Senate moves closer to reauthorizing parts of the Patriot Act – The Hill
The Senate on Monday night voted 74-8 to move forward with a bill that would extend provisions of the Patriot Act until June 1, 2015.
I have a suggestion for the DHS Public Affairs shop: get rid of the “one size fits all” term when referring to homeland security programs that Secretary Napolitano wants to change. As far as I know, from its inception, DHS has talked about “layered security” and has consistently avoided a “one size fits all” security mantra. Yet to hear Secretary Napolitano and her team these days, one would conclude that it was the only approach her predecessors took. This cannot be a coincidence and DHS ought to be ashamed.
Lawmakers express optimism, concerns over White House cybersecurity plan – NextGov
Members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee praised the Obama administration’s recently released cybersecurity proposal during a Monday hearing, but expressed concern about some remaining differences between the approaches of the White House and lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Seven months ago, intelligence organizations uncovered an attempt to bomb airliners by putting explosives in cargo. The cargo bombing plot highlighted the absence of effective cargo screening systems for air cargo being flown into the United States. The U.S. government should move expeditiously towards risk-based screening before al Qaeda strikes again.
By Jena Baker McNeill and Matt Mayer
The 9/11 attacks acted as a catalyst for major changes in U.S. security efforts. The attacks altered not only how the nation would identify and prepare for threats but also how it would work to prevent them. The approaching 10th anniversary of the attacks gives policymakers an opportunity to undertake a realistic and retrospective assessment of homeland security policies since 9/11.
Making It Official: Hunting Al-Qaida Worldwide – NPR
This week, the House begins debate on a defense spending bill that would authorize the president to attack al-Qaida and its associates all over the world.
President Obama’s Middle East speech, focused on America’s commitment to democracy in the Middle East and North Africa, included comments about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. What was surprising was that the President publicly recognized that the primary stumbling block preventing forward movement on the peace process is not settlements, or even the status of Jerusalem or the right of return, but Hamas.
The 9/11 Commission requested the federal government continue an investigation into the extent of involvement of Iran and its de facto terrorist wing, Hezbollah, in the support of Al Qaeda’s attacks on 9/11. Perhaps the biggest hole of buried information regarded Iran’s connection to 9/11. As the “terrorist travel” affiant in a case filed last week in New York City federal court on behalf of 9/11 families suing primarily al Qaeda and Iran, I am now personally convinced that indeed, al Qaeda did not act alone on 9/11.
2011 NOAA hurricane outlook: Brace for an active hurricane season – WJLA
North America could face an onslaught of hurricanes this year, and counting on favorable winds to steer them away like in 2010 would be a folly, according to a new analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Senators Introduce Companion Bill To Grant Spectrum To First Responders – HSToday
Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced legislation last week that would dedicate a block of radio spectrum to first responders, following up on a White House promise to support granting the spectrum directly to public safety agencies rather than auctioning it to commercial companies.
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