight we are all here, 13,000 strong to send a clear message back to you, mr. prime minister. the people in this room and

millions more across the country support you as you leave the jewish state towards peace and security. [applause] we stand with you and your efforts to prevent iran from reaching a nuclear weapons capability. we are here to say that as you leave your nation forward those who threaten israel threatened america. [applause] we thank you for your leadership and for being here with us tonight. ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to welcome the prime minister of the state of israel benjamin netanyahu. [cheering]

♪ thank you kafta [applause]

♪ and [laughter] sarah and i want to thank you for this wonderful reception.

the applause that could be herd as far away as jerusalem. that's jerusalem, the united capital of israel. [applause] thank you. thank you for all of you do. i know that more than half of the members of congress are dependent here tonight i deeply appreciate your being here. [applause] michael, you said i spoke last

may in congress, and when i did, you, the members of congress, stood up to applaud the state of israel. so now i asked -- now you can applaud but i want a special applause. i want to ask the 13,000 supporters of the state of israel to stand up and applaud the representatives of the united states for standing up with israel. [applause] [applause]

democrats and republicans alike i support your own waiting support for the jewish state. thank you. [applause] and i want to send a special message to a great friend of israel who is not here tonight, senator mark kirk, the co-author in the iran sanctions act to. [applause] senator turkoman, please, get well soon, american needs you,

israel needs you. i sent you best wishes for a speedy recovery. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, i also want to recognize tonight yelsi who is with us tonight. would you please stand up? [applause] yelsi was born in belgium, his parents with a christian family during the holocaust in world war ii his father and many other members of his family were murdered at auschwitz. his mother survived the holocaust. they brought him to israel. he became one of israel's

greatest and bravest of generals [applause] and today serves as a minister in my cabinet. [applause] his life was the story of the jewish people, the story of the powerless and speechless people who became a strong and proud nation able to defend itself. and ladies and gentlemen, israel must always deserve the right to defend itself. [applause]

i want to recognize israel ambassador to the united states michael laurin. [applause] michael, you are doing an outstanding job, and thank you for everything you're doing for our country and for everything you are doing for the friendship between israel and the reunited states. [applause] i also want to recognize the ambassador dan shapiro, u.s. ambassador to israel. [applause] you know, president obama was right, it is improving. it is getting better, we appreciate everything you've been doing to strengthen the alliance between the two

countries. thank you. [applause] so, are there any students here tonight? [applause] a few, a few thousand. anyone here from florida? [applause] from new york? how about wisconsin? that's important, i will tell you about leader. from california? [applause] , you are the future and thank you all for ensuring the future of the great alliance between israel and the united states. ladies and gentlemen, tonight i'd like to talk to you about the subject that no one has been talking about recently. [laughter] yep, iran.

every day i open the newspapers and all i read about all these red lines and time lines. i read about what israel has supposedly decided to do or what israel might do. i'm not going to talk about what israel will do or will not do. i will never talk about that. pasqua -- [applause] but i do want to talk to you about the dangers of a nuclear-armed iran. i want to explain why iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. president obama has reiterated his commitment to prevent that from happening. [applause]

he stated clearly that all options are on the table and that american policy is not continued. well israel has the same policy. we are determined to present iran from developing nuclear weapons. we believe all options on the table and the containment is definitely not an option. the jewish state will not allow those that seek our destruction to possess the means to achieve that goal, a nuclear-armed iran must be stopped. [applause]

now, amazingly some people refuse to acknowledge that iran's goal is to develop nuclear weapons. iran claims to do everything that it's doing, that it's enriching uranium to develop medical isotopes, that's right. a country that builds underground nuclear facilities, that develops ballistic missiles, that benefactor's thousands of centrifuges and that of the serbs the crippling sanctions is doing all of that in order to advance medical science. so when that i iranian icbm was fleeing through the air to a location to you you have nothing to worry about. it's only carrying medical

isotopes. ladies and gentlemen, if it looks like a duck come if it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, then what is it? that's right, it's a duck but this is a nuclear duck and it's time the world started calling the duck sp four -- of a duck. [applause] fortunately, president obama and most world leaders understand that iran's cool -- well, they understand the claim that iran's

goal is not to develop nuclear weapons is simply ridiculous, yet incredibly some are prepared to accept an idea only slightly less preposterous and accept full world in which they have atomic bombs. well, sure they say iran is cruel but it's not crazy. it is a testable.

hayes broken every international norm and flouted every international rule. it seized embassies, targeted diplomats. sends children through minefields. it stones women. it supports assad's brutal slaughter of the syrian people. it is the world's formal sponsor of terrorism. it sponsors hezbollah in lebanon. hamas in gaza, and terror grist

the middle east, africa, and even sought america. and iran's proxy have dispatched hundreds of suicide bombers. planted thousands of roadside fired over 20,000 missiles at civilians. so through terror from the skies and terror on the ground, iran is responsible for the murder of hundreds, if not thousands of americans. in 1983, iran's proxy, hezbollah, blew up the marine building. in the last decade it's been responsible for murdering and maiming american soldiers in afghanistan and iraq. just a few months ago, it tried to assassinate the saudi ambassador to the united states. in a restaurant just a few blocks from here. the assassins didn't care that several senators and congressmen whoa have been murdered.

iran accuses -- this is real -- iran accuses the american government of orchestrating 9/11. and that is as brazen as denying the holocaust. which they do. [applause] >> and iran calls for israel's destruction and they work for this destruction. they work for this every day. each day. relentlessly. now, i say all that to make one point clear. this is how iran baffs -- behaves today, without nuclear weapons. think how they will behave tomorrow with nuclear weapons. iran will be even more reckless. and a lot more dangerous. now, there's been plenty of time recently about the cost of

stopping iran. i think it's time we started talking about the cost of not stopping iran. [applause] a nuclear-armed iran would dramatically increase terrorism by giving terrorists a nuclear umbrella. let me explain to you what that means, nuclear umbrella. it means that iran's terror proxy like heads he and hamas, well be emboldened to attack the united states and israel and others, because they'll be backed by a power that has a common thought. so the terrorism we see today to grow tenfold, if not more. a nuclear-armed iran could cut

off the world's oil supply and make real its threats to close the straits of hormuz. now, if you're worried about the price of oil today, imagine how high oil prices could get once iran, a nuclear-armed iran, starts blackmailing the world. then you'll really have a problem with oil prices. if iran gets nuclear weapons, this would set off a mad dash by saudi arabia, egypt, turkey, and others, to acquire nuclear weapons of their own. the world's most volatile region would become a nuclear cinder box, waiting to go off. and here's the worst nightmare of all. with nuclear weapons iran could threaten all of us with nuclear terror jim. it could put a nuclear device in a ship heading to any port or in

a truck parked in the city, anywhere in the world. i want you to think about what it would mean to have nuclear weapons in the hands of those -- radicals who lead millions of people in chants of "death to america" and "death to israel." i want you to think about all that and i'm sure that when you do, you'll reach a simple conclusion. for the sake of our prosperity, for the sake of our security, for the sake of our children, iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. [applause]

of course, the best outcome would be if iran decided to abandon its nuclear weapons program peacefully. no one would be happier than me and the people of israel. if iran dismantled the practice but so far that hasn't happened. for 50 years, i've been warning that a nuclear-armed iran is a grave danger to my country and to the peace and security of the entire world. for the last decades, the international community has tried diplomacy. it hasn't worked. for six years, the international community has applied sanctions. that hasn't worked, either. i appreciate president obama's recent efforts to impose even

tougher sanctions against iran. and these sanctions are hurting iran's economy. but unfortunately, iran's nuclear program continues to march forward. my friends, israel has waited patiently waited, for the international community to resolve this issue. we've waited for diplomacy to work. we've waited for sanctions to work. none of us can afford to wait much longer. [applause] as prime minister of israel, i will never let my people live in the shadow of annihilation. [applause]

ladies and gentlemen, some commentators would have you believe that stopping iran from getting the bomb is more dangerous than letting iran have the bomb. they say that a military confrontation with iran would undermine the effort already underway. that it would be ineffective, and that it would provoke an even more vindictive response by iran. eye've heard these arguments before. in fact i've read them before. in my desk, i have copies of an

exchange of letters between the world jewish congress and the u.s. war department. here are the letters. the year was 1944. the world jewish congress implored the american government to bomb auschwitz. the reply came five days later. i want to read it to you. quote: such an operation could be executed only by diverting considerable air support essential to the success of our forces elsewhere. in any case it would be of such doubtful efficacy it would not warrant the use of our

resources. and my friend, hearings the most remarkable sentence of all. and i quote: such an effort might provoke even more vindictive actions by the germans. think about that. even more vindictive actions than the holocaust. my friends, 2012 is not 1944. the american government today -- [applause] -- is different. it's different. you heard that in president obama's speech yesterday. but here's my point. the jewish people are also different. today we have a state of our own. [applause]

and the purpose of the jewish state is to defend jewish lives and to secure the jewish future. [applause] never again will we -- will the jewish people be powerless, and our very survival. never again. [applause] that is why israel must always have the ability to defend itself, by itself, against any threats. applause my friend, we deeply appreciate the great alliance

between our two countries. but when it comes to israel's survival, we must always remain the masters of our fate. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, israel's fate is to consider to be the fullest position of freedom in the middle east. the only place in the middle east where minorities enjoy full civil rights. the only place in the middle east where arabs enjoy full civil rights. over one million citizens, arab citizens of israel, enjoy full and equal rights in the rights. the only place in the middle east where christians are free to practice their faith.

the only place in the middle east where real judges protect the rule of law and as prime minister of israel, i will always protect israel's democracy. always. [applause] and most especially, i will never tolerate any discrimination against women! [applause] ladies and gentlemen, this week will read how one woman changed

jewish history. in synagogues throughout the world, the jew wish people will celebrate the festival of purhab. we'll read about how some 2,500 years ago a persian antisemite tried to annihilate the jewish people. we'll read how that plot was foiled by one courageous one, esther. well, you can applaud esther. [applause] >> she deserves a little more. [applause] my friend in every generation there are those who wish to destroy the jewish people. in this generation, we are blessed to live in a time when there's a jewish state capable

of defending the jewish people. and we're doubly blessed to have so many friends like you, jews and nonjews alike, who love the state of israel and support its right to defend itself. [applause] so as i leave you tonight, i thank you for your friendship. i thank you for your courage. and i thank you for standing up for the one and only jewish state. thank you all. thank you. [applause] [applause]

[applause] ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome aipac -- >> more live coverage tomorrow morning from rick santorum, mitt

romney, and newt gingrich, and leon panetta. watch live coverage getting underway on c-span 3. >> this crazy world of ours we have at tom bombs.

the kiss not how to use them. the question is how to restrain from using them. anything that can get this country into trouble, it takes a wise noon get it out. >> we look back at 14 men who ran for the office of president and lost. >> shouldn't your president have the highest moral and ethical standards and be an example to our children and young people in this country? ask yourself that question, please. shouldn't his life make him a role model for your future children? shouldn't anyone you elect to this office always keep his promises? >> transportation secretary administration head discussed how his agency has adapted since its creation in the wake of

9/11. last john f. kennedy airport implemented a new program. pistole spoke and took questions. >> good afternoon and welcome to the national press club. i'm teresa warner and i'm the 105th president of the national press club. we are the world's leading professional organization for journalists, fostering a free press worldwide. for more information about the national press club, please visit our web site, at www.press.org. to donate to the program, please visit www.press.org/institute.

on behalf of our members worldwide, i'd like to welcome our speaker and those of you attending today's events. our head table includes guests of our speaker and working journalists who are club members, and if you hear applause in our audience, we'd like to know that members of the general public are takenning so it's not necessarily evidence of a lack of journalistic objectivity. i'd also like to welcome or c-span and public radio audience. you can also follow the action on twitter using the hash tag npc lunch. after our guest speech concludes we'll have a q & a and i will ask as many questions as time permits. now it's time to introduce our head table guests and i'd ask each of you to stand up. from your right, bloomberg,

julio, wzdc, dave nicholson, tsa acting chief of staff. michael bolden, washington post. gail rosetes, tsa deputy administrator, allison fitzgerald, freelance journalist. i'm going to skip our speaker, and chris mclaughlin, tsa assistants a mr.or, office of security operations. jeff from al [applause] >> as "the new york times" noted, soon after he became the fifth head of transportation

security, don pistolo is the unfitting face about everything americans hate about airport security in a post-9/11 world. everytime we are asked to take off our shoes, pull out our lap top or submit to a pat down, we have his agency to blame. but pistole can take it. as he told the times, my hope is that whatever people want to call me, they recognize that we're simply doing everything we can to work with people to provide the best possible security. the son of a church of god minister, he graduated from anderson university in indiana, and indiana law school in indianapolis. he joined the fbi in 1983 in minneapolis. he worked in new york before moving to washington, dc to supervise it's organized crime section. since 1999, when he helped lead the inquiry into crash of egypt

air flight 990, he has worked on some of the nation's highest profile cases involving national security. after the 9/11 attacks he was put in charge of the fbi's expanded counterterrorism branch, becoming the bureau's executive assistant director of counterterrorishing and counterintelligence. pistole led or was involved in a number of high profile investigations, including the 2003 suicide bombings in riyadh, saudi araina, the brakeup of a plot to bomb new york city subways in 2009, and the case of the would-be underware bomber on a detroit-bound jet on christmas day, and took part in the investigation of an attempted car bombing in times square in 2010. in 2004 he was named deputity directyear of the fbi and was serving serving in the number two position when president obama tapped him to fill the top spot of the tsa. today he oversees 60,000

employees who provide security at more than 450 airports and through the federal air marshal service. his agency is also responsible for the security of the nation's highways, railroads, ports, mass transit systems and pipelines. since taking over the agency nearly a decade of the 9/11 attacks, pivote work to evolve the tsas one size fits all katrinaing of nearly 1.8 million people a day to a more intelligence driven risk. he has had to answer to angry travelers about pat do you evers, chatdowns, and naked body scans. i'm sure the administrator will have much to say, so please welcome our luncheon guest, john pistole. [applause] >> well, thank you, therese sacks for most of the introduction, anyway. i've been described in a lot of different ways and that was kind of a compendium of a lot of

things coming together. good afternoon. it is an honor to be here today. i appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and to speak on the continuing evolution of the transportation security administration. our place in the global counterterrorism community and our latest efforts to strengthen aviation security through the ongoing development and implementation of risk-based intelligence-driven security initiatives. last fall we marked the ten inch anniversary o both in the 9/11 attacks and the legislation known as the aviation transportation and security act, passed by the united states congress in 2001, signed by the president. both an important part of our country's response to those horrific attacks. the tsa was created through that legislation and we continue to be proud of how tsa was staffed and operational in less than one year. in fact many americans -- i would say most americans don't know the building of tsa

required the largest, most complex mobilization of a federal work force since world war ii. as tsa administer you're i have been privileged to know and work with a number of dedicated individuals who know our agency's story better than anyone because they happened write it. dedicated public servants like then-transportation secretary norma net a, department secretary michael jackson who bill a deputy secretary at homeland security. ralph bashol, and jim roy from the coast guard, and david stone, and then kip halley, the next three administrators, and also on that list is our current deputyied administrator, gail, o is here, and was there at the start, one of a handful of public servants given the urgent task of setting up a knew

security agency whose sweeping mission has always been to protect the nation's transportation systems to ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce and also note that gail served for 18 months as the acting administrator before my arrival and the american people are more secure because of her outstanding service. so at its core, the concept of risk-based security demonstrates a progression of work tsa has been doing throughout its first decade of service to the american people. it's an understanding, really an acknowledgment, we're not in the business of eliminating all risk associated with traveling from opinion a to point b. risk is inherent in virtually everything we do. our objective is to mitigate risk to reduce it as much as possible, and to ensure that the potential for anyone to commit a deliberate act against our transportation system is mitigated. before i go further i want to take just a moment and mention

another significant anniversarywin within the tsa family. last friday, on mar 2nd, the men and women of the federal air marshal service who today compromise tsa's primary law enforcement component, celebrated their 50th 50th anniversary. originally safety inspectors for the u.s. customs agency, the first class of 18 peace officers, as they were called, sworn in 50 years ago and began building a legacy of protection which today's officers uphold everytime the board an aircraft. who have a core mission to protect the flying public has remained constant, they have an ever expanding role in homeland security and work closely with other law enforcement agencies to accomplish their mission. air marshals today are integrated with key counterterrorism partners. the national targeting center, and on many of the fbi's joint chairs and task forces around the country. they're also critical part of the effective partnerships that

essential to neverly everything we do at tsa. i think it's helpful to take a brief look back and recall what transportation security looked like prior throw september 11th attacks because as you are aware, what was in place then bears little resemblance to the strong, multilayered system in place today and that's especially true when we talk specifically about aviation security. so remember, before september 11th there was one. no cohesive system in place to check passenger names against watch lists in advance of flying. two, only limited technology in place for uncovering a wide array to threats, passengerses and aircraft. three, no comprehensive federal requirements to screen, check carryon baggage. four, minimal inflight security

on midnight fleiss, and five, from intelligence coordination standpoint, before 9/11 there was a lack of timely intelligence in both directions, from the the federal level the individual airport and from the individual airport to the national level. i came to the fbi more than a year and a half ago, having worked in the previous 26 years in a variety positions at the fbi, almost exclusivefully national security matters post-9/11. that experience, with a range of partners inside the law. and intelligence communities, both here in the u.s. and overseas, has helped shape my approach to sew -- solidify's tsa's position. we strive to make our processes timely, efficient, and coordinated as possible and critically, based on intelligence. we work to share critical information with key industry shareholders, many of whom are here today, wherever appropriate, and we can

constantly -- we're constantly communicating with the frontline officers through shift briefings self times a day. thanks to these partnerships, and including with our airline and airport partners, and with law enforcement colleagues at every level, tsa has achieved a number of significant milestones during its first ten years of service empathies include things such as matching 100% of all passengers flying into and out of and within the united states against government watch lists through the secure flight program which was previously one run by the airlines. includes screening all cargo transported on passenger plans domestically, and as you know, we work closely with our international partners every day to screen 100% of high-risk inbound cargo on passenger planes. we are also working hard with the same partners to screen 100% of all international inbound cargo an passenger plane indy of the year and also includes

improving aviation security through innovative technology that provides baggage screening for explosives. i want to talk about surface transportation also and mention that our teams. in the time we have conducted over 17,000 visible intermotive preventive response. we have 25 teams working in transportation sectors across the country to prevent or disrupt potential terroris activities. dick -- additionally, they have had 190 security enhancements for transit which provides a comprehensive assessment for security programs in critical transit systems. we are seeing the benefits how these steps and multiple layers of security across the different transportation sectors, which include the opportunity wes have for cutting edge technology, help keep america safe each and every day.

sense our standup in 2002, in aviation security we have screened nearly 6 billion passengers. think about that. 6 billion passengers. our frontline officers have detect thousands of firearms and other prohibited items and prevented the weapons from entering the aircraft. in fact, more than ten years after 9/11, tsa officers still exact on average between three and four finals every day in carryon bags at security check points around the country. that down slightly from the 2011 averages. in particular, we see the efficacy of the advanced iming technology, or ait machines, as hundreds of passenger security checkpoints around the united states. and from a security perspective, last year the office of the inspector general assessed the number of -- assessed the manner which tsa inspects, maintains

and operates ait machines. they found that tsa was in compliance with standard regarding radiation exposure limits and safety requirements. as a result of the intensive research, analysis, and testing, tsa believes the potential health risks from screening with x-ray security systems are minuscule, a finding also made by the u.s. arm in a record just last month. there's no perfect technology, ait gives our officers the best opportunity to detect metallic devices such as we saw on christmas day 2009, including those other type of devices which we are concerned about that terrorists may be constructing as we speak. as manufacturers continue enhancing detection capable and strength 'king the privacy features the machines we maintain the able to upgrade the software used to stay ahead of the rapidly shifting threat

landscape and maintaining a high level of adaptability enables us to keep an important technological advantage. throughout 2011, ait and other -- hundreds of illegal items were detected on passengers. the ongoing effort to educate the traveling public we highlight many of this good catches every week in blog posts uploaded to tsa.gov. blogger bob does a great job in that area. there have been a number of instances of items concealed in shoes to items hidden in a hollowed out book, so ceramic knives which don't show up as metal. to exotic pats strapped to passenger's legs.

as strange as some of these tales may be they're a stark reminder that now ex-more than ten years after the events of 9/11, people are still trying to bring deadly weapons and other items on to aircraft and the officers are detect numerous weapons every day and keeping all of them off of planes. less than a among ago, over president's day weekend in february, our officers detect it 19 guns in carryon bags around the country. it's important to note that while working hard to deploy the latest technological advances to secure transportation, we have also made significant steps to strengthen privacy protections for passengers screened with the ait advanced imaging technology. we upgraded ore units with new privacy protection software called automatic threat recognition, this soft area upgrade enhances privacy

protections by eliminating passenger specific images and instead displaying a generic outline of a person. we know that the software makes a process more efficient. anytime a new piece of technology strengthens security, provides enhanced privacy protection and gives greater resource efficiency that's a winning formula for all travelers. now, as good as they are these technologies do not stand alone. that's why we continue our efforts to strengthen, wherever possible, standard operating poet arizona in place throughout the roughly 450 airport wes secure. one of the ways we do is the butting in a series of risk-based intelligence-based processed to strengthen security. we implemented several new screening concepts including a program designed to provide pilots expedited screening and adjusting screening for children

12 and under and expanded behavior detection techniques and then we have the tsa precheck, several of risk based measures helping us move away from a one size fits all security model and closer to our goal. and that goal is simple to provide the most effective security in the most efficient way. one side fits -- one size fits all was necessary after 9/11 but thanks to two key enablees are,ing at the nothing and intelligence, we can move toward a risk based security model. the initiatives are enabling us to focus resources on those passengers who pose the greatest risk, while providing expedited screening and a better travel experience for those who consider lower risk, more trusted travelers and we began implementing the idea last fall, and since then at the nine

airports we're currently participating, more than 460,000 passengers around the country have experienced expedite it physical security screening through tsa precheck and the feedback is consistently positive. the success of tsa precheck has been made possible by the great partnerships with our participating airlines, the airports, and our sister agency, customs and border protection. the airlines work with us to invite eligible passengers to opt into the initiative and then working with cbp we're able to extend tsa precheck benefits to any u.s. citizen who is member of one of the trusted travel programs such as global entrism i encourage anyone who is interested to apply for global entry, if you get accepted you get benefits from both cbp and tsa at participate airports and by the end of the year we expect to be offering passengers in 35 of our busiest airports the and diedded physical screening

benefits associated with the precheck because we have been prescreening of them before they get airport. by constantly evaluating new ideas and adding strength to layers of security throughout the screening process we accomplish several things. first it athrows officers to focus their attention on the travelers most likely to propose a three. focus our evident in a more precise manner is good for strengthening if aways couth and if proms the travelers and phone people who fly in the u.s. every day. late theirs month, we'll begin evaluating additional risk-based intelligence driven changes to checkpoint security screening procedures. our ability to find the proverbial needle in the hay stack is improved everytime we can improve the size of hay stack. strengthening our procedures is getting it done and we will

continue expanding the program wherever we can. all in partnership with the airlines and the airports and all those with a vested interest in this process. we'll also continue to explore ways to just our standard screen, security screen procedures for certain segments of the general traveling public as we did last year with younger travelers, those 12 and-under. we're also using a risk assessment model that drives the airline's known crew member effort in other ways. by the end of this month, we'll expand the tsa precheck population to include active duty u.s. farmed forces members with a common access card traveling out o ronald reagan national parent. service members will undergo the standard tsa secure flight prescreen and if we're able to verify the service member is in good standing they will likely receive tsa precheck screening benefits.

such as no longer removing their shoes or lying jacket and allowing them to keep their laptop in their brief case and their compliant liquids in their carryon bags. we believe u.s. service members -- we recognize these members pose little risk to aviation security. as well review and evaluate the effectiveness of these possible enhancements it is possible that additional changes may be implemented in the future as we continue to work to provide all travelers with the most effective security provided in most efficient way. of course we'll always retain the ability to incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport and no individual is ever guaranteed expedite it screening. we appreciate the ongoing support of the aviation industry and the traveling public and

continue improveing whenever possible the overall travel experience for all americans. there are also significant economic benefit. most note my in the area of our ability to secure movement of gots. the enter dependence of the reply chain requires it to be as strong as possible, whether for business or pleasure, the freedom to travel from place to place is fundamental to our way ofly and to do so securely is a goal to which everybody at tsa is fully committed. thank you for inviting me here today. i look forward to take whatever questions you may have. thank you. [applause] >> you mentioned over presidents' day alone how many knives and guns were found. what happens to those people and how many of them have malicious

intent? >> we believe very few, if any, have malicious intent if you're talking from a terrorist perspective. it depends on the local jurisdiction whether the individuals or raved or whether they are cited by the local law enforcement authorities. they are always cited by us for trying to violate the security protocols. >> what happens to the puffer machines from the airport checkpoints? >> the puffer machines were just -- are those the machines were constructed in a push to try to find explosives, explosive residue on persons, and the idea was simply to have somebody walk into a -- the machine and have a puff of air come on them, and then the explosive detection equipment would detect that. what we found is that we did not have sufficient testing done

prior 0 deployment and basically from a fundamental design features, for example, the air was brought in from the floor to create that puff, and so there was a lot of contaminants on the airport floor not in the manufacturer's lab so a simple design change would have made it more effective. but the decision was made -- several years ago -- do not fully deploy those and they were taken out and put away. >> how do you continuously monitor people who are part of the precheck and trusted traveler program? >> i think it's important to remember that anybody in precheck or, for example, globe british still goes through physical security. so, for example, somebody asked one time about major -- the ft. hood shooter and if he had bad intent.

he is still going through physical screening. all beat a different type perhaps, and so those weapons would be detected. we do recurrent vetting against the terrorist screening database every day. and then we work with the airlines and cbp in terms of additional vetting which we don't talk about in detail because we don't terrorists to game the system. >> is everyone who is nervous now a suspect terrorist? >> absolutely not. i have a tour who travels and she gets motion sickness so obviously not. but the behavior detection officers are trained and looking at those physical manifestations which may be of concern, and so given my fbi background, i'm a

firm believer in the benefits of that but clearly nervousness in and of itself may just be simply something like my daughter. >> the perceived threat from the terrorist have changed from 9/11. shifting from using a hijacked plain to the idea of a terrorist using an explosive might bring down an airliner, does tsa adapt to the new perceived threats? >> we have intelligence briefing from around the world. law enforcement community, but worldwide, and probably the best example goes back to october 2010, when we learned about the plot coming out of yemen of the two packages with the cartridges in them. so working closely with the industry and our counterparts overseas we took a number of steps to shore up security as

relates to cargo and particularly how we could detect such devices well designed, well concealed, and then shipped in a way that makes it difficult to detect. so every day we recalibrate if you will, looking at what steep wes need incorporate at the checkpoint for passengers or for our cargo screening either here or overseas. ...

and over 270 of the last points of departure call airports around the world that flight to the u.s. so our challenge is to work with our partners similar to tsa and then with the industry to make sure we have come again, the best to provide the most efficient way. >> currently, such u.s. bound air cargo is screened on passenger airplanes? >> it's difficult to say precisely, but working with industry, we believe in over 80, perhaps 90% of all cargo on the passenger planes is currently being screened, and our goal as i mentioned in working with the industry and our again for your tiberi counterparts overseas is we have 100% of that done by the end of this year through the

risk-based models and passenger screening. >> what constitutes high risk cargo? >> of course we don't define it because we don't want the insurance to go to our web site and say this is high risk in going to do something that is not high risk. for example, obviously if somebody such as the bombers out of semi, yen and a year and a half ago worshiping computer printers and some clothing and books to chicago paying $500 in shipping costs from an advanced cargo information perspective why would somebody be shoving and computer printers they can buy in chicago for much less than the cost of shipping. any advanced information we have hopes go into assessing and defining high risk cargo and then working closely with the industry which has the manifest

information of who the shipper is, what type of shipment is. it comes down to trying to define and distinguished when the known shippers and shipments versus the unknown. >> you talk about mitigating risk rather than eliminating it. how do you balance the interests of this and inconvenience of your decisions against the reduction in the real risks? >> the bottom line is we have to make sure that everybody that gets on every plane and 29,000 times or so everyday in the u.s. they have been thoroughly screened so there isn't a terrorist on there that wanted to blow up that airline. that being said, what we are doing with its risk-based model is to recognize the vast majority of people traveling are not terrorists and so how can we afford than some type of physical screening by doing more prescreening? and part of that is on my own background as an fbi agent for 27 years any time i traveled

life loof armed and would never go through security screening i would go to the protocol and signed a law enforcement officer book, have my credentials devotee did, verify it and get on the plane armed. so clearly, prior to 9/11 we differentiated between passengers because we knew and trusted them for whatever reasons of the idea is the same just to extend that concept to say we already know something about people who shared information and are willing to share information with us and we can make some judgments and decisions for the physical screening because we've done more prescreening on the front end. >> how can travelers give informed consent to the procedures on the tsa refuses to describe how the searches are to be conducted? >> it is a challenging such rich because often again we don't want to publish our exit particles, again, an innovative creative terrorist as we've seen

both with of the cargo plot and the assassination attempt against of the saudi deputy minister of the time, and then of course with the underwear bomber we don't want to publish exactly what we do so we can look and say okay we can construct this type of device in some type of free and last summer we saw there was information and out the same interests devices were looking for ways to beat a were against imaging machines by doing surgically implanted devices, bombs, so they would get a passenger on a plane with a surgically implanted device in hopes of our advanced imaging technology wouldn't take that up so that is the balance we run every day to provide the best possible security while respecting the privacy and the dignity of everybody involved. we recognize 137 colin 138 million everyday we don't get it right every time which is our goal to provide the best

possible security in the most professional way and that is what we strive for every day. we work towards that and it's something we welcome feedback from the traveling public on a fairly regular basis and we work with them to try to address the needs. in december we initiated something called tsa cares which is a phone number we can call especially if you are elderly or have medical conditions which made the becoming require different types of screenings and it's a hot line a few well what you call advanced disk of the opportunity to then work with that particular passenger in a way that we can help expedite their screening process while respecting their privacy and dignity and ensuring that there isn't a terrorist trying to use that person unwittingly for that means.

>> tsa is in the headlines for reasons that don't relate to catch interests. for example for carrying breast pumps tsa officer has been a treaty to accused of inappropriate putdowns of the elderly's. how do they approach the mission and is there the need to respond to the public anger? >> the challenge is with of the millions of passengers and with 450 airports, it is a challenge to provide 100% total customer satisfaction, and recognizing that many days we don't do that. there are opportunities for us every day to engage in the public in a way that most agencies or businesses from example, i'm trying to think of any businesses that have 100% customer satisfaction with that many customers if you won a daily basis.

i'm not aware of any government agency that has that record. there may be some businesses out there. so it really comes down to the better informed the passenger can be before they get to their part by looking at the tsa.gov website we have a lot of helpful suggestions and tips for how to pack on how to travel. what we look for and what our permited items, what you can take on, what you can't come and what can for example go in your checked bag? a lot of people, gun owners know that they can't take their guns in their checked bag but there's a critical for doing that, and depending on where you are you may need to clearly have a permit, but the to make sure you are following the protocol for the local police have been aware of that and they declare that weapon and have it pact appropriately. so there are all kinds of new ones is that more informed the

traveling public can be i did the better job that we can do in providing that effective security. >> following the rules of what you can and cannot take why can a passenger take on ten discuss 3-ounce bottles of hair spray but not 112 oz bottle? >> now we are getting into the mass. most people are aware of the limitation on the 3.4 ounces goes back to august of 06 when a group of terrorists in the united kingdom actually took sports drinks and drilled the bottom of a sports drink and a train dhaka sports drink and filled it with a liquid explosion and the whole purpose of doing that was when two types of liquid explosives were combined on the plane would cause an explosion so clear deutsch had to we didn't have these limitations.

that is what you're dealing with. we know that in certain amounts that terrorists can combine those in a way that would potentially cause a catastrophic event on an aircraft. when we get multiple small items and becomes an issue of how effective is that if they are the equivalency of the same amounts there has to be some point that we look at as much and part of our risk-based model is to look at as much as a person as the items of their carrying support of that is the desired behavior detection comes in as much as we can do that because we have a whole list of prohibited items which some of them make a lot of sense, some we are revisiting to see whether they do make sense as we further deeply this risk-based security model, so there's again a lot of challenges and opportunities in

that regard. >> how do you justify tsa having more than 65,000 employees more than the department of state in the department of energy, department of education combined. calling for the left government infringement on our lives. >> the bottom line 86 it is a huge job to provide that transportation security not only to the 450 airports but then to work with our state and local partners and mass transit rails over the buses, the metro system's. there's multiple times millions more people are traveling on subways and trains and buses every day than in planes and that is in the primary responsibility. we act as a force multiplier for those mass transit and other carriers but the was part of the enabling legislation that congress passed is to say you need to be responsible for all