Adfero Group HSPI

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 The U.K. Ministry of Justice recently released draft guidance for the Act, and there are some major distinctions between it and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.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.

What has been curiously missing from the Arizona immigration debate is that back in 1996 Congress passed a federal law giving state and local governments (and their law enforcement organizations) the right to enforce immigration law. On the one hand the federal government is suing Arizona for authorizing local law enforcement to coordinate with federal authorities regarding illegal immigration; on the other hand, the federal government is simultaneously requesting such assistance from local governments.

The TSA has sent out a blunt warning to cargo shippers: There are only 5 days before the requirement to screen 100 percent of all passenger air cargo kicks in. The TSA has spent the last year urging shippers to prepare for this change. And so they are asking: Are you prepared?

In 2008, when the then Obama Campaign issued its proposed vision for homeland security, it impressed a lot of people when it described the creation of a national infrastructure bank. This federally chartered structure would fund critical projects around the country by making the necessary investments in roads, bridges, utilities and more. Despite having windows of opportunity with the 2009 Recovery Act, last year’s budget cycle and even this year’s Appropriations process, the Obama Administration has failed to provide any leadership initiative or requisite details on making the bank a real 21st century tool for renewing and investing in America’s infrastructure. Even with Members of both political parties open to the idea and wanting to see how it would operate, the details for this concept seemed to be as vacuous as the leadership to make it happen.

The hunt for someone to lead the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began in 2009, but it wasn’t until June this year that the Senate confirmed John Pistole as administrator. Security Debrief followed the confirmation process every step of the way and found the latest development in this week’s Air Cargo Week.

Over the past years more than a dozen agreements to share information about criminals have been signed with our Visa Waiver Program (VWP) partners. Known as Preventing and Combating Serious Crime (PCSC), these agreements stem from the more robust VWP information sharing requirements mandated by the 9/11 Act. Significant work remains to be done to complete bilateral agreements with each VWP country. A few countries have resisted the VWP’s core information-sharing requirements, and it is therefore imperative for DHS to continue to communicate a firm message on the necessity of timely compliance and clearly signal the costs of backward movement to VWP participants.

Since posting my blog, “The System Worked,” on Security Debrief and several other social media sites commending the work of law enforcement, intelligence and others in the capture of the failed Times Square bomber, I’ve received lots of feedback. And I couldn’t be happier. Everyone offered a number of good points that brought thought and debate to this still unfolding situation. While I can’t respond to all of the points raised, I wanted to tackle a few of the arguments that people posed to my blog.

The BioDefense Conference will be held on May 3rd and 4th at the Capital Hilton in DC.

The Associated Press is reporting that a South Korean naval ship was sunk near North Korean waters, and the Government of South Korea has not ruled out the possibility of an attack by its northern rival.

The House Science subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing today on next generation passenger screening technologies, or at least, I thought that was its purpose from the title of the hearing. But for Subcommittee Chairman Rep. David Wu (D-OR), the purpose seemed to be something else.

Erroll Southers became a political scapegoat for Senator DeMint to send a message to the White House. It’s unfortunate. Southers has more than thirty years of experience in the law enforcement and homeland security environment. Unfortunately – and ironically – he is too apolitical to know how to expertly maneuver through Washington’s often perilous political landscape. He’s a law enforcement professional, not a politician.

Never one to pass up sticking my nose in the middle of an argument I can’t resist commenting on fellow bloggers Stewart Baker’s, David Olive’s and Sam Rosenfeld’s posts. Continuing the “questions” theme, policy musing and debates, like Stewart and David’s, are necessary for oversight committees and policy staff. What we haven’t solved are the less glamorous logistical problems, the unpopular questions about risk, and the truth about what technology can or can’t do for us. These are issues that need to be solved or answered before realizing a robust security system.

While we absolutely must examine the systemic failures that missed the terrorist and enabled him to board a US-bound aircraft — including the activities in isolation at both airports — we should also be examining exactly how this type of device wasn’t predicted and counter-measures developed.

I was dismayed by the Obama Administration’s claim that our security apparatus worked in terms of foiling the intended attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Detroit-bound Northwest Flight 253. To quote Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, “One thing I’d like to point out is that the system worked.” No, what we have witnessed was a monumental failure of the system.

Security Debrief is dedicated to bringing its readers the latest and most insightful expert opinions on homeland security matters everyday. During the holiday season, however – from December 24 to January 3 – Security Debrief will slow its pace in publishing original content. We’re not going completely quiet, especially with the recent attempted terrorist attack on Detroit-bound Flight 253. So check in when you can, and definitely resume your daily read come January 4, at which time we will resume full service, daily postings.

With all of the attention on global warming coming out of Copenhagen, we thought it worth reposting Security Debrief contributor Scott Borgerson’s article in Foreign Affairs journal, arguing that, thanks to global warming, the Arctic icecap is rapidly melting, opening up access to massive natural resources and creating shipping shortcuts that could save billions of dollars a year. But there are currently no clear rules governing this economically and strategically vital region. Unless Washington leads the way toward a multilateral diplomatic solution, the Arctic could descend into armed conflict.

DoD has recently launched a new website — Defense.gov — that integrates all of the latest social media tools into DoD’s website and communications strategies. DoD is perhaps the most traditional and operational-security-conscious department in the federal government; nonetheless, it is moving aggressively to join the online debate already taking place — and inadvertently highlighting just how far behind the Department of Homeland Security is when it comes to engaging the public via the crucial social media environment.