StormWarning’s Counterterrorism

Although there have been other instances of its use, perhaps the most infamous Ricin attack was in 1978 when the Bulgarian dissident, Georgi Markov was assassinated by an injection from the tip of an umbrella as he waited for a bus in London.  Although the KGB was suspected, no one has ever been arrested in the case.

Why is this important?  Well it seems that a company called DOR BioPharma has developed a vaccine for Ricin exposure.  "… Dor and its manufacturing partner, Cambrex BioSciences, developed a robust and reproducible manufacturing process for the large-scale production of its developmental RiVax vaccine and has now reached a crucial manufacturing milestone under a $6.4m (€5m) grant awarded in 2004 to make the vaccine by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)…

…the company will now test the vaccine in further clinical trials to examine the influence of an immunological adjuvant formulation and vaccination regimen on the human immune response and gather the evidence it needs to gain US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the vaccine…"

OTHER POINTS ABOUT RICIN

Domestic Terrorism, National Security, Opinions, Technology

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Its now four weeks since the presidential election in Mexico, and despite conservative Felipe Calderón being declared the winner with a margin of 0.6% (that’s .006) of the more than 41 million votes cast, the results are still in limbo…the leftist contender Andrés Manuel López Obrador continues to maintain voting irregularity (fraud) and is lobbying for a full, vote by vote recount.

López Obrador calls for sit-ins  on capital’s plaza, boulevard
…Official results from Mexico’s autonomous Federal Electoral Institute have López Obrador, 52, losing the election to conservative Felipe Calderón by just 244,000 votes, or 0.6 percent, of nearly 42 million cast.     

In response to those comments, some business owners here shook their heads in disagreement.

"Of course this is all about him living in Los Pinos," said baker Israel Melendez Lopez, referring to the woody presidential residence.

Others echoed similar sentiments. Ana Reyna and her son were selling pro-Lopez Obrador T-shirts and flags. “People are tired of this. They’re not buying anything anymore. They just want to get on with their lives, including us…"

When you see pictures of these rallies…all of those people.

Another giant crowd turns out in Mexico City to call for recount
…The blocking of Reforma, a giant boulevard that stretches across Mexico City’s central corridor, came after a record 1.2 million gathered by midday in the Zocalo, the city’s historic central square, to hear López Obrador.

The turnout was less than the 2 million López Obrador had promised two weeks ago, when he brought 1.1 million followers to the Zocalo. But police said it was the largest demonstration in Mexico’s history, and analysts said it was enough to lend momentum to López Obrador’s case being considered by Mexico’s federal election tribunal, which must declare a winner by Sept. 6…

We’ll have to wait and see how this situation unfolds in the next month.  I’m just not that confident that what is peaceful now, will remain peaceful.  And any unrest south of the border has to be a concern of ours.

López Obrador and his followers accuse the institute of partiality in favor of Calderón and claim the vote was marred by widespread fraud. Calderón, 43, the candidate of President Vicente Fox’s National Action Party, or PAN, argues that his win was clean and that a recount is unnecessary.

The dispute is in the hands of the seven-member Federal Electoral Tribunal, which has until Sept. 6 to either declare a winner or annul the election and call another. Many legal experts say the total recount demanded by López Obrador would be impossible under election laws.

"The matter at hand is whether the differences we Mexicans have with respect to the election are to be resolved with protests and pressures or with reason and the law," Calderón said in an appearance before the electoral judges shortly before López Obrador spoke. "We believe in the power of the law."

But López Obrador, who despite polling 35 percent of the vote claimed in an interview to have won the presidency "by a majority," argues that a complete recount is the only viable solution to avoid long-term social turmoil.

"That is the rational and sensible decision," López Obrador said Sunday. "That is the political and legal solution that best suits Mexico and democracy."

"If they shut off the democratic paths, only submission or violence remain. For that reason we have to defend democracy and make it worthwhile…"

This is a very volatile situation.  With Obrador calling for massive protests and sit-ins to clog the main arteries in and out of Mexico City until a full recount is done, I think we are headed to a bad outcome here.  The question is how long people will tolerate this dispute.

Leftist challenger urges sit-ins in Mexico City
Mass protests aimed at forcing a recount
…"I want to reiterate that I am not ambitious nor vulgar, and money doesn’t interest me," Lopez Obrador said. “Power only makes sense when you put yourself at the service of others."

Current Affairs, International Issues, National Security, Opinions

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The events of Sept. 11, 2001, reinforced the need to enhance the security of the United States. Congress responded by passing the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act), which President Bush signed into law June 12, 2002.

There is alot of good stuff on the website of the Food and Drug Administration about bioterrorism, including The Bioterrorism Act of 2002

But it seems that the US Department of Agriculture is among one the worst violators of the Act.

Persistent Homeland Security Problems at Agriculture
USDA Ignoring Security Rules While Dispensing Advice to Farmers

The
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has failed two straight audits
over its unsafe handling of highly toxic agents — at the same time
that the agency is distributing a detailed homeland security checklist
to farmers, ranchers, and dairy operators, according to agency
documents released today by Sinapu and Public Employees for
Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

Public Employees for  Environmental Responsibility
…
"The Department of Agriculture itself poses a bigger homeland security
threat than any possible infiltration of Iowa by Al Qaeda," stated PEER
Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that the USDA has not acted to
follow many of the Inspector General’s recommendations or to punish the
responsible Wildlife Services managers. "USDA ought to stop giving out
homeland security advice until it starts following the most basic
bio-security precautions…"

Additionally:

Audit Shows Toxins Poorly Safeguarded, Federal audit says biological agents and toxins used to kill wildlife are poorly safeguarded
…At issue is how the department handles and stores the poisons it uses
to kill animals such as starlings, wild turkeys and chickens, black
bears, coyotes and wolves that are considered a nuisance.

The
department’s Wildlife Services program uses chemical agents to kill
animals, mainly because they threaten livestock, crops or people in
airplanes.

An audit by the department’s inspector general faulted the agency for:

_failing to keep accurate inventories of agents or toxins.

_not restricting access to agents or toxins.

_not having complete security plans.

Auditors
visited 10 of 75 registered entities where agents are kept and found
that none of the 10 complied with security regulations…

OPINION
I don’t think this is a case of environmental "tree hugging."  This is more like irresponsible actions by bureaucrats.

Current Affairs, Federal Policy, National Security, Opinions

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Ever since September 11th and the subsequent anthrax attacks, alot of attention has been placed on bio-terrorism and the Nation’s Bio-Defense Labs.  Now the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services is questioning the security of dangerous toxins at university research facilities.

Keeping tabs on research labs

The
United States has invested considerable amounts of money in
bioterrorism research, but a new federal report shows that these
efforts to make Americans safer could backfire because of lapses in lab
security. Independent analyses have found that funding for civilian
research on biodefense has increased by more than $14 billion since
2001 — growth that has led dozens of scientists to enter the field.
The expansion has strained the oversight capacity of many universities,
as evidenced in a recent compliance review.

Here is an interesting set of FAQs discussing the Bio-Safety Levels of the bio-defense labs.  Frequently Asked Questions About Biodefense also available as a .pdf).

This is important as the Department of Homeland Security has announced its intention to replace the Plum Island Animal Disease Center.  See the DHS discussion of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility .   Also see this piece Fact Sheet: National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility .  There have been numerous proposals submitted, with some people believing that Texas A&M will be given the award.

Here is a Rolling List of Bidders for the Department of Homeland Security’s National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Last Updated: 3 May 2006.  POSTER’S NOTE: I’d ignore the editorial comments and focus only on the locations.

That’s probably enough for now.  Since I’ve given a few presentations on bio-terrorism and homeland security, I’ve got loads of support material for future discussions.

Current Affairs, National Security, Opinions

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After months and multiple reported threats against the New York City subway system, the NY Police Department has purchased and deployed Sabre 4000s from Smiths Detection, a major provider of trace and X-ray detection systems. The handheld explosives detector will be used around the New York City subway system. The NYPD conducted a seven-month evaluation of various manufacturers’ explosives detection equipment and selected Smiths Detection’s Sabre 4000 as its handheld detection unit. It will be deployed in conjunction with desktop equipment from other vendors. The NYPD has begun using the Sabre 4000 explosive trace detection system for the random, non-intrusive screening of passengers and passenger belongings going forward.

Note that the Sabre 4000 is capable of detecting and identifying explosives, chemical warfare agents, and toxic industrial chemicals. The NYPD purchase and deployment will utilize the units’ explosives capabilities.

New York Police Department purchases Smiths advanced portable explosives detection equipment

I’ve been aware of Smiths Detection for sometime now, especially after they acquired a California-based company, Cyrano Sciences.  Cyrano had earlier developed an "electronic nose" capable of detecting minute traces of various materials and agents.  On the page with the press release, you can see that Smiths has been very active and successful in winning contracts to deploy its detection equipment.

By the way, Smiths is UK-based.

• Smiths wins Automatic Explosives Detection Systems contract for new Dubai terminal [more]
• Smiths Detection to Supply X-ray Screening Equipment for Changi International Airport, Singapore [more]
• Smiths Detection receives $9.5 million Department of Defense contract for Improved Chemical Agent Monitor (icam) units [more]

Current Affairs, National Security, Opinions, Technology

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No time tonight.  Important information about Digital ID’s thanks to Homeland Security Daily Wire.

SafeNet Selected as Digital Identity Solution Provider for e-Passport Projects in Fourteen Countries
More
and more countries are turning to e-Passports in order to provide a more effective ID to their citizens as they travel around the world.
The twenty-seven countries
which are members to the U.S. visa waiver program have an added
incentives: In order for their citizens to be able to continue to enter
the United States without an entry visa, these countries must equip
their citizens with e-passports by the end of October this year; after
October, member
countries’ citizens who do not have an e-passport will have to stand in
line at the nearest U.S. consulate and apply for a visa). One company
benefiting from the trend toward e-passports is Belcamp, Maryland-based
security giant SafeNet (NASDAQ: SFNT). The company’s Hardware Security
Modules (HSM)
have already been selected by government immigration departments in
fourteen countries, among them Australia, Finland, France, Iceland, New
Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand to secure these countries’
electronic passport projects.

E-passport projects are managed by local government immigration departments as a preventive
measure to combat irregular immigration and unauthorized data
alteration. The passport is typically embedded with a chip containing
personal information, a
biometric identifier of the passport holder, and a digital signature.
Digital signatures are a proven technology for data protection which
reduces the risk of fraud and in turn reduces passport theft.

Note that the authenticity of a digital signature is only as trustworthy and secure
as the corresponding digital signing key. SafeNet HSMs are
purpose-built hardware appliances aiming to protect the digital signing
key. The SafeNet HSM family of
products comprises a range of hardware security solutions for digital
identity applications which are available in both embedded and
stand-alone versions. SafeNet says its HSM products offer true hardware
key management to maintain the integrity of encryption keys, and that
sensitive keys are
created, stored, and used exclusively within the secure confines of the
hardware security module to prevent compromise.

Current Affairs, National Security, Opinions, Technology

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These may just be some idle thoughts and have no meaning. On the other hand, I’ve been thinking about the implications of the treatise written by Spanish-Syrian strategist Mustafa Setmariam Nasar, “The Call for a Global Islamic Resistance.” Key is that the document espouses the concept of “nizam, la tanzim,” or ‘System, not organisation.’ Jihadist groups should develop a template that allows them to create structures wherever they are, and carry out recruitment, fund-raising and attacks.

http://www.icosystem.com/articles/business/Bonabeau2001HBR.pdf

Google search on Swarming

http://www.sce.carleton.ca/netmanage/tony/swarm.htm

Swarm Intelligence (SI) is the property of a system whereby the collective behaviours of (unsophisticated) agents interacting locally with their environment cause coherent functional global patterns to emerge. SI provides a basis with which it is possible to explore collective (or distributed) problem solving without centralized control or the provision of a global model. A description of the ideas of coordination without communication

Generally, the swarm concept relates to a “closed system” like an anthill or beehive, in which insects work without supervision, but their teamwork is largely self-organized and coordination arises from the different interactions of individuals within in the colony (system). While these interactions may be primitive, taken together they result in efficient solutions to difficult problems.

An insight from SI is that complex collective behavior can emerge from individuals following simple rules.

In this context, the simple rules reflect the template referred to by Spanish-Syrian strategist Mustafa Setmariam Nasar in “The Call for a Global Islamic Resistance…” “System, not organization.”

Anyone out there with a point of view to offer, I’d be happy.

Opinions

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So much hand-wringing over the disclosures of the NSA wiretapping or the SWIFT financial monitoring program…and yet, even though the Total Information Awareness Program was long ago disbanded, as many as five of the offspring of TIA live on.

Feds sharpen secret tools for data mining
U.S. intelligence agencies have invested millions of dollars since 9/11 on computer programs that search through financial, communications, travel and other personal records of people in the USA and around the world for connections to terrorism, according to public records and security experts.

The software is designed to find links between terrorism suspects and previously unknown people; track the international flow of money, operatives and materials; and search for clues in the worldwide communications over phone lines, wireless connections and Internet links…

Current Affairs, Federal Policy, National Security, Opinions

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Not much to comment other than this is another developing front in the global jihad.

Somalia: Top Islamic cleric declares Jihad (Holy war) against Ethiopia
The arrival of the Ethiopian troops in some regions of Somalia indicates the animosity of the Ethiopian government that it has been unwilling for goodness and nationalism to the Somali society for 16 years, supreme leader of consultative council of Islamic courts Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys said in an interview with Mogadishu based Somalia Radio Shabelle on Friday…[more]

Fears of war in Somalia grow

Fears of an "all-out war" in the Horn of Africa rose Friday with the news that Ethiopian troops are moving closer to Somalia’s captial, Mogadishu, which is controlled by Islamist militants. Reuters reports there are conflciting reports about what is happening.

Ethiopian soldiers were moving beyond the provincial seat of the interim Somali government in Baidoa to the towns of Buur Hakaba and Baledogle, various local residents said. Addis Ababa denies it has soldiers there, while the Somali government, which has little authority beyond Baidoa, said people were confusing its militia because they were wearing uniforms donated from Ethiopia.

Nominally Christian-led Ethiopia, the main power in the Horn of Africa, views the Islamists as "terrorists" and supports Somalia’s interim government. It has not hesitated to send troops in to attack radical Islamic militia in the past…[more]

Let’s all watch as this situation unfolds…"As the Global War on Terrorism Turns."

Current Affairs, International Issues, Opinions

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Not much to say about this one except that some people simply don’t think before they speak.

This was brought to my attention by today’s edition of the Homeland Security Daily News Wire…Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa said on the House floor last Tuesday, "we do that to livestock all of the time."

Steve King (R-Iowa) Equates Immigrants to Livestock

If Steve King builds it, they won’t come

Last week, on the House floor, Representative Steve King (R-Iowa) made his case for building a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border by showing a miniature version of a border wall which he claimed to have designed. The mock fence stood in a box of mock sand representing the desert. What got everybody’s attention was what King said next: "I also say we need to do a few other things on top of that wall, and one of them being to put a little bit of wire on top here to provide a disincentive for people to climb over the top�. We could also electrify this wire with the kind of current that would not kill somebody, but it would be a discouragement for them to be fooling around with it. We do that with livestock all the time."

King spokeswoman Summer Johnson disputed the notion that it was an immigrant-livestock comparison, saying, "He was comparing a fence to a fence — a border fence to an Iowa farm fence."

Now, I’ll admit that he likely didn’t mean it the way it was heard, but it sure does sound alot like…well…???  Did he actually say that?

Current Affairs, Humor, National Security

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There have been no attacks on US soil since September 11, 2001.  And yet today we find some areas of our security against terrorism to be not so much improved, despite Congressional haggling and all of the funds spent.  One area of continuing concern is security of our ports, especially against an attack by a concealed nuclear weapon.

Is there the technology in place, is there the security in place to prevent the detonation of a nuclear weapon, as primative as it might be, hidden inside of a container on a ship in one of our major harbors?  To my knowledge, the answer is no.  Please refer back to my post of July 9th, Lack of Full Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Port Security in which a recent GAO report is highlighted:   Investigators Transported Radioactive Sources Across Our Nation’s Borders at Two Locations

Further to that point, in Port Security and Nukes (March 29, 2006) , another GAO report, Border Security: Investigators Successfully Transported Radioactive Sources Across Our Nation’s Borders at Selected Locations highlighted that investigators smuggled enough radioactive material to build two "dirty bombs" into the U.S.

Lets turn attention to this article, Let’s face it, it’s WWIII, Gingrich says Gingrich repeated this theme on Meet the Press this morning.  While I do not concur that the multiple flashpoints listed by him as representing World War III, I do believe that we might consider the possibility that the attacks of September 11th, 2001 represent the beginning of "The War on the Century."

So…Iran and North Korea are producing fissionable nuclear material…to build a nuclear weapon (with more confidence that Iran, rather than North Korea is in fact doing so).  We also suspect that al Qaeda is interested in securing a nuclear weapon, exploding a "dirty bomb" in an American city…and we also fear that the security of container cargo entering our ports is less than perfect (an understatement if, as some sources indicate, less than 5% of all containers are inspected).  One of the concerns is the integrity of containers from foreign ports after they have been inspected and "sealed."  Is it possible for a terrorist (al Qaeda) to secure a nuclear weapon from another source and surreptitiously place that weapon into a cargo container for subsequent detonation?

Quite seriously, the fear is that this scenario is possible.  We need to make it crystal clear in our actions and our policies and in any diplomacy and/or negotiations with Iran or North Korea (whether one-on-one or in multi-party talks), that annihilation and supreme retribution (expressions of Senator Biden in the same Meet the Press segment) will result from:

a) a missile strike on our country or interests (including allies)
b) a terrorist organization securing a nuclear weapon from them

Tough talk?  Perhaps.  But Gingrich is right (at least in this case, and at least in my opinion)…"We’re Not Going to Lose a City"

Current Affairs, International Issues, National Security, Opinions

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This post discusses two separate issues of homeland security; the recent House and Senate actions relating to chemical plant security, and the Senate passage of new border security legislation.

One of the rational (among many) for smaller, less populated areas receiving homeland security funding has always been that critical infrastructure like chemical plants lie everywhere, not just in and around major metropolitan communities.

Feds May Handle Chemical Plant Security
By LARA JAKES JORDAN, 07.12.2006, 07:16 PM
The Senate agreed Wednesday to let the government regulate security for now at chemical manufacturing plants, a first step in improving protection against potential terrorist attacks.

The limited authority for the Homeland Security Department was approved as the Senate debated the agency’s proposed $32.7 billion spending bill for the budget year that begins Oct. 1…

…Experts believe the chemical industry is a top target of terrorist organizations. Congress for years has considered - though never approved - ways to regulate the chemical industry akin to other potentially vulnerable targets like nuclear power facilities and commercial airports. Both the House and Senate are considering legislation to make this authority permanent, though Senate aides said approval may not come until next year…

…The Senate proposal would give the department the power to regulate the industry as it sees fit for now.

Earlier this year, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called for regulatory power that largely would let the industry decide on protections and leave inspections to private auditors. Critics said the proposal was a toothless fix.

Currently, chemical companies voluntarily secure their facilities…

House subcommittee moves chemical security bill
By Jessica Brady, CongressDaily
July 12, 2006
Legislation targeting at-risk chemical facilities with heightened security measures received overwhelming support by a House Homeland Security subcommittee Tuesday, with all but two of the panel’s Democratic members voting in favor the measure.

The bipartisan bill (H.R. 5695), which was approved 16-2 comes just weeks after similar legislation was approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The House measure…would allow the Homeland Security Department to regulate companies that work with chemicals, and require that they conduct vulnerability assessments to be reviewed by DHS.

The department would also rank chemical facilities into one of four tiers based on risk…

Now, relate this to my previous post from today, "Information Sharing a Problem in Maryland Homeland Security."  I suppose that one of the implications here is that leaving the protection of chemical plants and facilities in the hands of the States may not be in the general interest of our National Homeland Security.

So now lets look at the Senate actions relating to border security.

Senate Moves to Bolster Border Security
By LARA JAKES JORDAN, July 13, 2006
The Senate voted unanimously Thursday to bolster security at U.S. borders by pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into more patrols, surveillance flights and sensors to catch illegal immigrants sneaking into the country.

Senators approved the $32.7 billion budget for Homeland Security Department next year by a vote of 100-0. But they rejected proposals to boost funds for cities and states at high risk of terrorism attacks, a sore subject amid a recent spate of terrorism-related arrests and threats targeting metropolitan areas.

With border security and immigration reform a top election-year priority, the Senate also agreed to make digging tunnels under the border a felony but rejected adding another 370 miles of fencing along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. About 75 miles of the border is now fenced. The House has voted to add 700 miles of fencing.

"The fact of the matter is that South America and Mexico itself have become a land bridge for people from around the world seeking to come through our southern border into the United States," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

Security gaps at U.S. borders "allow gang members, allow common criminals, allow narco traffickers, and yes, even terrorists to enter our country without our knowing it," Cornyn said.

Senators from states that border Canada also demanded additional surveillance flights and patrol officers along that 4,000-mile stretch…

Note that the Senate bill is $1.7 billion above the Presidential request, and $700 million above the amount approved by the House of Representatives…leading to budget haggling in conference committees to occur late in the Summer.  Rejected once again were moves from major population area Senators to re-allocate funds based on risk assessment.

…The Senate’s homeland security spending bill also:

- Prohibits law enforcement officials from seizing firearms from law-abiding citizens during a declared state of emergency…it may surprise some people, but I agree with this provision.

- Scraps the Federal Emergency Management Agency and rebuilds it under another name in the wake of widespread criticism to its response to last year’s hurricanes. The new agency would remain part of Homeland Security. It would combine emergency preparedness and response missions and could report directly to the president during catastrophes…the Katrina/Rita experience proved how broken the current FEMA was.  However, I firmly believe that the function should remain under the Department of Homeland Security, and should continue to be a "direct line" to the Secretary http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/DHS_OrgChart.pdf).

- Gives the Homeland Security Department temporary authority to regulate security at chemicals plants and storage facilities…see above.

- Allows Americans to import prescription drugs from Canada despite a Food and Drug Administration ban on importing prescription medicine into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an arm of Homeland Security, began aggressively enforcing the ban last November by seizing incoming medications at borders…I am adamantly opposed to this importation allowance.  If I haven’t already written about the problem of counterfeit pharmaceuticals both domestically and worldwide, I should, despite the implied benefits of lower costs to the patient.

Questions or comments gladly welcomed.

Current Affairs, Federal Policy, National Security, Opinions

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Information sharing, whether its between federal agencies, law enforcement jurisdictions, states, industry groups or companies is a problem to which many Americans remain unaware.  One example of this is occurring in the State of Maryland.

Maryland industry-government critical infrastructure working group faces difficulties
About
80 to 85 percent of the U.S. critical infrastructure is in private
hands, but in Maryland 87 percent of the state’s critical
infrastructure — nuclear power and chemical plants, banks, utilities,
telecommunications companies, and more — is in private hands. The
governor’s Office of Homeland Security (OHS) has tapped fifty volunteer
businesses from seventeen critical infrastructure sectors to expedite
OHS’s access to proprietary information which will be needed during a
national or regional emergency.

Reservations, however, remain among work group participants
reluctant to share terrorist-assisting — and possibly
competitor-coveted — information about their infrastructure
vulnerabilities, and the partnership is designed to install protections
and reassure members.

The private-sector
group — known as the Private Sector Work Group — works bimonthly in
public-private partnership with the Critical Infrastructure Protection
Program task force to resolve issues of exchanging sensitive
information and, in time of emergency or shut-down, to convey critical
notices securely to authorized area businesses…

“I’ll be honest with you,” Blizzard said.
“We’re still working out a lot of issues. … One company doesn’t want
another company … to know their trade secrets or their
vulnerabilities. … We look at issues such as what information we can
share and can’t share. We look at it from [inter-sector and]
sector-specific [standpoints]. … We’re at a point where some
[companies] are [sharing the information].”

One of the many issues this raises is how critical infrastructure, or for that matter any other component of our homeland security can be protected when multiple companies in the private sector are involved.  Consider that in Maryland the current issue is nuclear power and chemical plants along with elements from banking, the utilities and telecom.  Now extend the information sharing dilemma to the cyberworld.  Even at the level of ISPs, does one want another to know how each secures its systems?  Five years after the September 11th attacks, we’ve started the process of protecting our lives but haven’t even scratched the surface of some of the things that have to be done.  Policy and legislation are one thing, getting compliance is another.

Current Affairs, Federal Policy, National Security, Opinions

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In certain circles, France, Russia and the EU to be specific, Israel’s response to Hezbollah’s kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers, and then the continued bombardment of Beirut in response to the missile strikes against Israel is being branded as "disproportionate."  These missile strikes have even hit the Port of Haifa, demonstrating that Hezbollah has missiles capable of traveling atleast the 45 miles to that port city.  The French and Russians also decry the Israeli actions against Palestinian Gaza.

Typical of the French and Russians!  But is it not a fact that since Israel fully withdrew from Gaza, that Hamas and Hezbollah have been the aggressors, and that Israel has attempted through diplomacy, to resolve the differences?

Israel’s response in Lebanon called ‘disproportionate’
But others, including some Arab states, blame Hizbollah for conflict.

While the French and the Russians may attempt again to get the gutless UN to take action, it is heartening to see that even some in the Arab world realize that this calculated incitement of war by Hezbollah as the root cause of the Israeli actions…as quoted in the CSM piece:

• The Associated Press reports that while King Abdullah II of Jordan condemned Israel’s "targeting innocent civilians and the Lebanese infrastructure," he also had harsh words for Hizbollah, saying that "Jordan stands against whoever exposes the Palestinian people and their cause, Lebanon and its sovereignty to unexpected dangers."

• Reuters reports that, in "usually strong language," Saudi Arabia blamed Hizbollah, and its Iranian backers, for the crisis. "A distnction must be made between legitimiate resistance and uncalculated adventures undertaken by elements inside (Lebanon) and those behind them without recourse to the legal authorities and consulting and coordinating with Arab nations," a statement published on the official news agency SPA said.  "These elements should bear the responsibility for their irresponsible actions and they alone should end the crisis they have created."
  

Disproportionate my eye!.

In many ways, the terrorists, in this case Hezbollah, may finally be dealt with in a way that demonstrates that "if you strike us, we will strike back 10-fold." Throughout the last year, Israel has attempted to play the diplomacy card, and yet Hamas and Hezbollah have continued to attack.

It is suggested that a more measured response is in order since the Hezbollah missiles are "small" and inaccurate by some standards…each of them carries the potential of killing innocent people and destroying Israeli infrastructure. Should one of those "insignificant" missiles strike the major refinery in Haifa it would likely be destroyed and cause significant devastation should it be hit by one of those "insignificant" missiles.

One of the factors I’ve heard in the bombing of the airport and the Beirut-Damascus highway is the Israeli fear that the two Israeli soldiers might be transported by Hezbollah to Syria, or worse, to Iran. Of course Hezbollah and its sponsors deny that this was their intention.

This is clearly a risky situation? Has Hezbollah baited Israel into taking these actions for other motives (as has been suggested), including justifying a role by Syria or Iran against Israel. Probably so. Is the world now on another brink where countries will have to "choose sides?" Absolutely!

Hezbollah missiles hit Israeli civilians

Nasrallah: We will hit beyond Haifa
Hizbullah says will fire rockets beyond Haifa; navy ship operating off Beirut shore hit by missiles fired from land; minor damage, no injuries…

It has been suggested that this is part of the same war (on terrorism).  The question has been asked, "Is the War on Terrorism a war on state sponsored terrorism? or is it a war against fanatical, Islamic jihadists?" In this particular case, Hezbollah and Hamas are supported and encouraged by nationstates like Syria and Iran (knowing full well that Lebanon’s government teeters on the brink of collapse with Hezbollah having seats in the Lebanese government and controlling its southern frontier from which it wages war at the behest of the nationstates that control/support it). Is the conflict in the Middle East part of the overall Global War on Terrorism? Yes, if for no other reason that the very existence of Israel, and the utter hatred of al Qaeda and many other Arabs of its existence, is the root cause of the whole mess anyway. Of course, this last point can be debated (and may be).

Israel’s very future is at stake here…Israel’s sovereignty is on the line. CSM questions if Israel’s reactions are disproportionate? Disproportionate my eye!

Also please read:

Hizballah Declares ‘Open War’ After HQ Strike
Nasrallah Survives Headquarters Bombardment as Hizballah Uses Drone to Strike IDF Warship
By Steve Schippert
With intelligence that Hizballah’s leader was inside, Israel launched an airstrike on Nassam Nasrallah’s headquarters and home. An audio tape was aired by Hizballah’s al-Manar television station declaring that Hizballah was now going to engage in “open war.” That it was not a video recorded statement leaves open the possibility that he may have been injured but not wish it to be known. [more]

Israel Displays Clarity and Resolve In Conflict
Israel Unfazed by Iranian Threats Over Syria as Lebanon Says US to ‘Pressure Israel’
By Steve Schippert
Israel is clearly not intimidated by Iran, as their statements backed by direct actions against Hizballah and their Iranian masters in southern Lebanon demonstrate without ambiguity. Yet, exuding confidence in the face of Israel’s bold determination, Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, declared that it was time for the world to “wrap up Zionism before it is too late.”  This is how Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reports his message in the Iranian city of Maragheh on Wednesday, the day before Hizballah launched over 100 rockets into 20 Israeli cities, including the port city of Haifa. [more]

Of course, this is an unfolding crisis that has the potential to engulf the entire region.

Current Affairs, International Issues, Opinions

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Do not, under any circustances install ZA 6.5.722!

It has multiple bugs in it.

My install is eating my hard drive at the rate of .5 GB per day.  Everytime ZA encounters an intrusion, it adds to something called the .RBD file (has something to do with the restore function).  I’ve lost 2.5 GB since installing the damn thing since Saturday morning, and still don’t have agood fix.

Thoughts?

Technology

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