Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/670450
ByElliotSpagat TheAssociatedPress SAN DIEGO Fiveyearsago, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security dropped its color-coded terror threat index developed after the 9/11 attacks amid wide- spread confusion and ridi- cule. So what did it do when tasked by Secretary Jeh Johnson in 2014 with mea- suring security along the country's borders? Agency staff proposed an- other system of reds, yellows and greens. The Institute for Defense Analyses, a consulting firm, was hired by DHS to review the idea and found the in- dex simplistic and mislead- ing, noting that colors were a"disaster"for communicat- ing terror threats. "DHS should learn from its own history and avoid re- peating this error," the con- sultants said in its 53-page report. The DHS proposal was never made public, nor was the consulting firm's $90,000 review. A copy of the report was obtained by The Associated Press and when AP this week asked the agency whether it would move ahead with the in- dex, spokeswoman Gillian Christensensaid:"Currently, therearenocolor-codedbor- der security indexes or met- rics being considered by the Department of Homeland Security." The chairman of the Sen- ate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Com- mittee criticized the color codes Friday while also em- phasizing a need for better measurements. "DHS spent $90,000 on a question we already know the answer to," said Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican. "Measuring the security across our borders is complex and requires so- phisticated and consistent metrics — not a series of colors." It was one of the latest at- temptsbythegovernmentto come up with a way to mea- sure border security and help the public understand whether the billions of dol- lars devoted to it each year are being spent wisely. In 2010, Homeland Se- curity ended a five-year ex- periment measuring miles under "operational con- trol," where the Border Pa- trol was likely to capture il- legal crossers. It reported only about 40 percent of the borders were controlled in 2010, providing ammuni- tion to those who argue the border is porous. Then in 2013, Johnson's predecessor, Janet Napoli- tano, abandoned plans for what was called the Border Conditions Index, which would have relied on various economic, crime and law en- forcement data. John Sandweg, who was senior counselor to Napol- itano, said there was inter- nal consensus about what made up the index but not about how much weight to give each factor. Sandweg, who advised the secretary when the colorterror-alertsystemwas dropped, said he doesn't see the value of a similar color- coded approach to the bor- der. "It seems to me like an oversimplification of a very complex problem," he said. The consultants hired by Johnson agreed. "Thered/yellow/greenfor- mulation, while intuitively attractive and easy to under- stand, will open the Depart- menttochargesthatitisma- nipulating a complex prob- lem in an effort to be seen as responding to public con- cerns," the report said. When the report was completed in June, Califor- nia and New Mexico/West Texas were green (low risk) during the previous quar- ter, Arizona was yellow (me- dium risk), and South Texas was red (high risk). The con- sultantssaidthatrealitywas more nuanced. "A new set of metrics should work against this simplistic perception rather than reinforcing it. Instead, the new index does the op- posite, by reporting the level of border security in just three large baskets, two of which (red and yellow) are likely to be seen by the pub- lic as evidence of a border 'not controlled,' " the report said. The consultants identi- fied other problems. A color index might lead reporters with an appetite for eye- catching headlines to pro- ducemisleadingstoriesofan out-of-control border. And DHSrelationswithCongress could be further strained, withadministrationofficials constantly having to defend their color choices. Forexample,aWestTexas congressmanwoulddemand to know why his district is rated low risk when vot- ers tell him the opposite. A South Texas congress- man would want lots more money if the administration acknowledges his district is high risk, the report said. Now, the most closely- watched public indicator is BorderPatrolapprehensions, released annually. The num- ber fell to a 44-year low last year, a figure cited by those who argue the border is rel- atively secure. But there is broad agreement that the apprehension tally gives an incomplete picture, just as a police department's arrest count doesn't fully reflect how safe a city is. The color-coded index would have relied on 12 in- dicatorsforlandbordersand seven for maritime borders, each one weighted under a formula that produces reds, yellows and greens. Those indicators ranged from the number of border crossers with known or suspected terrorist ties to marijuana seizures. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Color index for border security is rejected RUSSELLCONTRERAS—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE A U.S. Border Patrol agent drives near the U.S.-Mexico border fence in Sunland Park, New Mexico. RICH PEDRONCELLI — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS People walk down the street on Friday in Sacramento. A late-season storm is expected to bring more snow to the northern Sierra Nevada and rain to the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO A late- season storm mov- ing through California pounded the San Francisco Bay region with rain early Friday and was expected to bring snow to the south- ern Cascade range and the northern Sierra Nevada, a welcome addition to wa- ter supplies after years of drought. By early morning, San Francisco had almost a quarter-inch of rain while some locations in the North Bay had logged about a third of an inch of rain and Oakland saw about a tenth of an inch of precipitation. Conditions were showery and un- settled along north coast counties. The system could im- pact travel through the Donner and Carson passes and near Lassen Volcanic National Park, the National Weather Service said. Forecasters said up to 4 inches of snow could ac- cumulate along Interstate 80 and Highway 50, while higher peaks could get 7 inches to 11 inches and Lassen could expect up to 16 inches. Snow was pre- dicted to taper off by late evening. Elsewhere, gusty winds were forecast for the Sac- ramento and San Joaquin valleys. Northern California gets rain; snow is on the way WEATHER The Associated Press SACRAMENTO California lawmakers are sending six bills to restrict tobacco use to the governor after a de- lay of more than six weeks. The bills sent Friday in- clude a proposal to raise California's legal age for smoking, dipping, chew- ing and vaping tobacco from 18 to 21. Democratic legislative leaders wielded rarely used house rules to hold onto the bills after lawmakers passed them in March. Gov. Jerry Brown has declined to comment on the proposals. He has un- til May 4 to sign, veto or send them back to the Leg- islature. SACRAMENTO Bills restricting tobacco use move to Gov. Brown | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 6 A