Security Debrief

An Ounce of Prevention: DHS Private Sector Preparedness Programs

May 5, 2010

The attempted car bombing in Times Square and the unfolding environmental disaster in the Gulf Coast remind us of the importance of preparing for emergencies. Particularly when companies face lawsuits alleging failure to safeguard employees, customers or the community – lawsuits that are common when the unexpected occurs – companies face the question: “Should more have been done?” Two private sector preparedness programs administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can help a business’s employees, customers, and community and may even limit liability.

Enhanced Passenger Screening Requires Enhanced Airline Cooperation

Security Debrief |

May 5, 2010

It’s unclear from news reports who precisely stopped Faisal Shahzad – the would-be Times Square bomber – from departing the United States. While his name appeared to have been added to the No-Fly list on Monday afternoon, he was still able to board an Emirates Airlines flight to Dubai. While we should be grateful for the successful conclusion of a 48-hour manhunt, the last-minute rush to prevent the plane from taking off underlines the need for close cooperation and timely communication between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), particularly CBP, and the airlines.

Immigration in Arizona vs North Korea: Where do you want to live?

Security Debrief |

May 4, 2010

I recently received a rather bizarre e-mail pointing out that countries such as North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Cuba have robust border security and don’t tolerate people crossing their borders illegally. The e-mail went on to point out the generous (but inaccurately described) benefits the United States grants to people who enter our country illegally and implied that we would not have a problem with illegal entry if we just took a page from these less-than-democratic countries. While I’d like to think this was left wing satire, I’m afraid it was a serious anti-immigrant solution to the problem.

Prompt Global Strike A Step in the Right Direction

Security Debrief |

April 26, 2010

The determination to proceed with the Prompt Global Strike (PGS) weapon system by the Obama Administration, as reported by the New York Times, raises interesting questions about the long-term future of nuclear weapons. PGS is effectively a tactical nuclear weapon without the messy nuclear after-effects. The system definitely has its advocates and detractors, its good points and bad. However, in a world the President is determined to make nuclear free, it is a step in the right direction.

15 Years Later: We Must Not Forget the Oklahoma City Terrorist Bombing

Security Debrief |

April 19, 2010

Today we need to remember one of the major acts of terrorism that happened here at home – the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building. The truly scary part is that these terrorists were Americans and they killed Americans – homegrown domestic terrorists who were mad at the government and took the lives of 168 American men, women and children. I hope that others join me in remembering those who died that day. Let us not ever forget that day, as it marks the first awakening and a change in our way of life.

"Riot" Provokes Long Overdue Discussion on Appropriate Use of Force

Security Debrief |

April 16, 2010

There are instances in crowd management situations where force is appropriate, but simply because it’s a crowd management situation doesn’t mean that force is automatically appropriate. The University of Maryland incident last month wasn’t a riot; it was a celebration, but a college student was severely beaten by police officers nevertheless. The long-term implications of the ongoing investigation must be a rethink of crowd management in the United States, because the current systems predispose police officers towards violence and the abrogation of First Amendment rights where neither is appropriate. The most urgent capability gap is an understanding of, and means to manage, people who are non-violent and non-compliant.

Deputy Assistant Sec Robert Hooks to Headline BioDefense Conference

Security Debrief |

April 15, 2010

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

Chemical Security Inspections: A Houston-Style Flare-Up Providing a Moment of Lucidity?

Security Debrief |

April 7, 2010

By Chris Krebs
Over the weekend, the Houston Chronicle added some fuel to the smoldering chemical security legislation fire with an article claiming that DHS has inspected only 12 of 6,000 facilities requiring special security measures. But DHS’s chemical security activities take a multilayered approach to protection and resilience that relies on public private partnerships and interagency coordination.

US consulate attacked in Pakistan

Security Debrief |

April 5, 2010

Islamist militants attacked a U.S. consulate in northwest Pakistan with car bombs and grenades Monday, killing three people, hours after 41 people died in a suicide attack on a political rally elsewhere in the region.

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