Security Debrief

What Police Should be Learning From the Occupy Protests

October 26, 2011

The phrase “Occupy Movement” has taken over from Occupy Wall Street as the umbrella term for all protest groups. This shift captures not only the geographic differences, but the fact that each Occupy has its own participants, agendas and therefore must be understood as a separate entity. The Occupy movement is looking to the Arab Spring as inspiration. As time drags on, it is likely there will be increased frustration which will lead some to look for more effective or entertaining tactics. The groups with more violent intent will seek to aggravate the police into reacting violently against not only them but the whole crowd, converting far more people to be willing to fight with the police.

House Passes Asia-Pacific Travel Card Act, Expedites Foreign Travel

Security Debrief |

October 25, 2011

For almost four years, disagreements among federal agencies have impeded U.S. participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card (ABTC) program. The ABTC is meant to expedite the travel of business men and women in the Asia-Pacific region as international trade and travel has grown explosively. Today marks a huge milestone as the House of Representatives passed the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011. It allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to issue ABTCs to qualified business executives at no cost to the Treasury or taxpayers.

A Walking Economic Stimulus

Security Debrief |

October 24, 2011

Amid all of the partisan bickering over fiscal and tax policy in the Congress during 2011, it has been heartening to see a burst of bipartisan support for reforms to facilitate the travel of low-risk visitors to the United States. There have been at least three major pieces of authorizing legislation introduced in recent weeks as well as a push to reform the Departments of State and Homeland Security as part of the appropriations process. Encouraging and securing international travel does not lend itself to silver bullet solutions, but seeing the Congress increasingly recognize the economic value of travel is a positive development.

Qaddafi’s Death – Good News or Bad News?

Security Debrief |

October 21, 2011

The death of Libya’s long-ruling dictator at the hands of rebels is cause for celebration in Libya. Libyan reactions notwithstanding, it is perfectly legitimate for policymakers in Washington to ask whether the end of the Qaddafi regime is in the United States’ interests. The knee-jerk reaction that any sort of democracy anywhere in the Middle East, even if short-lived, is in U.S. interests, must be tempered with a less emotional and more analytical approach to looking at events in the context of how they impact American objectives in the region.

Whither the Export Enforcement Coordination Center

Security Debrief |

October 20, 2011

The Obama administration has made admirable and high-profile efforts toward export control reform. The President issued a November 2010 Executive Order establishing an Export Enforcement Coordination Center (EECC), to be housed within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate the efforts of the multiple federal agencies responsible for enforcing our export control laws. Despite this, the EECC still has no apparent public presence.

It’s Time for Trusted Computing

Security Debrief |

October 20, 2011

In this era of budget austerity, telework is an effective way to reduce agency costs and increase productivity. Recognizing these benefits, federal agencies have implemented telework policies and an increasing number of employees are taking advantage of the option. At the same time, however, teleworking presents significant security challenges. Agencies can reduce telework risks through the use of Trusted Computing.

A History of Violence – Does anyone still doubt Iran is a terrorist state?

Security Debrief |

October 18, 2011

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s announcement that a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and a commander in Iran’s Quds Force had been charged in New York for their alleged roles in a plot to murder the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir, represents a brazen escalation in Iran’s struggle for regional dominance. But Iran’s willingness to use brutal means to achieve its foreign-policy goals is nothing new: Since the creation of the Islamic Republic, U.S. intelligence agencies have repeatedly identified terrorism as one of the regime’s signature calling cards.

The Case for Forensic Polygraph Testing in Post-Adjudication Sexual Offender Examination and Management

Security Debrief |

October 18, 2011

By Ken Blackstone
In 1973, Judge John C. Beatty, Jr. was the first to order the use of the polygraph in the management of convicted sexual offenders. Today, the number of registered sex offenders in the U.S. and its territories exceeds half a million and they are all under some form of management. Scientifically based studies have concluded that the carefully administered, “forensic” polygraph exam, conducted properly and optimally by a qualified examiner, is 89 to 92 percent accurate. However, when any reduction from the disciplined rigors of forensic polygraph examination occurs, the reliability of the results can and must be called into question.

The Occupation of Wall Street – Does This Sound Familiar?

Security Debrief |

October 17, 2011

Like a lot of Americans, I have been watching the Occupy Wall Street drama over the past couple of weeks. Many of these Wall Street folks look like well-intentioned people exercising their first amendment rights. Others look like the kinds of counterculture “revolutionary” people who the law enforcement community was forced to deal with back in the 60s and 70s. Let’s make no mistake about it – underneath some of this protest behavior there will be a small number of violent individuals looking for an opportunity or a reason to act out.

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