Adfero Group HSPI

There have been a number of media reports that address heightened concerns in Israel with respect to the possibility that the ongoing strife in Syria may result in Syria transferring chemical weapons and other significant military hardware to Lebanon for safekeeping with Hizballah. The weapons systems could include long-range missiles, anti-aircraft systems and missiles with chemical warheads. It is thought that these weapons are currently securely under the control of elements of the Syrian military loyal to Bashar Assad, but it is unclear as to what might happen should the regime be on the verge of collapse.

Change is on the horizon for DHS leadership. While Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s health seems to be fine and she appears to be in decent political shape (there aren’t rampant calls for her resignation or her being driven from office), the odds are she will leave her post next January regardless of whether her boss, President Barack Obama, is re-elected or not. Here are some likely candidates for DHS Secretary.

Here’s hoping TSA has a sense of humor in the stressful holiday travel season.

According to multiple reports last week, a Russian-based hacker launched a cyber attack on a drinking water utility in Illinois that destroyed one of its water pumps. Not only does this mark the first successful international cyber attack on U.S. critical infrastructure, but it’s going to serve as a rallying cry for adversaries and idiots everywhere to try taking down drinking water and wastewater systems. Simply put, this attack is a game changer.

In 2004 and 2008, a congressionally charted commission studied the threat of Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) to U.S. critical infrastructure. They concluded there were real and serious dangers to worry about. With the help Richard Weitz at the Hudson Institute, we conducted what we think is the first ever survey of what Washington has done with the information. In “Before the Lights Go Out: A Survey of EMP Preparedness Reveals Significant Shortfalls,” we conclude–not much.

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.

This morning’s Politico contains a story suggesting Texas Governor Rick Perry believes Predator drones should be used for border surveillance purposes on the U.S.’s southwest border. While the headline may have been more suggestive than the now-presidential candidate actually said, the idea of using Predators is one Governor Perry ought to revisit, and quickly.

The elaborate extortion bomb hoax in Sydney is an active reminder that extortion and kidnap for ransom are very real threats. This threat is real, not only in Australia but globally. Extortion through terror is often dismissed as some form of Latin American phenomenon, but that simply isn’t true. If something can be imagined, it can be done.

By Frank Cilluffo and Clinton Watts
Last week, Gregory Johnsen of the blog Waq-al-Waq crafted a thoughtful response to our article “Yemen & Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula: Exploiting a Window of Counterterrorism Opportunity.” Below is our response to further what we believe to be a particularly important debate. We begin by addressing Johnsen’s conclusion and then discuss each of his points individually.

I recently had the opportunity to participate at the National Fusion Center Conference. As I reviewed the conference agenda and spoke to those in attendance, I noticed that there were a fair number of breakout sessions covering the topic of religious or political radicalization in the United States. Just by conducting a cursory examination of a few of the more recent terrorist incidents here, it becomes clear that there are many seemingly innocuous incidents every day could lead law enforcement to early identification of radicalized people bent on terrorism within the United States.

You may not have heard about the news conference held by Pakistan’s army and intelligence chiefs claiming credit for finding Osama bin Laden. Me either. But I got word of it second-hand and have a transcript. It’s fascinating. Check it out.

President Barack Obama announced Sunday that Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda terrorist organization, is dead

In this April Fools Edition, we’ve collected some stories the rest of the media somehow missed.

To understand the scope of the devastation wrought upon Japan, watch this terrifying first-person video of an individual caught in the middle of the Tsunami. Keep in mind that a Tsunami does not come crashing in, like the waves of a hurricane, but is a wall of water that just keeps coming. The video gets worse and worse as the minutes pass.

At the height of the 1988 Presidential campaign, George H. W. Bush stood at the podium of the Republican National Convention and uttered: “Read my lips, no new taxes!” Now, fast forward to 2000, where a young Senator from Illinois (Barack Obama) promised to close down the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. After two years in office, reality sets in. Bush couldn’t hold back new taxes, and now Obama can’t close Guantanamo. Reality bites, and this is one of those times for Barack Obama.

As you may have noticed, we’ve slowed the pace of publishing through the Christmas week and the week leading up to New Year’s. We’ll continue to publish sporadically during this period — and don’t worry, we’ll back in full force after the New Year.

I’ve watched with some frustration and amusement the coverage that has unfolded regarding DHS’ announcement earlier this week of working with Wal-Mart as part of its “See Something, Say Something” campaign. The coverage has been pretty cynical, and that’s really disappointing. The truth is there is probably no better company in America to aid this country’s bad days than the worldwide enterprise headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. The partnership DHS is putting forward with Wal-Mart to engage the public in keeping an eye out for things of concern makes perfect sense on so many levels.

Secretary Ridge will discuss the security environment facing the United States. He will offer his unique insights into existing and emerging threats, recent overseas terror alerts and U.S. engagement with the rest of the world.

Billions of dollars are spent worldwide each year on homeland security and counterterrorism-related products and services. A good deal of that business is transacted in the United States and the United Kingdom. This rapidly developing marketplace is highly competitive – not everyone plays by the rules, and the rules are getting tougher. On April 8, 2010, the U.K. Parliament passed the Bribery Act 2010. The U.K. Ministry of Justice recently released draft guidance for the Act, and there are some major distinctions between it and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

By Dawn M. Lurie and Kevin Lashus
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of Investigations (OI) in Arizona released a snap-shot of its weekly operations. The report provides evidence of the increasing worksite enforcement activity affecting employers. Some may be questioning whether the snap-shot is representative of national trends: we are of the opinion it is. What should employers do? Be proactive. At a minimum, review and correct your I-9s before ICE does.