Are the World's Most-Secure Locations Safe?

April 12, 2007 — -- The White House, the Louvre, the Academy Awards: their layers of security are so intense, the chance of a full-fledged attack seems highly unlikely.

Or maybe not. The bomb that rocked Iraq's parliament building Thursday and killed at least eight people was a reminder that even the most-guarded places on earth can be penetrated by deadly forces.

Those who have been there attest that everyone who enters the Green Zone must clear a series of up to five separate checkpoints. The scrutiny is intense -- metal detectors, full-body detection wands, ID checks and cold-faced guards.

While an investigation will be needed to determine the source of the bomb, one veteran security specialist believes it's possible the explosive was smuggled into the Green Zone by someone on the inside.

"One of the very possible scenarios is that one of these satchels of explosives may have been brought in by people we trust," said Lou Palumbo, president of the Elite Security Agency and a former law enforcement official who has been involved in private security for more than two decades.

Palumbo speculated that a diplomat or other trustworthy figure could have skirted security and sneaked in the bomb. He said that despite comprehensive security checks in the Green Zone, certain people manage to avoid inspection because of their status -- just as before 9/11, senators and congressman often got around security lines in the U.S. Capitol.

In Iraq, "when you enter the Green Zone the vehicle is inspected. ... But if you're a diplomat or you have a certain level of immunity, you can carry in a trunk and they're not going to look at it," he said.

Intrigue dramas such as "24" and "Ocean's 11" keep fans on the edge of their seats with the insider or the mole: the connected character who helps an outsider breach the most air-tight institutions. Security analysts say that in real life, just about anyone can get in just about anywhere with the aid of someone on the inside.

"The integrity of the security solution ... clearly is an important factor," said James Schmitt, senior vice president of the international security consultancy firm ArmorGroup. "It's only as strong as its weakest link, so if there were to be a compromise of any individuals entrusted to provide security, that could be an extreme risk. That could mean the total elimination of the integrity of that process."