Homeland Security

Dual-Benefit Solutions Virginia Standardizes Agencies' Continuity-of-Operations Plans ( Government Computer News) "Federal agencies may be struggling with preparations to remain in operation through a disaster, but Virginia government officials said they have found a way to make sure state agencies develop consistent plans," according to Government Computer News. "The Virginia Information Technologies Agency is providing state and local government agencies with training and a template for establishing standard continuity of operations plans.... The system also can notify government workers in the event of a disaster via wireless e-mail devices." [ View article ] Read more dual-benefit news http://www.homelandsecurity.org/bulletin/Dual%20Benefit/Dual_Benefit_043... What's New Guard, Reserve Cited for Improved Homeland Defense Capabilities Paul McHale, Assistant Secretary of Defense, spoke to a House subcommittee on 29 April, saying that despite great progress and improvements in the nation's defenses against another terrorist attack, "we are not comfortable-we are not satisfied." The subcommittee convened to look into ways of transforming the National Guard. McHale emphasized that the Pentagon is "dedicated with a real sense of urgency to ever-improving homeland defense capabilities." However, improving those capabilities so far has come at the expense of thousands of National Guard and Reserve members, he said. McHale's statement assessed the nation's homeland defense capability and addressed DoD's new mission requirements, particularly those of National Guard and Reserve components that have been expanded in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Last fall, the Defense Department established 32 National Guard weapons of mass destruction civil support teams, with 12 new teams to be created this year, "sufficient to ensure that every state and territory will be served by a team," he said. [ View press release] $6 Billion Needed for Transport Security, Says Public Transport Assn. In testimony on 5 May before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Railroads, the American Public Transportation Association identified $6 billion in what it labeled "critical security needs to keep America's public transportation systems safe." The association, which represents the transit industry, called on Congress to provide $2 billion for transit security in fiscal year 2005. [ View press release] 9/11 Caused Reassessment of Iraqi Threat After the 11 September 2001 attacks on America, it became apparent to senior U.S. policy makers that Saddam Hussein and his regime had to go, said Douglas J. Feith, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, on Tuesday at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. Feith said that officials believed U.S. and U.N. efforts to contain Saddam since the end of the 1991 Gulf War had largely failed. "President Bush concluded, in light of the 9/11 attacks, that it was necessary to remove Saddam Hussein by force," Feith explained. "The danger was too great that Saddam might give the fruits of his" weapons of mass destruction "programs to terrorists for use against the United States." And that threat, Feith emphasized, "did not hinge on whether Saddam was actually stockpiling" chemical or biological weapons. [ View press release] Some State Dept. Activities Need Reassessment, Says GAO The Secretaries of State and Commerce need to "evaluate the extent of integration of export control activities of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund and the Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance Program" in order for programs to be implemented in accordance with the law, says a 30 April General Accounting Office report to the State Department. The department requested $415 million to fund programs in the Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs appropriations account for fiscal year 2005. [ View report ] GAO Compiles Recommendations on Homeland Security In a report to the House Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, the General Accounting Office categorized 114 strategic commission recommendations and 59 strategic GAO recommendations under six critical mission areas identified in the National Strategy for Homeland Security. The GAO says that its report can serve as a readily available, compact checklist of strategic recommendations on homeland security and as a reference document for legislatures, executive departments and agencies, and working groups addressing homeland security issues. [ View report ] GAO Answers Questions on DHS Labor Regulations On 30 April, David M. Walker, U.S. Comptroller General, in correspondence to Senators and Representatives, answered follow-up questions from a 25 February hearing on Homeland Security Department labor issues. [ View correspondence] FBI Has Enhanced Security Clearance Process for State and Local Law Enforcement "Although the majority of information the FBI shares with state and local law enforcement officials is unclassified, these officials sometimes need access to classified information, which requires that they have a federal security clearance," according to a General Accounting Office report to the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts, Committee on the Judiciary, released 30 April. The report describes the FBI's process for granting security clearances to state and local law enforcement officials and the extent to which the FBI has met its timeframe goals for processing their security clearance applications. [ View report ] GAO Addresses Transfer of Budgetary Resources to DHS Paul L. Jones, Director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues for the General Accounting Office, in 30 April correspondence to Rep. Don Young, provided details on the transfer of 181,875 full-time equivalent positions to the Homeland Security Department in connection with the department's formation. [ View report ] UN Quartet Reaffirms Commitment to Peace UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation; Foreign Minister Brian Cowen of Ireland, in his capacity as European Union President; Javier Solana, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union; Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations; and Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State; met on Tuesday to reaffirm their commitment to their "shared vision of two states living side by side in peace and security. One of those states will be Israel and the other a viable, democratic, sovereign and contiguous Palestine." They called on both parties to take steps to fulfill their obligations under the roadmap, as called for in Security Council Resolution 1515 and in their previous statements, and to meet the commitments made at the Red Sea summits in Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh. [ View press release] Return to the top <> National News Terrorist Threat to L.A. Mall Was Hoax, FBI Says ( San Diego Union-Tribune) "A Tanzanian citizen has been arrested and charged with making up a terrorist threat about a Los Angeles-area shopping mall that led to increased police patrols last week, the FBI said" Tuesday, according to Copley News Service. "Zameer Mohamed, 23, was arrested" on 29 April "by the U.S. Border Patrol in Montana after crossing into the United States illegally from Canada, said Richard Garcia, assistant director of the FBI's Los Angeles office." [ View article ] Report Warns of Infiltration by al-Qaeda in U.S. Prisons ( New York Times) "Groups promoting extremist brands of Islam have gained a foothold in American prisons, and counterterrorism officials believe Al Qaeda are likely to try to use the prisons 'to radicalize and recruit inmates,' according to a Justice Department investigation," reports the New York Times. "In a report from the Justice Department inspector general's office, investigators said safeguards were so loose in the 105 federal prisons that inmate chapels 'remain vulnerable to infiltration by religious extremists.'" [ View article] TSA Starts Screening Rail Passengers at One Station ( CNN ) "Transportation Security Administration personnel started screening commuters passing through the train station in New Carrollton, Maryland, which serves about 1,000 Amtrak and commuter rail riders per day," according to CNN. "During the monthlong pilot program, officials plan to screen passengers only during the busiest hours. Before boarding, passengers walk through a portal where they stand for a few seconds and feel a couple of puffs of air. The machinery analyzes whether the person has come into contact with explosive material." Passengers on the Washington Metro transit line that also serves the station are not being screened. [ View article] U.S. Flight Path Pegged as Terror Target ( WXXA-TV, Albany, NY ) "U.S. officials have determined a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Washington is a target of terrorists, the Washington Times said," according to United Press International. "The Transportation Security Administration has designated Flight 200 a flight of interest, said a memo from the Air Line Pilots Association obtained by the newspaper." [ View article] Air Marshals Warned Superiors, Then Complained to Congress ( Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) "Federal air marshals have been warning their superiors for at least six months that government procedures were exposing their identities and putting their lives at risk, but nothing was done, according to letters released Tuesday," reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Rebuffed by their commanders, the air marshals brought their concerns to Congress last month, but the procedures remain in place, say the letters, provided to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association." [ View article] Homeland Security Dept. Bans Cuban Band ( Humboldt [CA] State University Lumberjack) "When Jesús Alemañy and his 15-piece band ¡Cubanismo! entered the U.S. Embassy in Cuba on March 29, they thought they would have no problems getting their visas, as they had for the past 11 years," according to the Lumberjack. "They were about to learn they would be denied entry with no explanation, due to new rigid Department of Homeland Security immigration policies." [ View article ] Patriot Act Allows Surge of Secret Searches ( Seattle Times ) "Underscoring changes in domestic surveillance allowed under the USA Patriot Act, the Justice Department said in a report released [Sunday] that it conducted hundreds more secret searches in the United States last year under foreign intelligence surveillance laws," reports the Los Angeles Times. "The department said the use of covert search powers, which were enhanced under the Patriot Act, shows how federal investigators have stepped up the war against terrorism in the United States over the past 32 months." [ View article ] Hot Labs Stir Hot Controversy ( Freeport [IL] Journal-Standard) "From Boston to Livermore, Calif., 'hot labs' designed to combat bioterrorism and house the world's deadliest germs are being planned and constructed with a huge cash infusion from the federal government," according to the Associated Press. "Supporters of the unprecedented building boom say the new or expanded high-containment labs-there are at least 18-are essential to national security in a post-Sept. 11 world." [ View article ] Return to the <> top International News China Confirms 3 More SARS Cases ( Toronto Star) "Three suspected cases of SARS in [the] Chinese capital have been confirmed, taking the number of victims of the latest outbreak to nine, the Health Ministry said" Tuesday, according to the Toronto Star. "All three newly confirmed cases of the highly contagious deadly flu-like SARS were linked to one viral disease laboratory in Beijing, it said on its Web site http://www.moh.gov.cn." [ View article] Pakistan Uncovers Plot to Hijack Plane ( London Guardian) "Pakistani intelligence has uncovered a plot by a small band of terrorists to hijack and possibly blow up a plane bound for the United Arab Emirates, the prime minister said Wednesday, prompting the nation to put its airports on 'red alert.' Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali told The Associated Press that authorities believe there was a group of about four to six people who wanted to hijack a plane. Intelligence indicated they wanted to blow it up, he said." [ View article] Taliban Kill British Security Officials ( Aljazeera ) "Taliban has claimed responsibility for the killings of two British 'security consultants' and their Afghan translator in the eastern Nuristan province," according to Aljazeera. "London-based Global Risk Strategies confirmed the fatalities and said its employees had been helping the United Nations arrange elections in eastern Afghanistan. But UN spokesman in Kabul, Manoel de Almieda E Silva, declined to identify the victims or to give their nationalities and had no details on how they were killed." [ View article ] More Pakistan Bomb Suspects Held ( BBC ) "Pakistani police have arrested three more people suspected of a car bombing that killed three Chinese in the south-west city of Gwadar on Monday," reports the BBC. "Sixteen suspects are now being questioned over the attack, which also injured 11 people. The blast occurred as the engineers were being taken by van to work on a project developing port facilities." [ View article] Russia, Georgia Discuss Border Security ( Itar-Tass ) Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili was scheduled to discuss "issues of counteracting international terrorism and ensuring security on the Russian-Georgian border" yesterday, according to Itar-Tass. A Russian Foreign Ministry official "noted 'positive changes in Tbilisi's approach to stopping Chechen militants' activities on the border, and the readiness it expressed for closer cooperation between border- and law-enforcement agencies of the two countries.'" [ View article] Pakistan Protests U.S. Incursion ( BBC ) "The spokesman for the Pakistani military, Major-General Shaukat Sultan, says his government has lodged a protest with the United States over an incursion into Pakistani territory by US forces operating in Afghanistan," reports the BBC. "General Sultan said a few US troops had strayed into Pakistani territory near the Lwara Mandi area in North West Frontier Province while hunting for al-Qaeda and Taleban suspects. He said the US troops searched a few shops and a petrol station but turned back as soon as they were informed that they were in Pakistani territory." [ View article] Return to the <> top State and Local News California Library to Receive ACLU's First Patriot Act Award ( Eureka [CA] Times-Standard) "The Redwood chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is honoring the Humboldt County Library for protecting library users' privacy against searches called for by the USA Patriot Act," reports the Times-Standard. "... Passed by Congress in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the controversial Patriot Act brought sweeping measures aimed at improving security nationwide. One of its provisions allows federal authorities to tap libraries for information on materials citizens check out-prompting protests that the act threatens constitutional rights, such as privacy and due process." [ View article ] California: Anthrax Prank Clears School ( Fresno [CA] Bee) "Firefighters dressed in white-and-yellow biohazard suits descended on a middle school [in Visalia] Tuesday after a teacher opened an envelope containing a white powder that investigators treated as anthrax," according to the Bee. "Tests later revealed the substance was harmless, while Visalia police said they believe it was the work of a student prankster." [ View article] Cincinnati-Area Chemical Plants Argue Over Homeland Security ( WCPO-TV, Cincinnati ) Several chemical firms in the Cincinnati area "were caught in a political tug-of-war over homeland security" on Monday, according to WCPO. "The concern is the chemicals they use make them potential terrorist targets. The issue is whether enough federal dollars are being spent to upgrade safety." [ View article] Idaho: Evidence Pits Patriot Act Against First Amendment ( Boise Idaho Statesman) "Sami Al-Hussayen's jury will see an inflammatory speech by a controversial Muslim cleric and the transcripts of tapped phone calls that prosecutors say show that Al-Hussayen believed in the cleric's terrorist agenda," reports the Idaho Statesman. "U.S. attorneys hope the lecture will help prove that Al-Hussayen provided his computer expertise to Sheik Safar al-Hawali and others, knowing he was helping support terrorists." [ View article] Iowa Governor Says U.S. Snubbed Iowa State Univ. for Vaccine Grant ( Des Moines Register) "Gov. Tom Vilsack strongly suggested Tuesday that politics was behind the federal government's decision to send an $18 million animal-disease research grant to Texas rather than Iowa State University," reports the Des Moines Register. "Vilsack produced a copy of a letter that asks President Bush, a Texan, to investigate Iowa State's snub for the grant, which will be used to develop vaccines for animal-to-human diseases. But a Bush campaign official said the one playing politics is Vilsack, who is among Democrats being considered as a potential running mate for presidential candidate John Kerry." [ View article] Kansas: Hospital Lacks Money for Bioterror Fight ( Kansas City Star ) "As Shawnee Mission Medical Center prepares for an $84 million expansion, hospital officials are concerned about some of the things they are leaving out," reports the Kansas City Star. "In a time of international trouble, they would like to do a lot more to prepare for the threat of bioterrorism. The problem is money." [ View article] New York Plans Subway Disaster Drill in Response to Madrid Bombings ( New York Newsday) New York City's "next high-profile disaster drill will simulate a subway incident in lower Manhattan," reports Newsday. The drill, called Operation Transit-Safe, "is planned in and around the Bowling Green station for early on May 16, a Sunday." [ View article ] Texas Man With Cyanide Cache Gets 11 Years ( Houston Chronicle) "An itinerate gun dealer caught with a cache of poison gas, machine guns and other weapons in an East Texas storage facility was sentenced Tuesday to more than 11 years in federal prison," according to the Houston Chronicle. "But William J. Krar's motives, and those of his common-law wife, Judith Bruey, remain unknown to federal officials, who cast the case as a victory against domestic terrorism." [ View article ] Return to the <> top Private-Sector News Universal Detection Technology Introduces Anthrax Detector ( Xinhuanet ) Universal Detection Technology, a "company based in Los Angeles, said on Tuesday that it has developed an anthrax detector with NASA and academic scientists," according to Xinhuanet. "The company said scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the California Institute of Technology developed the Bacterial Spore Detection device in response to the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and subsequent threats." The company has licensed the technology, which "continuously monitors the air to detect the presence of bacterial spores," for commercial use. [ View article] Florida Professors to Unveil Homeland Security Research ( South Florida Business Journal) "Researchers from a dozen Florida universities, organizers said, are to unveil their homeland security discoveries and inventions at the Florida Tech Transfer Conference in St. Petersburg, May 17-18," according to South Florida Business Journal. The Tampa Bay Technology Forum and Florida Research Consortium said that the research involves areas such as facial recognition and biological agent detection. [ View article] One World, One Alert Messaging Protocol ( Developer) "Standards body OASIS has rallied around a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) in a bid to help modernize emergency communications networks around the globe," according to the Developer. "The version 1.0 protocol now approved by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) consortium is considered the standards body's highest level of ratification. At its core, CAP is a data network protocol for the exchange of public and private sector emergency alerts and warning information." [ View article] Vendors Ready for US-VISIT Contract Award From Day One ( Federal Computer Week) "The much-awaited prime integrator contract for the massive foreign visitor tracking system isn't expected until late May, but eager vendors are already positioning themselves for the win," reports Federal Computer Week. "Three companies vying for the Homeland Security Department's U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program's major contract have set up office space, allotted staff and are well into the process of developing potential solutions. The program's aggressive deadlines and high visibility make this early work necessary, experts said." [ View article] Return to the <> top Upcoming Events 2nd Annual Bureau of National Affairs Contracting and Homeland Security Forum (10-12 May; Arlington, VA) This conference is designed for IT professionals, business executives, and contractors at the federal, state, and local levels seeking funding for homeland security initiatives. Speakers confirmed from the Department of Homeland Security include Steven Cooper, CIO; David Hagy, Director of Local Government Coordination; David Bolka, Director of HSARPA; Gregory Rothwell, Chief Procurement Officer; Jim Williams, Director, US-Visit Program; Kevin Boshears, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization; Wendy Howe, Acting Director, Safety Act; Hugo Teufel, Associate General Counsel for General Law; and Patrick Schambach, CIO, Transportation Security Administration. [ View conference website] World Safety Conference and Exposition (23-26 May; Salt Lake City) Stay up to date with the National Fire Protection Association World Safety Conference & Exposition, featuring the latest fire, electrical, building, and life safety techniques and technologies. [ View conference website] The Mcgraw-Hill Companies' Homeland Security Summit And Exposition (June 2-4, 2004;Washington, D.C) When it comes to adequately responding in a collaborative manner, to issues of domestic terrorism, homeland security is still in its infancy. But as local, state and federal governments, private sector enterprises, and first responders continue to collaborate on crafting security solutions, best practices, pockets of excellence, and centers for innovation are beginning to emerge. Finding them, communicating their successes, and applying lessons learned to security threats facing other regions, industries, and agencies is the goal of the 2004 McGraw-Hill Companies Homeland Security Summit and Exposition. Attendees will learn about specific, innovative homeland security initiatives from the people creating and executing them and they'll get straight answers about how they're working. [ View conference website] National OPSEC Conference & Exhibition (7-11 June; Baltimore, MD) The conference is designed to provide training and networking opportunities for professionals in management, security, intelligence, infrastructure protection, counterintelligence, military operations, and related fields. The Exhibition is a collection of exhibits from government departments and agencies that have resources available to security professionals to assist in the development of security awareness. [ View conference website] National Classification Management Society 40th Annual Training Seminar (15-17 June; Reno, NV) The purpose of the conference is to advance the practice of classification management in the disciplines of industrial security, information security, government-designated unclassified information, and intellectual property to foster the highest quality of security professionalism among its members. [ View conference website] 2004 Government Symposium on Information Sharing & Homeland Security (28-30 June; Orlando, FL) This event will identify the challenges facing homeland security professionals with both vertical and horizontal integration of information and intelligence. It will present solutions and highlight lessons learned from successful pilot programs and best practices from Illinois, New York, Florida, and California. Attendees will experience great debates-from opposing perspectives-on the competing issues of security vs. personal privacy. Additionally, this event will profile the interagency successes experienced in the War on Drugs as a model for the War on Terrorism. [ View conference website ] [ Register for this event] Government Security Expo 2004 (28-29 July; Washington, DC) If your job involves securing government assets - whether they're physical or virtual - don't miss GOVSEC 2004. Held in the heart of the industry, Washington, DC, it's the only event where the curriculum is designed specifically for, and by, government security professionals You'll walk away with a current, focused, and in-depth education on the critical issues facing your department today. And, at the Expo, you'll get to see the latest security innovations from the leading vendors working in government today. [ View conference website] Return to the <> top ANSER Weekly Homeland Security Newsletter Send Questions and Comments to Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Crook Copyright 2004. The Weekly Homeland Security Newsletter, ANSER Inc. All rights reserved.