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Underwear Bombs – Making the Case, Again, for Risk-Based Security

The discovery by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the latest iteration of an underwear bomb seemed to provide unsolicited attacks on TSA, and has increased the intensity of the discussion surrounding TSA’s effectiveness or ineptitude, depending on your bias. The press has focused on the success of the CIA – and rightly so – but TSA detractors should be wary to discount the existence of TSA. The current passenger checkpoint screening and machinery have forced al-Qaeda to resort to desperate attempts at bomb concealment with far less explosive impact.

DHS to Close Permanently! Pistole Pleads the Fifth! Trump Sues for UBL Death Certificate! Really?!

In Security Debrief’s annual April Fools coverage, we’ve collected some stories the rest of the media somehow missed.

The Right Name for a Very-Right Award

I have to admit, when I got the e-mail notice that DHS Secretary Napolitano had established the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience, I went, “Huh? What’s this about?” I drew a complete blank at the name, but then remembered – Rick Rescorla was an American hero long before he safely evacuated over 2,700 Morgan Stanley employees from the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001. DHS and the Secretary got this absolutely right when they selected Rick Rescorla as the namesake for the resilience award.

A New Report on Suicide Bombing Against Public Transportation in Israel

The Mineta Transportation Institute just released a study on a number of bus bombing attacks on the Israeli transportation system during the Second Intifadah (roughly 2001-2005). The study provides some useful data on the modus operandi of suicide bombers. As in any sort of industrial production, the end product is only a small part of the overall effort. These terrorist organizations included highly-skilled and specialized personnel that carried out recruitment, intelligence, IED manufacture, logistics, public relations, funding.

Syria's Chemical Weapons in the Hands of Hizballah?

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.

Who will be the Next Homeland Security Secretary?

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.

AUTHORITIES MISTAKENLY ARREST FOUR U.S. CITIZENS FOR BEING UNDOCUMENTED

Authorities in Southern California wrongly arrested four U.S. citizens through the Secure Communites federal immigration enforcement program, the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday.

DHS BULK CASH SMUGGLING CENTER FOLLOWS THE MONEY

A small Department of Homeland Security office in Vermont helped disrupt one of the largest cocaine smuggling operations ever broken up by US agents, the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said yesterday.

TSA Holiday Ditty: Grandma Got Molested at the Airport

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

Drinking Water Utility Attack – A Cyber Security Game Changer

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.