Security Debrief

Cop Car of the Future Here Today

Cool video of the world’s first car designed by law enforcement for law enforcement.

FOIA and Alternative Media – Correcting Mischaracterizations

The U.S. Coast Guard says that the “Coast Guard Report,” a blog which is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard, simplified and mischaracterized information provided by Admiral Thad Allen during a Department of Defense sponsored Bloggers Roundtable regarding potential distinctions between bloggers and traditional journalists. (Security Debrief had published a repost of the Coast Guard Report’s comments.)

Keeping Our Eye on the Ball — Al Qaeda Still a Threat

Reports that Al Qaeda is imploding are vastly exaggerated.

Implications of the Financial Crisis

The financial crisis continues to spread, within the past two weeks, we have seen the fall of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and AIG in the US alone. (In the United Kingdom HBOS has fallen, with others on rocky ground, and in Australia Macquarie Bank is likewise at risk.)

These are fiscal events, and many in the security and law enforcement arenas (for the two are different, despite the perceptions of many that expertise in one translates to expertise in the other) are thinking about their own personal finances, but not about the implications for their operations.

At Least 40 Killed in Huge Explosion at Pakistan Hotel

As flames engulfed the hotel, which is popular with foreigners including diplomats and also rich Pakistanis, police said there were still people trapped inside.

Bush: "We Are At War with Extremists"

President Bush said Wednesday that the attack on the U.S. embassy in the capital of Yemen was a reminder that the United States remains “at war” with ideological extremists.

Breaking News: Islamic Militants Attack US embassy in Yemen

Islamist militants have attacked the US embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa with a car bomb and rockets, causing “multiple casualties,” an embassy spokesman said. Sixteen people, including six soldiers, six militants and four bystanders, were killed in the twin car bombing, the interior ministry said.

Hurricane-Force Irresponsibility II

Our hearts go out to the families dislocated by the destruction wrought by Hurricane Ike. Going back now, however, isn’t the answer. The mayor of Galveston is literally begging residents to stay away, noting that the city cannot possibly provide a safe environment and is nearing a health crisis. Folks returning are only adding to that crisis.

Hurricane-Force Irresponsibility

Evolving pictures and video tell the predictable story about citizens in Galveston who chose to ignore dire warnings to evacuate … going from clowning photo opps on the sea wall as Ike roared in to video of flattened homes and businesses and residents in distress.