October 17, 2006

Secretary Michael Chertoff

On Monday, October 16, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, a 1978 graduate of Harvard Law School, addressed a large crowd of students, faculty and guests in Ames Courtroom. The event was organized by Professor Charles Ogletree as part of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute's Saturday School speaker series.

Chertoff's remarks focused on current challenges posed by the war on terror, as well as the Homeland Security department's "sobering responsibility" to prevent another terrorist attack. A former federal prosecutor and appellate judge, Chertoff argued that the struggle against global terrorism should be considered a war rather than a law enforcement matter. This distinction, Chertoff says, allows the federal government to pursue a range of anti-terrorist tactics, such as domestic surveillance and monitoring international financial networks.

"Before 9/11, the tools that existed had not been fashioned for a war on terror, but on criminal prosecution," Chertoff said.

At the conclusion of his speech, Chertoff took questions from a long line of audience members.

A webcast of the event is available here. You must have RealPlayer for viewing.