Security Debrief

Chertoff, a cleaning company and the immigration blame game

December 11, 2008

Today’s Washington Post has a startling revelation that Consistent Cleaning Services, a local cleaning contractor, may have assigned undocumented employees to work at DHS Secretary Chertoff’s home. This was done apparently after the company assured the Chertoffs that the workers had legal status. Even more startling is the company owner’s tact to go to the Washington Post after being investigated and fined by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in what can only be viewed as a desperate attempt to be excused for his own failure to comply with the basic requirements of immigration law.

Transcript: Blogger Roundtable on the State and Future of DHS

Security Debrief |

December 10, 2008

Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security hosted the last installment of exclusive blogger roundtable events that Secretary Chertoff has been attending throughout his tenure. Below is a transcript from the event which covered the current state of DHS and future of the agency.

GREECE A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN

Security Debrief |

December 9, 2008

The definitive psychology around crowd behaviour acknowledges the concept of a personal threshold for violence, a level of threat, a situation or a culmination of events and factors that will lead someone to violence. This threshold is affected by culture, conditioning, the law, personality, alcohol, ego and bravado.

Petrucelli Family Relief Fund

Security Debrief |

December 5, 2008

As some of you know, former DHS colleague Michael Petrucelli and his family suffered a devastating tragedy this week when the Petrucelli home caught fire. Michael has been released from the hospital but his triplets are still in ICU. A website has been set up to coordinate donations to help the family during their time in need.

CRS Report: "Ocean Piracy and Its Impact on Insurance"

Security Debrief |

December 5, 2008

Congressional Research Service: “Ocean Piracy and Its Impact on Insurance” December 3, 2008 Summary Many Members of Congress are concerned about the sharp rise in pirate attacks in the strategic waterways in the Gulf of Aden off the East coast of Africa. The hijacking of a Saudi Arabiaowned oil tanker, Sirius Star, off the coast […]

Mexico's Successful National Security Policies

Security Debrief |

December 5, 2008

The violence in Mexico, as difficult as it may be to comprehend at this point, is a product of President Calderon’s successful national security policies, and the success of his security forces. The Mexican drug cartels were on the verge of becoming more powerful than the government itself. Mexico, if it aggressively and relentlessly presses the attack against the cartels, will ultimately experience a level of peace that Colombia is experiencing today.

Read the report by Commission on Prevention of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism

Security Debrief |

December 5, 2008

There has been quite a bit of news and public commentary and reaction to the just released report by the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. Read the report for yourself.

Securing our Infrastructure – How are we doing and how would we know?

Security Debrief |

December 4, 2008

Since its inception DHS has provided over $3billion of grant funding to secure the nation’s infrastructure and transportation systems. The vast majority of this funding has been provided to state and local governments for first responders, technologies to improve law enforcement capabilities, secure transportation systems, implement buffer zone protection plans, and to enable state and local governments to secure our nation. However, after all the billions of dollars invested so far, how are we doing?

Thoughts and prayers with Petrucelli family

Security Debrief |

December 4, 2008

Security Debrief has learned that former DHS colleague Michael Petrucelli and his family have suffered a tragedy last night. The Petrucelli family home caught on fire, with their two-year-old triplets inside. The children are in critical condition at the hospital.

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