Financial terrorism suspected in 2008 economic crash – Washington Times
Evidence outlined in a Pentagon contractor report suggests that financial subversion carried out by unknown parties, such as terrorists or hostile nations, contributed to the 2008 economic crash by covertly using vulnerabilities in the U.S. financial system.
Georgetown University hosted the only three people to hold what is arguably one of the most demanding and thankless jobs in America – Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In partnership with the Aspen Institute, Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff and Janet Napolitano sat down with NBC’s Andrea Mitchell in Georgetown’s famed Gaston Hall to talk about the state of America’s newest Cabinet Department and what we have learned after eight years of its operation.
Secure Communities Program Uses Biometrics to Target Illegal Immigrants – Emergency Management
As of last week, any person arrested and fingerprinted in California will now undergo an automatic immigration check. California became the ninth state in which each county has activated Secure Communities, a fingerprint data-sharing program between local law enforcement offices and federal immigration enforcement agencies.
In spite of all the external threats and internal bickering they must deal with, the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security deserve a “pat on the back” and a hearty 8th birthday cheer. Their mission is critically important. The dedicated people of DHS persevere, and we are a better country for it.
Contradictions in U.S. cybersecurity policy – Homeland Security Newswire
The United States wants a secure cyberspace, but its intelligence agencies have found enormous utility in using their own computer hacking capabilities to collect confidential information from foreign adversaries; this raises the question of how the U.S. government can push for global cybersecurity while at the same time using cyber means to collect intelligence on potentially threatening regimes such as Iran.
A Shutdown Won’t Affect Airport, Border Security – NPR
If Congress fails to come up with a spending bill to keep the federal government operating next week, and a shutdown occurs, the TSA airport screeners will keep working. Also reporting to work will be the people who secure the nation’s borders.
TSA Testing DNA? No way! – The TSA Blog
TSA is not testing and has no plans to use any technology capable of testing DNA. An article was posted to “The Daily” today with the misleading headline “Genetic Patdown.”
The Coast Guard is an integral part of DHS, though it has never gotten its fair share of resources. That is nowhere more the case than when it comes to fulfilling its responsibilities for looking after U.S. interests in the Arctic. DHS Inspector General recently concluded that the Coast Guard has neither sufficient ships nor budgetary authority to accomplish its current missions.
Countries in the Middle East that have been ruled for decades by one person and their respective families and close allies have found their grips on power disappearing. The sheer brutality of these men and their regimes is well documented, but it is more than interesting to watch the actions of the teetering dictators as they look to hold onto what power they have. For all of their faults and countless sins for which these despots must ultimately answer, we know one thing is for sure – their egos remove them from any sense of reality, and when that happens, leadership fails.
With the sad news of the murder of four Americans by Somali pirates off the coast of Africa, the United States and the international community once again have to realize that ignoring the situation in East Africa is not a viable or productive option. For decades, the lawlessness of the area has allowed piracy to become the de facto career choice for young men desperate for money and to do the unthinkable to those who unfortunately come within range of their coastal waters.
Sponsored by:
