State and Local

Thailand Shows the Incredible Cost of Inadequate Crowd Management Tactics

May 17, 2010

The endgame appears to have begun for the protests in Bangkok, as security forces take an increasingly hard line and casualties are mounting. There is no doubt that the government had to take action, as the impact of the protests has started to cause real damage to the Thai economy. But the appropriate use of vehicles, faster, more dynamic tactics, and better use of their water cannon could have prevented most of the injuries and deaths we have seen and many of those that are still to occur. The lessons here are that the training and tactics for dealing with disorder must be designed to suit the type of threat you face in your country or city.

Visa Waiver Program Not a Primary Contributor to Illegal Immigrant Population

Security Debrief |

May 12, 2010

Reporting from ground zero in the immigration debate, the Arizona Republic recently wrote that a large number of illegal immigrants entered the United States legally with visas but never left. DHS’s picture of overstay rates has come into greater focus over the past several years. As a result, we can say with much more certainty that the vast majority of these “overstayers” did not enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Heat and Feedback on “The System Worked”

Rich Cooper |

May 7, 2010

Since posting my blog, “The System Worked,” on Security Debrief and several other social media sites commending the work of law enforcement, intelligence and others in the capture of the failed Times Square bomber, I’ve received lots of feedback. And I couldn’t be happier. Everyone offered a number of good points that brought thought and debate to this still unfolding situation. While I can’t respond to all of the points raised, I wanted to tackle a few of the arguments that people posed to my blog.

Senator asks for delay of Arizona law

Media Watch |

May 7, 2010

Senator asks for delay of Arizona law – Government Executive
Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on Thursday asked Arizona’s Republican governor to delay implementation of a state law that gives police the power to detain and question anybody suspected of being in the country illegally.

Gushing Oil May Drown Proposal to Curb Coast Guard Funding

Media Watch |

May 5, 2010

Gushing Oil May Drown Proposal to Curb Coast Guard Funding – CQ Homeland Security
With Coast Guard officers and cutters leading the disaster response in the Gulf of Mexico, an unpopular Obama administration proposal to reduce the agency’s funding in fiscal 2011 is quickly becoming even less popular on Capitol Hill.

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.

The System Worked: Faisal Shahzad's Failed Bomb in Times Square

Rich Cooper |

May 4, 2010

For what seemed an endless series of weeks, DHS Secretary Napolitano was mercilessly mocked and derided for uttering three words following the failed Christmas Day bombing of Northwest Flight 253 – she stated, “The system worked.” As debatable as those words may have been to describe the failed intelligence and cooperation efforts, they seem to be the only words that accurately describe the unfolding results of the capture of the suspected and failed Times Square bomber, Faisal Shahzad.

Oversight panel leaders push on Fort Hood inquiry

Media Watch |

April 29, 2010

Oversight panel leaders push on Fort Hood inquiry – Government Executive
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Wednesday they have made one more offer to get the Obama administration’s cooperation in the committee’s inquiry into the November Fort Hood shootings, but indicated they would have to seek authorization for a subpoena.

Nurturing our Roots: K-12 Education and Homeland Security

Rich Cooper |

April 27, 2010

Secretary Napolitano has spent considerable time of late getting in front of higher education leaders and students. From her speech at Harvard’s Kennedy School on resilience to meeting with nearly ten university presidents, a significant portion of her valuable time has been spent talking about DHS and the homeland security community’s critical needs that will have to be satisfied by the next generation’s workforce. We cannot hope to build a resilient society and create a culture of preparedness if we do not look after the roots of our nation’s educational system, and investing in America’s K-12 teachers is a way to do it.

Immigration Reform – An Unavoidable Collision Course

Rich Cooper |

April 26, 2010

A couple of weeks ago, right after the final Health Care Bill vote, I was asked by some friends and business colleagues what I thought the chances were for Congress to tackle immigration reform this year. I looked at them, laughed and said, “Are you kidding?” Regardless of what political prognosticators and TV pundits may say, to me this was a no-win issue for Democrats and Republicans and both sides would avoid it at all costs before November’s mid-term elections. But the Arizona Governor’s signature last week of the toughest immigration bill in the country is literally forcing the hands of both political parties to skate on perilously thin ice in an election year when it comes to their political bases.

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