US homeland security chief outlines counter terror strategy

Washington, July 30 (ANI): Underlining an immediate need of people's participation in counter terror strategy, US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has urged the people of the country to join a "collective fight against terrorism".

Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Napolitano highlighted that there is a need of a combined effort of individuals, companies, state and foreign governments against terrorism.

Napolitano stressed that more effort is needed to educate and engage the Americans regarding the impending threat perception.

"I am sometimes asked if I think complacency is a threat. I believe the short answer is 'yes'. But I think a better question is this: Has the U.S. government done everything it can to educate and engage the American people? The answer is 'no'," she said.

She noted that US citizens were being targeted across the world which is evident from the fact that six Americans were among 164 people killed November 2008 Mumbai terror attack and three Americans were among 54 killed in a Marriott Hotel in Islamabad in September.

The recent bombings in Jakarta also targeted US hotels, she added.

Napolitano said that counter-terrorism efforts need to exploit the values of 'networks', The Washington Post reports.

Promising to strengthen 70 state-run intelligence 'fusion centers' that were started under the Bush administration, she said the nation needs better technology, training and linkages to share information with 780,000 local law enforcement agents. (ANI)