menu

Contributor:

Security Debrief

Turmoil in Egypt – Military Rule After Morsi

|
July 4, 2013

The Egyptian army’s toppling of the country’s Islamist President Muhammad Morsi is the culmination of a year of political and social discontent and economic crisis in Egypt. The current situation requires U.S. policymakers to rethink whether democracy is such a good idea for all societies, at least in the short-term. Perhaps a benevolent military dictatorship that moves the country in the direction of a democratic culture, strong institutions, and a robust civil society is preferable to bringing into power populist movements that aren’t committed to democracy.

▾ Read More

NATO Meeting to Address Alliance Cybersecurity and Defense

|
July 1, 2013

At the beginning of June, NATO held the first Alliance meeting of ministers dedicated exclusively to the subject of cyber defense. this comes at a time when countries are strapped for funds and citizens have little appetite for additional defense expenditures. In the months ahead, NATO will decide how to support members that are the target of cyber attack and request aid. As always, the real test resides in the manner and extent to which agreed-upon principles are operationalized.

▾ Read More

Corporations Attempting to Influence Law Enforcement, Terrorism Charges

|
June 24, 2013

Corporate security has a role to play in protecting a company against protesters. There is a growing trend, however, in allegations of corporate interference with the manner in which law enforcement does their job, including attempting to influence what charges are brought and involvement in decision making on the ground. This should be alarming for law enforcement, the protesters and the shareholders of the companies themselves.

▾ Read More

The NSA and Our Great Surveillance Society

|
June 12, 2013

The most interesting part of watching the current debates over the NSA surveillance leak has been the predictable reaction of the participants. After all the paranoia, insults and investigations, where are we going to be? Pretty much were we started. Welcome to the Great Surveillance Society.

▾ Read More

A DHS Cabinet Officer Goes – the Problems Remain

|
June 12, 2013

The Director of National Intelligence James Clapper tells the story of long-time, overburdened government workers – the“we-be’s” – dealing with the ever changing politically appointed leaders in the Executive Branch. Simply put, the government workers always remember – “we be here before you, and we be here after.” The same “continuity” goes for at least five issues outgoing-Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s successor will face at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

▾ Read More

Cybersecurity Incentives – What Do We have, What Do We Need?

|
June 11, 2013

The implementation of President Obama’s executive order on cybersecurity is appropriately turning to incentives. These ideas makes sense; for the framework under the EO to decrease our nation’s risk from cyber threats, however, the incentives will actually have to realize meaningful adoption of standards among critical infrastructure owners and operators. As they say, the Devil’s in the details, and the details are where this laudable focus on incentives will need to motivate companies to adopt the EO framework.

▾ Read More

On The Knife’s Edge – Obama’s Counterterrorism Speech

|
May 23, 2013

President Obama delivered a major counterterrorism speech this afternoon laying out America’s modified approach to this ever-dangerous issue. In it, Obama has once again made a run at closing most of Gitmo. He also is beginning to move the use of drones away from CIA and back to the Defense Department.

▾ Read More

A Catch-22 For The Join Detention Group At Guantanamo

|
May 17, 2013

There are 166 detainees at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, and more than half are on a hunger strike to protest their imprisonment. The Joint Detention Group at Guantanamo is in an impossible situation. On the one hand, they are obligated to look after the detainees and keep them alive. On the other hand, their efforts to do so are criticized, with some seeming to suggest forced feeding rivals the water-boarding controversy of years past.

▾ Read More

Contributor Southers Speaks At House Hearings on Boston Bombings

|
May 9, 2013

The House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing today to discuss the Boston Marathon bombings. Among the witnesses was Security Debrief contributor Erroll Southers. His testimony presents critical insight into homegrown violent extremism and the steps counterterrorism and law enforcement can and should take to better address the ever-present threat of terrorism.

▾ Read More