Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge will be sworn in as director of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security Monday, one day after the Unite States and Britain launched military attacks on Afghanistan.
Administration officials said President George W. Bush plans to attend Ridge's swearing-in ceremony. Vice President Dick Cheney is expected to administer the oath of office.
Ridge takes the new position at a time when U.S. officials are on "high alert" in anticipation that terrorists might respond to the U.S.-led strikes in Afghanistan by launching new attacks on U. S. targets.
Sunday's military attacks brought a fresh threat from bin Laden, who vowed that Americans "will never dream of security or see it before we live it and see it in Palestine, and not before the infidels' armies leave the land of Muhammad."
Bush gave Ridge a broad mission to develop a "coordinated, integrated national strategy to combat terrorism," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. Ridge's new office will be just a few paces away from Bush's at the White House.
McClellan said Ridge was getting a staff of nearly 100, most of them currently working for the White House or other agencies, and he will report directly to the president.
Bush must first sign an executive order creating the new cabinet-level position. It has gone through several drafts because the debate over the specific powers Ridge will have to force changes at the more than 40 government agencies with roles either in responding to or trying to prevent terrorist acts.
A Homeland Security Council consisting of Bush, Cheney, Ridge and various agency heads will tackle domestic terrorism much as the National Security Council advises the president on international affairs.
（ Xinhua News Agency 10/08/2001）
