menu

Topic:

Intelligence

The End of Richard Clarke – A Response

|
August 17, 2011

Fellow Security Debrief contributor Rich Cooper recently posted a piece about comments Richard Clarke made in an upcoming documentary, in which he suggests former CIA Director George Tenet and others led a cover-up to keep from the White House and FBI intelligence that could have stopped the 9/11 attacks. Not having heard Clarke’s statements on the forthcoming documentary, I cannot speak to the validity or falsehood of his claims. But I respectfully disagree with Cooper that such unproven statements constitute the end of a distinguished career, or at least, the end of the days of informed statements.

▾ Read More

9/11 Conspiracy Theories and the End of Richard Clarke

|
August 17, 2011

The homeland security and national security community is full of all types of personalities, and there are few personalities as polarizing as Richard Clarke. As a former senior official, he made quite the reputation for himself. Clarke has never shied away from making headlines or making waves. In an upcoming documentary, Clarke points a finger at former CIA Director George Tenet claiming the CIA conducted a cover-up to hide information about the 9/11 terrorist attacks from the White House and FBI. Whether he’s anxious to be on the media circuit in the pre-9/11 anniversary days or just anxious to burn any remaining bridges he has left to former colleagues, Clarke’s charges are slanderous without any proof.

▾ Read More

Big Brother and the Thought Police

|
August 11, 2011

For the past several years, DHS has quietly been testing various forms of advanced technology to identify, detect and deter criminal and/or terrorist acts before they happen. It appears DHS is trying to emulate the Tom Cruise movie “Minority Report.” Yet, several experts believe that relying on the current technology will create many false positives, targeting innocent people for additional questioning and slowing down security queues at busy airports. We don’t need to waste scarce government monetary resources trying to develop “thought crime software.”

▾ Read More

10 Years On – Pausing to Remember 9/11

|
August 10, 2011

As the 10-year mark since the attacks of September 11 approaches, the images I saw from my house across the Hudson River are still fresh in my mind. It was a defining moment for our country. The event took friends from us too soon, changed our ideas of safety, changed our understanding of the vulnerabilities in our systems, and had a profound impact on all of us, both as individuals and as a country. As we approach the 10-year commemorative, we pause to reflect the journey 10 years on.

▾ Read More

Obama Sending Mixed Messages in Counterterrorism Strategy

|
July 29, 2011

Recent developments in terror threats against the United States are at odds with the latest counterterrorism line coming out of the White House. We need some new thinking.

▾ Read More

HEZBOLLAH: PARTY OF FRAUD

|
July 28, 2011

I published a piece in Foreign Affairs about the terrorist organization, Hezbollah, and their new role in the Lebanese government. With Iran’s economy weakening, and Syria in political turmoil, Hezbollah has launched a crime wave to gather funds, something Western countries should leverage to hurt the organization’s legitimacy and support.

▾ Read More

Body language, situational awareness and deception

|
July 16, 2011

Book Review: You Say More Than You Think By Janine Driver | Law Enforcement & Security Consulting Understanding body language, non-verbal communication is not done in an effort to read other people’s minds. Instead reading micro expressions and gestures is about getting an understanding of the situation, or establishing situation awareness based on the ongoing […]

▾ Read More

ATF's "Fast and Furious" Speculation and Facts

|
June 29, 2011

If you have been following the news reports concerning ATF’s Operation “Fast and Furious,” you are acutely aware that CBP agent Brian Terry was killed in the line of duty and some of the weapons found at the scene have been traced back to what is now known as “Operation Fast and Furious.” For various political reasons, including conspiracy theories, there has been and continues to be a feeding frenzy by reporters and commentators on both the left and the right. Everyone needs to take a step back, take a deep breath and look at the facts.

▾ Read More

UN Security Council Changes Sanctions After Bin Laden's Death

|
June 28, 2011

On June 17, the UN Security Council enacted sweeping changes to the international sanctions regime against al Qaeda and the Taliban. The Security Council adopted two resolutions aimed at dividing al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the wake of Usama bin Laden’s death, creating a consolidated list of those understood to be supporting al Qaeda.

▾ Read More

Will San Francisco Ever Get It?

|
June 17, 2011

San Francisco is beautiful, historic and diverse. But as nice as that city is, I remain disturbed by its anti-military reputation. The SF Police and Human Rights Commission held hearings on Joint Terrorism Task Force operations in San Francisco. The hearings specifically addressed the FBI Domestic Investigations and Operations Guidelines that allow the JTTF to commence an investigation/surveillance without a direct nexus to criminal activity. I wonder if residents of San Francisco and the SFPD will ever “get it.”

▾ Read More