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A Security, Tourism and Trade Package for U.S. Allies

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August 23, 2011

The 10th anniversary of 9/11 will bring many retrospectives. But DHS should not lose sight of current programs and policies and the current political context. That means focusing on security measures that simultaneously bolster the economy. DHS has plenty of opportunities to do both. Here is a “security, tourism and trade” package that can be offered to U.S. allies to: (1) strengthen mutual security efforts; (2) bolster the economy by increasing tourism and trade; and (3) grow alliances with new and old global partners.

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Obama halts some immigration cases

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August 18, 2011

from Metro Desk The Obama administration took one of its boldest steps yet toward addressing illegal immigration today by announcing it would halt potentially thousands of cases in federal immigration court if they do not involve criminals or people with flagrant immigration violations. Related articles, courtesy of Zemanta: U.S. to review 300,000 deportation cases ACLU […]

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9/11 Conspiracy, Clarke Comments Generate Response

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August 18, 2011

My recent post on Richard Clarke has generated a lot of interest in discussion. I was fortunate to get a response from the people behind the controversial interview with Mr. Clarke, including a link to a YouTube video of the interview. Despite the new materials they have shared, I still want to see the proof behind the charges that have been made.

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BART Transit Police Learn Wrong Lesson of Social Media

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August 18, 2011

The Bay Area Transit Police, amusingly known as BART, show that law enforcement still doesn’t understand the value — and challenges — of social media. The police force reacted to planned flash mobs by shutting down cell phone service in the BART stations. Hey, if you can’t talk to one another, how are you going to organize, right? Thank God BART wasn’t around when the Founding Fathers were trying to hammer out the U.S. Constitution. Perhaps the transit agency would have drummed the unruly bastards out of Philadelphia before they could dream up the First Amendment.

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September 11, 2000 – Just Another Day

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August 17, 2011

September 11, 2000 began as just another day for the United States and much of the world. Ten years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, sometimes it seems like as a country, we have remembered the date but lost the lesson. Every day is common until the unthinkable occurs, and when it happens, collective efforts are what help us bounce back, in most cases stronger than before. Yet, America is more polarized today than it has been in a generation. We cannot control the threat, but we can control our reaction.

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The End of Richard Clarke – A Response

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August 17, 2011

Fellow Security Debrief contributor Rich Cooper recently posted a piece about comments Richard Clarke made in an upcoming documentary, in which he suggests former CIA Director George Tenet and others led a cover-up to keep from the White House and FBI intelligence that could have stopped the 9/11 attacks. Not having heard Clarke’s statements on the forthcoming documentary, I cannot speak to the validity or falsehood of his claims. But I respectfully disagree with Cooper that such unproven statements constitute the end of a distinguished career, or at least, the end of the days of informed statements.

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9/11 Conspiracy Theories and the End of Richard Clarke

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August 17, 2011

The homeland security and national security community is full of all types of personalities, and there are few personalities as polarizing as Richard Clarke. As a former senior official, he made quite the reputation for himself. Clarke has never shied away from making headlines or making waves. In an upcoming documentary, Clarke points a finger at former CIA Director George Tenet claiming the CIA conducted a cover-up to hide information about the 9/11 terrorist attacks from the White House and FBI. Whether he’s anxious to be on the media circuit in the pre-9/11 anniversary days or just anxious to burn any remaining bridges he has left to former colleagues, Clarke’s charges are slanderous without any proof.

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Yet Another Misguided Reference to Using Predator Drones for Border Surveillance

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August 16, 2011

This morning’s Politico contains a story suggesting Texas Governor Rick Perry believes Predator drones should be used for border surveillance purposes on the U.S.’s southwest border. While the headline may have been more suggestive than the now-presidential candidate actually said, the idea of using Predators is one Governor Perry ought to revisit, and quickly.

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NICE Cyber Education Strategy is Out for Comment

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August 16, 2011

The draft strategy paper for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) is on the street and soliciting comments. This is a very important effort. The NICE project hits on the three main “legs” of a national education effort. Some folks have compared this need to the efforts put forth after Sputnik. If that seems trite or overblown to you, I respectfully submit that it is, in fact, a bigger need.

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Congress Heal Thyself – An Inch-Stone Approach

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August 15, 2011

If we can’t “fix” the problem of overlapping congressional jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security, can we make congressional oversight work more efficiently? That question has been rattling around in my mind over the past few weeks, especially as we look back at the events of the decade since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In an environment where “working cooperatively” seems to be a political liability, I wonder if another approach to the problem of unnecessary and wasteful congressional oversight of DHS might be worth exploring. If we can’t get rid of the overlaps, can we at least force the “turf warriors” to sit at the same table?

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