Security Debrief

Should the Special Operators Lead the War on Terror?

February 23, 2012

In a recent New York Times article, Admiral William McRaven, Cdr, U.S. Special Operations Command, asked for more freedom in pursuing America’s self professed enemies. McRaven is the architect of both the Usama bin Laden (UBL) takedown in Pakistan and more recent rescue of the Somali pirate hostages. This is not the first time the idea of allowing SOCOM to be the head of the spear has come up. I, for one, think it is an idea whose time has come.

An Anti-Crime Strategy to Combat the PKK

Security Debrief |

February 22, 2012

This month, the U.S. Treasury Department designated three individuals as narcotics traffickers acting on behalf of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), or Kongra-Gel. That the PKK is deeply engaged in a wide array of criminal activities should not be surprising to those familiar with the group. U.S. authoraties have had success in targeting narco-terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah or the PKK, both of which should be of concern to law enforcement and intelligence services.

Report Finds Progress in Securing Driver's License Issuance Against Identity Theft and Fraud

Janice Kephart |

February 22, 2012

The Center for Immigration Studies has released its second comprehensive assessment of the status of secure driver’s license standards. The report concludes that by the deadline of January 13, 2013, 36 of the 56 jurisdictions will be substantially or materially or fully compliant with REAL ID, even if there remains a wide gap between the strongest of state systems and the weakest.

A Conversation on Cyber Security Legislation with Mike McConnell, Michael Chertoff and Congressional Staff

admin |

February 21, 2012

Join The George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute on Wednesday, February 22 for a special Policy and Research Forum Series event featuring Vice Admiral Mike McConnell, USN (Ret.), former Director of National Intelligence, and the Hon. Michael Chertoff, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. They will be joined by senior staff of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives for a roundtable discussion regarding pending legislation to address the growing cyber threat to U.S. national security.

Large TSA Fine Prompts Question: Is Strict Compliance The Order of the Day?

Security Debrief |

February 16, 2012

Last week, U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett announced a $1 million fine against OHL Solutions for intentionally failing to screen cargo in accordance with TSA rules. The TSA investigation began in December 2010, and this fine was not a shock to many observers – even before that investigation began, several of us noted that serious TSA enforcement actions seemed just around the corner. But this enforcement action does give rise to a problem – since TSA security plans are so complex and unwieldy, how is it possible to comply with the letter of the law?

Counterterrorism and Foreign Fighters in the Af-Pak Region

admin |

February 15, 2012

It’s definitely good news that there may be a drop in the number of Western foreign fighters traveling to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), but it should come as no surprise. First and foremost, military actions – including the use of drones – have made the environment less hospitable for those traveling to it. With al Qaeda senior leaders on their back heels, now is the time to exploit this unique window of counterterrorism opportunity

Tensions with Iran Rising – A Prelude to War?

Security Debrief |

February 15, 2012

The past couple of days have been bloody as Iran and its surrogates and Israel fight a dirty war of retribution using the streets of innocent countries as fields of battle. Additionally, the Iranian Navy continues to threaten the world’s oil shipping lanes with rhetoric and by making furtive moves against the U.S. Navy. I think we are very close to the tipping point of war with Iran, and in my opinion, the more time we wait, the more dangerous they become.

An International Peacekeeping Force in Syria? Really?

Security Debrief |

February 14, 2012

White House press secretary Jay Carney noted yesterday that the Administration is mulling over its options with respect to the nature of American involvement in such a potential force. It is well and proper for the Administration, at least in the discovery phase of policymaking, to entertain a broad range of policy options. Nevertheless, it needs to be evident to the President and his policy planners that any direct U.S. military involvement in a peacekeeping mission in Syria would be a major mistake.

Piracy is Alive and Well and More Than Your Wallet is at Risk

Rich Cooper |

February 13, 2012

If you mention the word “piracy” to someone, chances are images of Johnny Depp’s character from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but the sobering facts are that savagery on the high seas is very real and becoming a costly circumstance that deserves more attention. The waters around the Horn of Africa are growing more dangerous, with pirates from Somalia continuing attacks on commercial ships. These attacks contribute to the $7 billion-$12 billion that maritime piracy costs the international economy each year. To address and discuss this international challenge with national impact, the National Chamber Foundation will host “High Risk on the High Seas: The Economic Impact of Piracy in the Indian Ocean.”

Cyber Protester Threat Gains Ground on Physical Counterparts

Security Debrief |

February 13, 2012

Cyber-protest reflects cyber-warfare in its advantages over its physical counterparts; it is difficult for law enforcement to identify and prosecute the cyber-perpetrators. Cyber assaults in all forms are economical to conduct and the financial returns are overwhelming – causing potentially millions of dollars in actual and reputational damage with an attack like the one on Sony or STRATFOR (where payment information was compromised and published causing reputational damage) at a fraction of the cost. Companies MUST understand their protestor risk, particularly online.