They also agreed the United States remains in danger from terrorists because Homeland Security does not yet adequately defend U.S. borders or inspect containers shipped into the country.

"The enemy, the terrorists who want to infiltrate America, are doing it across our borders," Cannon said.

Less than 5 percent of containers are inspected on arrival in U.S. ports.

"It's a great concern," Cannon said. "Anybody who wants to do us harm would ship weapons here in containers."

"We need to get into the 70th and 80th percentile so we're having a real effect on what's coming in and out of the country on airplanes and through our ports," Babka said.

Cannon said the government needs to do better but has provided good funding for inspections of containers, while Babka called funding inadequate.

Cannon admitted the country has been fortunate since Sept. 11, 2001.

"The amazing thing," he said, "is we haven't had another strike since the first terrorist strike."

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