Adfero Group HSPI

Members of Congress call for tougher border security in one breath and then demand that tougher policies be dismantled in the next. Next up: Demands for more short people who are tall.

Advice for business professionals, government workers and non-profits who may suddenly find themselves in politically volatile and potentially dangerous situations oversees.

It was disappointing to read of the deaths of eight Afghan police and one civilian during a U.S. military raid in Afghanistan. The lack of co-ordination is interesting, as it signals either a lack of faith in the Afghan police or a level of arrogance that is unacceptable in a Counter-Insurgency (COIN) operation. This kind of incident, which discredits the U.S. military in the eyes of the locals, is significantly detrimental to the overall effort.

Recent debriefings of captured al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq have provided new insight into the importance of insurgent financial networks. Abu Nawall, a captured 28-year-old al-Qaeda leader in Iraq, was responsible for managing the $6 million plus annual budget of the Mosul branch of the Islamic State of Iraq, an insurgent group formed by al-Qaeda. Abu Nawall arranged payments to the 500 plus al-Qaeda fighters in Mosul, insurgents increasingly motivated more by money than ideology. Abu Nawall readily admitted during his interrogation to have joined al-Qaeda because he was out of work and needed the money. Abu Nawall stated “How else could I support my family?”

Simply publishing the NRF will not automatically fix the problems of coordination during emergencies and disasters. Real progress will be achieved when the principles of the NRF are universally understood and embraced by the range of leaders that must act decisively in the face of a crisis. The confusion in the midst of Katrina and the inaccurate rhetoric in its aftermath provides clear evidence that the long-standing principles that should guide how America manages emergencies and disasters were not universally understood.

Last week in an interview with the Associated Press, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said: “It’s time to grow up and recognize that if we’re serious about this threat, we’ve got to take reasonable, measured but nevertheless determined steps to getting better security.”

Needless to say, the response from several Members of Congress, particularly those who represent states along the northern border with Canada, has been one of fury and outrage.

Changes at the border need to occur. They have been talked about for a long time and should come as no surprise, especially to Members of Congress and residents of these border communities.

While it may have escaped the notice of some members of Congress and maybe even some members of the media, there only remains two legislative days before the Protect America Act (FISA legislation) expires. This politically charged but vital legislation provides the authorization and warrant process intelligence officials must follow when tracking terrorist activities that lead into U.S. borders. Sources on the Hill express to me doubt that any legislation will emerge from the Intelligence Committees of the House and Senate before the bill expires.

Following the tragedy of the Minnesota bridge collapse last summer, the emergency management community has begun to face the daunting challenge of addressing weaknesses in the country’s infrastructure. This process of strengthening our resiliency will be an ongoing effort that requires participation from a diverse range of private and public stakeholders. The following news brief [...]

As of January 31, 2008, all individuals seeking to enter the U.S. at land borders will have to present documentary proof of citizenship. Until this change in policy takes effect, any individual in the Western Hemisphere can enter the United States by attesting they are a United States citizen and presenting a driver’s license. This approach places entry into our country into the realm of the honor system – a concept that has failed in our immigration policies – and relegated DHS Inspectors to the realm of bartenders attempting to distinguish a phony driver’s license from a real one.

Having DHS S&T look at technology that will assist local homeowners in the event of natural disasters may seem like heresy to those who believe that DHS should be solely focused on anti-terrorism programs, but DHS was intended to be an all-hazards agency, and this is one of the first bits of evidence that S&T is serious about helping protect lives and property irrespective of the cause.

It appears Blackwater used CS gas at the gates to the Green Zone in Baghdad during an incident in 2005. Although the incident is being portrayed as a travesty, this does have all the signs of a regrettable, and stupid, accident. I am no apologist for BW – far from it – but sometimes an accident is just that: an accident. Regardless, as the incident raises some important questions about the use of CS gas, the planning and authority for its use and ultimately, the stomach for its use.

On January 11, 2008, a Boston federal court convicted Emadeddin Muntasser, Samir Almonla, and Muhammad Mubayid of conspiring to defraud and conceal information from the U.S. government. Prosecutors proved the defendants fraudulently used the charity they ran — Care International — “to solicit and obtain tax deductible donations for the purpose of supporting and promoting the mujahedin (Muslim holy warriors) and jihad (violent armed conflict).” The defendants concealed from U.S. authorities the fact that Care was an outgrowth of and successor to the al-Kifah Refugee Center, and engaged in non-charitable activities such as the solicitation and expenditure of funds to support violent jihad. Coming on the heals of partial convictions and hung juries in other recent “material support” cases, this recent case highlights the strategic utility of charging terrorists and their supporters for ordinary criminal activities that the government can easily prosecute. Such legal strategy, however, should not cloud the fact that this was a terrorism case at heart.

While S&T’s procedures in dealing with the Broad Agency Announcements are still a “work in progress,” two answers this morning have begun to provide some clarity for the private sector. First, they announced that White Paper evaluations will occur on a WEEKLY basis. This does not mean submitters will get an answer within one week, but by meeting on a weekly basis, there is a better chance that a submission will not get lost in the process.

CQ Homeland Security’s Matt Koarde has published an article on the subject of ‘resiliency’ that is well worth the read. It is well rounded, provides a variety of thought and opinion, chronicles various experiences and encourages reflection.

Often referred to as Osama bin-Laden’s Top Lieutenant and al-Qaeda’s “Number 2″, Ayman al-Zawahiri continues to emerge as al-Qaeda’s most prominent and influential leader. The recent announcement by al-Sahab inviting journalists to send questions to al-Zawahiri (the first time media sources have been invited by al-Qaeda to interview one of its leaders since 9/11), reflects not only an attempt by the terrorist organization to reach a broader audience, but also an attempt by al-Zawahiri to portray himself as a sophisticated leader rather than just a mass murderer.

And now the latest is Ron Paul, who has run a maverick campaign based on libertarian principles — except when such principles seem to get in the way of political expediency. He has now launched an ad proclaiming himself to be the tough-on-illegal-immigrants candidate, even going so far as to call for a ban on student visas from “terrorist nations.” (Would that include France?) For a guy who is supposed to embrace civil liberties, the idea of a blanket ban of any student who comes from any “terrorist nation,” no matter how deserving the individual student, is ironic to say the least.

The new reality of the Middle East presents new challenges to US foreign policy makers as they shape future US engagements and/or disengagements in part or parts of that region. On the other hand, this new reality gives the United States a larger degree of maneuverability unthinkable of few years ago. As intelligence is key to national security strategy-making, so is cultural intelligence essential to the development of foreign policy strategies.

Congress has much to do to improve on its below-par performance on homeland security in 2007. These five priorities are good places to start: Consolidate congressional oversight of DHS; stop turning DHS grants into pork barrel grabfests; establish an Undersecretary for DHS; repeal the damaging mandate to scan 100 percent of all cargo; finish immigration reform.