Tempting Piranhas

by Bill Wyatt

America's top Coast Guard official waded into murky waters today as he asked state legislators to consider efforts to require licensing for the nation's 77 million boaters.

"I'm trying to stick my toe in the waters to see if it gets bit by piranhas," said Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.  "At some point, the country needs to talk about what an adequate maritime security regime looks like."

Admiral Allen described the many security changes the Coast Guard has made since the terrorist attack on the USS Cole and on September 11.  But he said the biggest threat that remains is the unfettered access to our maritime borders by small vessels.

Listen to Admiral Allen talk about how licensing boaters will allow the Coast Guard to better protect our borders.