National News

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U.S. Lacks Defense Against Silent Radiation Attacks (International Herald Tribune) A “terrorist attack using the ingestion, inhalation or immersion of radioactive material … would be almost certain to kill hundreds,” write Peter D. Zimmerman, James M. Acton, and M. Brooke Rogers in the International Herald Tribune. Such an attack could “lead to an even greater panic” than that caused by a dirty bomb attack. Food, air, or water contaminated with cesium-137 or polonium-210 could kill many, and radioactive sources are lost every day “through theft, accidents or poor paperwork.” [View commentary]

NSA Spying Was Part of Broader Effort (Washington Post) “President Bush authorized a series of secret surveillance activities under a single executive order in late 2001”--which “makes clear that a controversial National Security Agency program was part of a much broader operation,” reports the Washington Post. “… The disclosure by Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence, … publicly [acknowledges] that Bush’s order included undisclosed activities beyond the warrantless surveillance of e-mails and phone calls.” The “Terrorist Surveillance Program … ‘is the only aspect of the NSA activities that can be discussed publicly, because it is the only aspect of those various activities whose existence has been officially acknowledged,’ McConnell said.” [View article]

Three Men Guilty in Plots to Smuggle Military Weapons Into the U.S. In 2003, 2004, and 2005, Artur Solomonyan, Christiaan Dewet Spies, and Ioseb Kharabadze brokered a deal to import rocket-propelled grenades, surface-to-air missiles, anti-tank missile systems, and other military weapons from Eastern Europe into the United States for sale to a confidential informant posing as an arms trafficker. The defendants delivered the weapons to storage facilities rented by the FBI in New York City, Los Angeles, and Fort Lauderdale, FL. The men were convicted last week in New York. [View press release]

Pentagon Creates Council to Combat Terrorism (Federal Computer Week) The Pentagon has “created a new panel in charge of integrating Defense Department activities that could aid the military in fighting terrorism worldwide,” reports Federal Computer Week. The Combating Terrorism Coordination Council “is headed by Joint Staff Director Army Lt. Gen. Walter Sharp and Ryan Henry,” the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. [View article]

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International News

British Army Shuts Down Operations in Northern Ireland (International Herald Tribune) “The British Army, for 38 years a prominent symbol of sectarian antagonism in Northern Ireland, [ended] its military campaign there” on Tuesday, reports the International Herald Tribune. “The army, which at the height of its presence had 27,000 soldiers stationed in Northern Ireland, [had] been gradually reducing that presence for 10 years.” [View article]

British Police Misled Public About Menezes Shooting (BBC) “There were ‘serious weaknesses’ in the Metropolitan Police’s handling of information after the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, a report” by the Independent Police Complaints Commission “has found,” according to the British Broadcasting Corporation. “Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman ‘misled’ the public, the … Commission ruled.” Menezes “was mistakenly shot dead by officers at Stockwell Tube station on” July 22, 2005, “after police launched a massive manhunt for four suspects following a series of attempted bombings across London’s transport network. The Brazilian was mistaken for a suicide bomber.” [View article]

Army Reports Security, Economic, and Political Gains in Iraq, but New Trouble Strikes (DefenseLink; Reuters AlertNet) “Ongoing anti-insurgent operations conducted by U.S. and Iraqi security forces and Iraqi citizens’ growing rejection of insurgent-instigated violence are producing gains against al Qaeda and other extremists, Army Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner, a spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq,” said Wednesday, reports the American Forces Press Service. However, “fresh turmoil struck the government in Baghdad” this week, reports Reuters. “The main Sunni Arab political bloc quit the Shi’ite-led Cabinet on Wednesday in a dispute over security, and suicide bombers killed more than 70 people in the capital.” [View DefenseLink article] [View AlertNet article]

China Conducts Antiterror Exercises Ahead of 2008 Olympics (China View) “The popular seaside city of Qingdao in east China’s Shandong Province was the theater [on July 13] of a maritime anti-terrorist drill for the 2008 Beijing Olympics,” reports Xinhua News Agency. “The drill, involving more than 800 marine police and 27 naval vessels, was held in the closed sailing venue area set aside for the 2008 Olympic Games.… The army, navy and air forces of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) also held a joint drill in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Inner Mongolia and Qingdao on June 29. Codenamed ‘Olympic Security-07’, the exercise was the PLA’s first security drill in preparation for [the] 2008 Olympics.” [View article]

Australia Drops Terror Charge Against Haneef (London Guardian; International Herald Tribune) “Australia’s top prosecutor [on July 27] dropped a terrorism charge against the Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef, accused of supporting the failed bombings in London and Glasgow,” reports the Guardian. (See the July 20 newsletter.) “Shortly afterwards, the country’s immigration minister, Kevin Andrews, who had revoked the 27-year-old’s visa on character grounds, also backtracked on a decision to keep him in detention.” Haneef “returned to India after [the] authorities released him … citing lack of evidence.” [View Guardian article] [View AP article]

Air Transport Assn. Faults British Screening (Melbourne, Australia, Age) “The head of the International Air Transport Association”--General Director Giovanni Bisignani--“harshly criticised Britain’s airport screening policies Monday, saying they inconvenienced passengers without boosting security,” reports Agence France-Presse. “… Bisignani was referring to a British regulation limiting passengers to only one piece of hand luggage.” [View article]

Taliban Becomes More Like Al Qaeda (Christian Science Monitor) “By killing two South Korean hostages and refusing to release the remaining 21, including 18 women, the Taliban is taking a new path that suggests it is becoming an Afghan branch of Al Qaeda,” reports the Christian Science Monitor. “In the past 18 months, the Taliban has adopted more aggressive tactics--such as kidnappings and suicide bombings--imported directly from the Al Qaeda-led global jihad. It marks a departure from the Taliban of the recent past. Indeed, experts say that the Taliban’s original reason for being--an intensely tribal brand of religious fundamentalism--has all but evaporated, as Muslims of all sects participate in a movement based less and less on traditional tribal values and increasingly on anti-Americanism and terrorism.” [View article]

Five British Students Sentenced for Collecting Terror Info (International Herald Tribune) “A British court sentenced five students to jail [July 26] for collecting information on bomb-making and terrorism,” reports the Associated Press. “The five had been convicted [on July 24] of possessing articles for terrorist purposes … Police who searched the men’s computers found a U.S. military guide giving instructions on how to make explosive devices and a suicide bombing manual downloaded from the Internet, as well as chatroom conversations that encouraged terrorism or martyrdom. The men denied the charges and insisted they were simply researching Islam.” [View article]

New Victories Against Spain’s ETA Separatists (Christian Science Monitor) Basque separatist Juan Cruz Maiza Artola’s “arrest, along with two of his cohorts, brings to 18 the number of ETA [‘Basque Homeland and Freedom’] members arrested since June 5.… That’s when the outlawed group ended the cease-fire it had initiated with the Spanish government … 15 months earlier,” reports the Christian Science Monitor. “Four supporters of the group have also been arrested for low-level street violence.… Spanish security forces have been on maximum alert since the cease-fire ended.… several planned attacks” have been disrupted as well. [View article]

Sydney, Australia, Installs Loudspeakers in Case of Attack (MSNBC) “Australia’s largest city has installed dozens of loudspeakers to tell residents what to do in a terrorist attack …” reports the Associated Press. “Around 40 speakers should be operational in time for next month’s meeting of 21 world leaders at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit … A wailing siren would attract residents’ attention, followed by a police announcement directing people to evacuation points plotted around the downtown area.… authorities could order office workers to remain inside their buildings if a bomb were to explode nearby.” [View article]

European Court Orders Russia to Pay Damages in Chechnya Killings (Washington Post) “The European Court of Human Rights found Russia liable [on July 26] in the killing of more than 50 civilians in a Chechen village in 2000 and ordered the government to pay a total of about $200,000 to five relatives of those who died,” reports the Washington Post. “The court castigated the Russian authorities for failing to seriously investigate the ‘cold-blooded execution of more than 50 civilians’ in the village of Novye Aldy.” [View article]

Gulf Cooperation Council Pledges Support for Iraqi Govt. (DefenseLink) “The Gulf Cooperation Council members--Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates--as well as Jordan and Egypt joined the United States in pledging to step up support for the Iraqi government,” reports the American Forces Press Service. At a meeting Tuesday in Egypt, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “assured their Arab counterparts that the United States won’t change its current strategy in Iraq without carefully considering the impact it would have on security throughout the region.” [View article]

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United Nations News

U.S. and Britain Seek More UN Help in Iraq (Reuters AlertNet) “The United States and Britain proposed on Wednesday a greatly expanded political role for the United Nations in Iraq to try to heal the sectarian divide that has riven the country since the U.S.-led invasion,” reports Reuters. “A draft resolution circulated to the U.N. Security Council called for a major boost to the scope of the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq,” which “has focused mainly on helping with elections and monitoring human rights.” [View article]

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DHS News

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Other Federal News

New Passports and Visas Need More Protection Against Fraud, Says GAO The State Department’s new passports and visas, including border crossing cards, “are more secure than older versions,” reports the Government Accountability Office, but the Homeland Security Department “has not yet provided most ports of entry with the technology tools to read the new electronic passports and does not have a process in place for primary inspectors to utilize fingerprints collected for visas.” Also, more than 20 million older versions of the documents, more vulnerable to fraud but valid until 2011, remain in circulation. [View abstract]

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State and Local News

Border-Crossing Deaths Rise in Arizona (USA Today) “The number of illegal immigrants who have died trying to get into the United States” via the Tucson sector “is higher than ever this summer,” reports USA Today. The 155 deaths represent “a 22% increase over the 127 people found dead as of July 30 last year in that area. The number found dead this year is 12% above the 138 people found dead during the same period in 2005, which was the deadliest year on record for border crossings in the Tucson region.” [View article]

Security Gaps Still Plague Phoenix Airport (Phoenix Arizona Republic) The Transportation Security Administration “is implementing new security procedures at Sky Harbor Airport following concerns raised after an undercover investigation,” reports ABC 12 News. “A local TV station aired videotape of Sky Harbor employees entering secured areas without having their bags or backpacks checked. The new policy … requires most of the 31,000 airport employees to be screened.” Formerly part-time “TSA screeners … will now work around the clock. Despite the changes some employees will still be able to avoid screeners and can pass security checks without having bags or purses checked”--however, “TSA officials are reviewing the policy and may end up changing the system back to how it was.” [View article]

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Supporting Terrorism Nuradin Abdi, a Somali national living in Columbus, on Tuesday admitted he was guilty of planning to travel to Ethiopia to obtain military-style training for violent jihad. He allegedly sought training in radio use, guns, guerilla warfare, and bombs. In 2002, Abdi told FBI agents that he proposed a plot to bomb a shopping mall. [View press release]

Florida Man Faces Felony Bomb-Making Charges (Naples [FL] Daily News) Christopher George Riendeau “is being held without bond on felony bomb making charges after searches of his Georgia storage facility and his SUV at a Tennessee hotel showed bombs seized there were supposedly made in the kitchen of his East Naples condo,” reports the Daily News. Riendeau’s case is postponed “indefinitely until … a document … formally charges him.… Meanwhile, a federal grand jury in Macon, Ga., is hearing testimony about whether he’s a possible terrorist, a disgruntled Army veteran.” [View article]

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Private-Sector News

Chiquita Says It Asked Chertoff’s Advice About Protection Payments to Terrorists (Washington Post) In 2003, Roderick Hills, “a board member of Chiquita International Brands,” told “former law firm colleague Michael Chertoff” that Chiquita “was evidently breaking the nation’s anti-terrorism laws,” reports the Washington Post. Hills “explained that Chiquita was paying ‘protection money’ to a Colombian paramilitary group on the U.S. government’s list of terrorist organizations. Hills said he knew that such payments were illegal” but “that he needed Chertoff’s advice. Chiquita, Hills said, would have to pull out of the country if it could not continue to pay the violent right-wing group to secure its Colombian banana plantations.” (See the March 16 newsletter.) Chertoff (then Assistant Attorney General) “said to wait for more feedback.” Chiquita also asked Deputy Attorney General Larry D. Thompson for advice, but neither official got back to Chiquita. [View article]

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Education The Homeland Security Institute lists these education programs as a service to readers who may be interested; it does not endorse them or their courses. New education listings are posted for four weeks. Medical Response in Hostile Environments (August 24-26; Caldwell, OH) This classroom and field training program provides students with hands-on training in suturing, bandaging wounds and lacerations, sterile procedures, minor surgery, fracture management and casting, and dental emergencies, as well as prophylaxis and treatment of anthrax, smallpox, plague, tularemia and avian influenza. [View conference website] 18th Annual Hazmat Continuing Challenge (September 4-7; Sacramento, CA) The annual Continuing Challenge Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Workshop provides training, networking, and hands-on learning opportunities to all employees in hazardous materials emergency response fields. [View course website] Medical Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties (September 9-14, October 21-26; Aberdeen, MD, and Ft. Detrick, MD) This course is conducted by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. It is designed for Medical Corps and Nurse Corps officers and physician assistants, Medical Service Corps officers, and other selected medical professionals. It comprises classroom, laboratory, and field training. [View course website] Terrorism: Threats, Training, Tactics and Technology (September 24-26, Quincy, MA) Nationally renowned experts will discuss terrorism, emerging threats, training, tactics, and technology issues. Participants will have the opportunity to explore some of the challenges and gain a comprehensive understanding of issues related to terrorism. [View course website] Field Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties (September 24-28, November 5-9; Aberdeen, MD) This course is conducted by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. It is designed for Medical Service Corps officers and non-commissioned officers in medical or chemical specialties. It comprises classroom, laboratory, and field training. [View course website] Hospital Security Preparedness Course (October 29–November 1; Washington, DC) The ER One Institute at the Washington Hospital Center is holding a course for hospital protective services and law enforcement. The goal is to achieve competency in handling all hazards to hospital security, from routine situations to mass-casualty incidents and terrorist attacks against the facility. Students will experience comprehensive hands-on training, live drills, and classroom instruction from faculty with extensive security and counterterrorism experience. For more information, call Lisa Rizzolo at (202) 877-7453. [View course website]

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New Upcoming Events (After four weeks, new events will be moved to the Upcoming Events page) Locating First Responders Inside Buildings (August 6-7; Worcester, MA) Worcester Polytechnic Institute will host a national forum on precision indoor personnel location and tracking for emergency responders. An institute research team has been developing technology that can precisely track up to 100 first responders in three dimensions, displaying their positions and paths on a screen at the incident command center. The technology will be demonstrated during the forum. [View conference website] (September 11-13; Baltimore) The expo will feature the latest products and tools from the leading suppliers in biometrics applications. More than 100 biometrics leaders--giants, upstarts, plus research and standard groups--will be there, along with reps from the top technology firms and biometric specialists attending the co-located Biometric Consortium Conference. [View conference website] (September 11-13; Baltimore) The conference will examine biometric-based solutions for homeland security as well as the utilization of biometrics in other government and commercial applications. The Biometrics Research Symposium will be held again this year as part of the program in conjunction with the Biometrics Technology Expo. [View conference website] CBRN Resilience 2007 (September 20-21; London) Participants will understand global chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear strategies and how these are shaping the future requirements and tactics of the blue-light services and responsible agencies; benchmark their post-incident response, recovery, and operational sustainability plans, including mass decontamination of personnel and infrastructure, health care, and logistical support; and assess preparedness and joint working initiatives among police, fire and rescue, ambulance, and local, regional, and national government. [View conference website] Interdisciplinary Analyses of Aggression & Terrorism (September 27-30; Madrid, Spain) This conference, sponsored by the International Colloquium on Conflict and Aggression and the Society for Terrorism Research, will feature researchers from around the world who will present their findings and offer directions for future study. It will include structured discussion and play as well as casual conversation, questions, answers, and sharing of ideas with colleagues. [View conference website] National Emergency Management Assn. Conference (September 28–October 2; Oklahoma City) The conference will feature presentations by leaders in emergency management, along with exhibits, workshops, and committee meetings. [View conference website] 3rd Symposium and Exhibition on International Civil Aviation Organization Machine-Readable Travel Documents, Biometrics and Security Standards (October 1-3; Montreal) The symposium and exhibition will cover the main features and benefits of globally interoperable and ICAO-compliant machine-readable travel documents and e-passports and the latest biometric technology to enhance security in airline passenger service systems, enrollment, issuance, and border control inspection systems. [View conference website] National First Responders’ Conference (October 1; Colorado Springs) This conference is cosponsored by the University of Colorado–Colorado Springs and the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. Topics will include “The Impact of 4th Generation Warfare on First Responders,” establishing interagency communications systems, and managing trauma. [View conference website] Homeland Defense/Homeland Security Symposium V (October 2-4; Colorado Springs) The symposium features high-level participation by the Defense and Homeland Security departments and their corporate, academic, and media counterparts for an exchange of views on how best to protect our country and our friends. International participants will offer their perspectives on our shared challenges. [View conference website] Physical and Critical Infrastructure Resilience Conference (October 9; Arlington, VA) The conference will discuss approaches to securing critical infrastructure, such as how the government and private stakeholders can work together and how to build and maintain a risk assessment, create partnerships, and reduce vulnerabilities. Speakers will discuss the nation’s physical and information technology security, including lessons learned, tools, and methods used and those that need to be developed. [View conference website] Road and Rail Security Symposium and Expo (October 29-31; Charleston, SC) Leading transportation and security professionals discuss threat assessment, prevention, and consequence management and how real the threat is to your community, business, or agency; whether you are prepared; and how to respond and where to turn for help. Networking events, tabletop displays, and presentations and workshops will facilitate industry, military, and government interaction to construct a system of prevention, mitigation, and containment and response initiatives. The expo will explore emerging technologies and the latest in products and services in transportation security and response capabilities. [View conference website]

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