Adfero Group HSPI

The United States continues to have much to learn from our allies across the Pond. While Quick was photographed holding sensitive security documents, the British media did not publish the photos until after the operation was completed. A joint government-media body warned news organizations that publication of the photo would “seriously damage national security.” And the media listened.

Based on an article in today’s New York Times, the Administration may begin sharing its views and strategy on implementing immigration reform as early as May. One can already envision the pro- and anti-immigration fronts mobilizing, in preparation for another drama-filled showing of the national divide on this issue.

Those working and living along the US-Mexican border are hopeful that the new attention of the Administration will finally solve the long simmering problems, improve security and eliminate any trade frictions. Secretary Napolitano is to be commended for making a new effort, outlining some innovative solutions, and going to Mexico to talk directly with her counterparts in the effort to coordinate a bilateral approach to this problem.

My fellow Americans, the men and women of ICE are not our enemies, they are not Nazi’s and they are not jackbooted thugs. They are brave, well trained WORKING Americans that were hired to do a job. Their job is to enforce the law. This is pretty easy to understand — except on Capitol Hill it would appear.

Today’s USA Today features a compelling video on the Port of Savannah. This port, like many ports in America is suffering tremendously from the economic slump. Given these challenges to America’s ports, it seems illogical to implement the 100 percent scanning mandate.

A good engagement strategy starts with having a defined message and knowing where you want to strategically position your organization. Engagement in new media involves a loss of control, that’s what makes it such a transparent and authentic medium. Once your organization gets over its initial fear of criticism and pulls the trigger, you can use these insights to your advantage.

A riot is not a riot because the media says so, and a crowd is not well controlled because the media say so. However, those distinctions look awfully thin when the bank or the local PD are being roundly criticised for being unable to handle a protest that gets out of hand, particularly if it was mishandled and the police either were, or were not but allow themselves to be portrayed as, an incendiary rather than de-escalatory influence.

As a people, Americans have long harbored suspicions with any one holding too much power. We believe in and hold fast to a checks and balance system, but in a world whose operations function faster than the speed of light 24-7, 365 days a year, finding those safeguards to absolute power will be a tremendous challenge especially when it comes to creating the White House cyber czar.

As outlined in the various media reports, the cyber czar’s reach would extend beyond the public sector sphere of influence into the private sector and have the ability (and authority) to shut cyber networks down if an attack on them is underway. With oversight over the various federal budgets, programs and policies in these areas, as well as cybersecurity standards for the public and private sectors,

It wasn’t surprising to hear that in a recent discussion with Mexico our government accepted some responsibility for aiding Mexican drug cartels by way of demand for drugs and gun smuggling. Are we employing the correct risk management tools to efficiently and effectively use the resources we have? Are we using a risk management analysis that includes guilt and shame instead of objective factors?

Recently, the TSA has begun the initial launch of Secure Flight which gives the agency the ability to mitigate risk in a significant way. Authorities have known since then that checking passenger behaviors and backgrounds is an important key in defeating the terrorists.

Today’s House Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee hearing on “Priorities Enforcing Immigration Law” got off to a delayed and roaring thud. ICE Director of Investigations Marcy Foreman was unequivocal in her response to Rogers. Contrary to a statement in a Washington Post story, Foreman stated that ICE has not received any instructions from DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano about a change in policy in enforcing immigration laws.

Building off of many of the recommendations of the recently issued CSIS study, Sens. Rockefeller (D-WV) and Snowe (R-ME) are preparing to introduce legislation to establish the Office of the National Cybersecurity Adviser which would report directly to the President.

Yesterday, the FBI announced that more than 7,000 schoolchildren in Puerto Rico had their identities stolen by an identity-ring supplying illegal aliens with Puerto Rican birth certificates and Social Security numbers. With this information, the aliens could get drivers licenses, credit, and, of course, jobs.

Color him flabbergasted. CQ Homeland Security reports that Harold Rogers of Kentucky, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, is disturbed that ICE is not only releasing illegal workers arrested during worksite enforcement raids but also giving them permission to return to work. And he plans to do some raiding of his own today when senior ICE officials come before his committee. “They better come well-armed,” he warns.

There is always a danger whenever you put something in writing – your words may come back and haunt you or be used against you. Such was the case of Bruce Fein, one of the witnesses at today’s hearing, “The Future of Fusion Centers: Potential Promise and Dangers” before the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment.

HS Today interviews Catalyst Partners’ Dave McWhorter about the progress that the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology (SAFETY) Act has made since its enactment in 2003.

The use of assault tactics by small organized groups of heavily armed assailants who either seize hostages or kill indiscriminately is certainly not new. Between 1995 and 2004, Chechen rebels staged three major armed assaults in Russia. Even the United States has not been immune to the danger of planned armed assaults. A list of post 9/11 terrorist plots against the United States includes a August 2005 conspiracy by a Pakistani national who was arrested planning an attack on the Israeli consulate, California National Guard facil­ities, and other targets in Southern California.