Airlines agree to honor US demand for sky marshals amid terror threat
PARIS (AFP) - Pilots' unions around the world have bristled at a US request that armed sky marshals travel on some US-bound foreign passenger jets but officials in several countries said they would comply with the security order.
France's junior transport minister, Dominique Bussereau, confirmed the presence of armed elite gendarmes on some Air France flights, calling the move necessary amid heightened fears of possible extremist attacks.
"This will last as long as we and our American friends share the same assessment of a real threat to flights headed for the United States or certain flights originating in the United States," he added.
Washington on Monday issued an emergency directive asking all foreign carriers to place armed sky marshals on flights deemed by US officials to be at risk, sparking criticism from international aviation authorities and pilots.
After questioning the measure Tuesday, the British Air Line Pilots Association (news - web sites) (BALPA) said Wednesday it had reached an agreement with one British airline on the deployment of armed plainclothes sky marshals.
The agreement stipulates that the captain of an aircraft be told when sky marshals are aboard his or her flight and where they are sitting, and that contact be maintained throughout the flight. "We remain opposed to the whole concept of bringing sky marshal guns on board an aircraft," said BALPA general secretary Jim McAuslan. "This will not make flights more safe."
But he acknowledged: "The agreement reduces risks for passengers and deals with issues we have raised."
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and BMI British Midland are the British airlines which serve US destinations.
Pilots' unions and the International Air Transport Association have raised concerns about passenger safety, saying the marshals could cause significant damage to the aircraft should an armed fight with a hijacker take place.
Bussereau said the French gendarmes were armed with weapons that could not cause damage to the plane or the passenger cabin.
Australian government officials said its air marshals, known as Air Security Officers, had now been armed with modified bullets designed to break up without piercing an aircraft wall or serious injure passengers.
And Germany's interior ministry said the Berlin government had no problems with Washington's request.
But in Portugal, the head of the SPAC pilots' union, Angelo Felgueiras, countered: "Planes have many people inside a small space and it is easy for things to get out of control."
And a spokesman for South African Airways said the national carrier saw no reason to employ armed sky marshals and its ground security measures were sufficient to avert possible extremist attacks.
In Sweden, officials said they would not put armed police on flights to and from the United States but had reached an alternative agreement with US transportation authorities to ensure safety.
Australian government officials said its air marshals, known as Air Security Officers, had now been armed with modified bullets designed to break up without piercing an aircraft wall or serious injure passengers.
And Germany's interior ministry said the Berlin government had no problems with Washington's request.
But in Portugal, the head of the SPAC pilots' union, Angelo Felgueiras, countered: "Planes have many people inside a small space and it is easy for things to get out of control."
And a spokesman for South African Airways said the national carrier saw no reason to employ armed sky marshals and its ground security measures were sufficient to avert possible extremist attacks.
In Sweden, officials said they would not put armed police on flights to and from the United States but had reached an alternative agreement with US transportation authorities to ensure safety.
Accidents Outside Combat Take Toll on U.S. Military
WASHINGTON ? Writing to his mother from Iraq (news - web sites) in early May, Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Smith said he planned to be home in Anderson, Ind., to celebrate his 21st birthday later that month.
It wasn't an enemy sniper or rocket-propelled grenade that ended the young Marine reservist's life. After crisscrossing the desert for months at the wheel of a Humvee, Smith was speeding south along a northbound shoulder one night when he slammed his vehicle into an Army tractor-trailer abandoned on the side of the highway. He died of a massive head injury.
US wants armed police on some flights into United States
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced that US officials want foreign airlines to put armed police on flights where a terrorist threat is seen.
The announcement came eight days after US officials heightened its nationwide attack alert, citing intelligence that Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s al-Qaeda network wants to stage an even bigger strike than the September 11, 2001 attacks which killed 3,000 people.
US officials have "requested that international air carriers, where necessary, place trained, armed government law enforcement officers on designated flights as an added protective measure" against a possible terrorist attack, Ridge said. Ridge spoke to reporters after six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles were cancelled on December 24 and 25 at the request of US authorities. The US and French governments "together took steps to halt in-bound international flights, acting on specific information we had to ensure the safety of these flights," Ridge said. "We engaged in similar cooperative action with the governments of the United Kingdom and Mexico," he added. On the canceled Air France flights, Ridge said that US officials had "specific information that we needed to be acted upon."
US officials have "requested that international air carriers, where necessary, place trained, armed government law enforcement officers on designated flights as an added protective measure" against a possible terrorist attack, Ridge said. Ridge spoke to reporters after six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles were cancelled on December 24 and 25 at the request of US authorities. The US and French governments "together took steps to halt in-bound international flights, acting on specific information we had to ensure the safety of these flights," Ridge said. "We engaged in similar cooperative action with the governments of the United Kingdom and Mexico," he added. On the canceled Air France flights, Ridge said that US officials had "specific information that we needed to be acted upon."
About 70,000 grocery clerks from Kroger Co.'s Ralphs, Safeway Inc.'s Vons and Albertsons Inc. have been on strike since Oct. 11 over contract differences, particularly the cost and scope of health care benefits for current employees and future hires. The three store chains have been negotiating as a bloc with workers for a new labor contract, which has been stalled over health care coverage and other issues. The stores have been operating with replacement workers since the strike. Ellen Anreder, a spokeswoman for the United Food and Commercial Workers, said the talks were intensive and "completely off the record" until they broke down Sunday. Formal negotiations with a federal mediator are set to resume later this month.
About 70,000 grocery clerks from Kroger Co.'s Ralphs, Safeway Inc.'s Vons and Albertsons Inc. have been on strike since Oct. 11 over contract differences, particularly the cost and scope of health care benefits for current employees and future hires. The three store chains have been negotiating as a bloc with workers for a new labor contract, which has been stalled over health care coverage and other issues. The stores have been operating with replacement workers since the strike. Ellen Anreder, a spokeswoman for the United Food and Commercial Workers, said the talks were intensive and "completely off the record" until they broke down Sunday. Formal negotiations with a federal mediator are set to resume later this month.
PARIS (Reuters) - France confirmed on Wednesday it has posted armed guards on some Air France flights to the United States because of the threat of attacks.
Dominique Bussereau, state secretary on the Transport Ministry, said France felt obliged to tighten its security measures after the United States informed it of intelligence information showing signs of potential hijacking threats. Washington ordered foreign airlines on Monday to place armed marshals on selected flights to or from the United States.
Israel to Dispute Court's Right to Rule on Barrier
Sharon met top ministers to discuss strategy ahead of next month's hearing by the Hague-based International Court of Justice on the internationally criticized barrier, which cuts deep into land Palestinians want for a state.
Political sources said the only decision was to send a paper stating Israel's reasons for building the barrier and its opinion that the World Court has no right to rule whether it should be torn down.
Israel to Dispute Court's Right to Rule on Barrier
Sharon met top ministers to discuss strategy ahead of next month's hearing by the Hague-based International Court of Justice on the internationally criticized barrier, which cuts deep into land Palestinians want for a state.
Political sources said the only decision was to send a paper stating Israel's reasons for building the barrier and its opinion that the World Court has no right to rule whether it should be torn down.