Ideology and Public Diplomacy

Flip-flops Against Chemical Security – Really GreenPeace?

February 16, 2011

GreenPeace wasted little time showing off its true colors last Friday when the group’s legislative director, Rick Hind, decided to protest during a House Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on chemical security. Waving flip-flops over his head, Rick managed to interrupt the hearing and wag the proverbial middle finger to the water sector. The fact is, GreenPeace is less concerned about chemical security than they are about just banning chlorine.

Harman's Departure from Congress

Rich Cooper |

February 8, 2011

Today’s unexpected news that Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) is departing the US House of Representatives to take over as the new Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center is a tremendous blow to the Congress and in particular House Democrats. By far one of the most powerful and influential voices on national security, homeland security and intelligence matters, Harman has been one of the real leaders in the Congress on all of these issues and has not been afraid to speak her peace regardless of whose feathers she might ruffle.

Jesse Ventura Files Suit Against TSA Citing Fourth Amendment

Security Debrief |

January 31, 2011

What is going on in this country? I see that TSA and Secretary Napolitano are being sued for doing their jobs. One-time wrestler and former-Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura has filed a law suit for screening him at airports as a violation of his Fourth Amendment rights. Funny, for a person who made a living running around without a shirt on TV and in movies, why would he be so concerned about someone screening him?

Protests in Egypt, Jordan – Different Approaches to Policing Protest

Security Debrief |

January 28, 2011

As Egypt enters its fourth day of large scale protests and serious rioting, it is becoming increasingly likely that the Egyptian Government may fall in the same way that the Tunisian Government fell two weeks ago. Protests in Jordan have been better managed than those in Egypt, revealing important lessons for policing protest.

Capitol Hill Panel on Intelligence Policy and Domestic Radicalism

Security Debrief |

January 17, 2011

A public forum will be hosted Tuesday on Capitol Hill discussing Attorney General guidelines for law enforcement domestic intelligence as it relates to homegrown radicalism. Participants include Rep. Rush Hold, Chairman of House Intelligence and Michael Isikoff, national investigative correspondent for NBC, among others.

The New Politics of Homeland Security

Rich Cooper |

January 12, 2011

In Washington, some things never change. There are and always will be vigorous debates about policies, programs and of course money. What does change are the names and faces of the people who make many of those decisions, and unless you’ve totally tuned out on the comings and goings in town, here’s a rundown of some things you should know.

Security Debrief Contributors in CQ on Arizona Shooting

Security Debrief |

January 11, 2011

In an article published today in CQ Homeland Security, Security Debrief Contributors Rich Cooper, Sam Rosenfeld, James Carafano and Security Debrief founder Chris Battle weighed in on how the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and others impacts DHS.

Round and Round We Go: Congressional Rhetoric Without Action

L. Vance Taylor |

January 11, 2011

To express their discontent, “the people” tossed out many of the old congressional leaders in the hopes of something new. Two weeks into the New Year, I’d say they haven’t exactly found the change they were looking for. If the election taught us anything, it’s that, as a nation, we’ve grown tired of the rhetoric.

A New Terrorism Warning System – Time to Decide

Security Debrief |

January 5, 2011

In July 2009, the Department of Homeland Security announced the kick-off of a 60-day task force review of the Homeland Security Advisory System. Then, in November 2010, the press reported that DHS had decided to scrap the color-coded system and would unveil the new system in several weeks. It has been 18 months since DHS announced a 60-day task force review. It’s time to decide.

London Protests – Media Misrepresentation Helps No-one

Security Debrief |

December 10, 2010

Providing accurate coverage of any protest event, especially an event where there is violence, is difficult at the best of times; the media often misunderstand or misrepresent what actually happened. However, it is rare that the media coverage of an event is as inaccurate or misleading as some of the reports I have seen concerning the violence at the student protest in London yesterday. Much of what has been written and broadcast about yesterday’s incidents does not stand up to the facts. Without naming and shaming individual media groups, there were many glaring errors.

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