July 19, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

The conference will cover new directions in protecting infrastructure systems, FEMA policy and management, presidential candidates’ vision for homeland security, immigration, procurement, and small business. [View event website]

http://www.ndia.org/Template.cfm?Section=8490&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=24621

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July 18, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

It was reported on 18 July 2008 that Israeli security personnel have arrested six Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem in recent weeks for allegedly attempting to “form an al-Qaeda cell” by making contact with terrorist elements on the Internet. Among those arrested were two students at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. According to authorities, at least one of the six people arrested proposed carrying out an attack against the helicopter used by U.S. President George W. Bush during one of his 2008 visits to Israel. The student resided on Hebrew University’s Givat Ram campus, which is located near a helicopter landing pad at a local stadium often used by foreign dignitaries who visit nearby government buildings. The student reportedly filmed various helicopters landing and taking off from the pad. Bomb-making instructions were also found on the computers of several of those arrested. However, Israeli officials did not state whether any of the men’s activities advanced beyond preliminary planning.

This is the second instance in recent months in which Israeli forces have arrested individuals with alleged links to al-Qaeda. In May and June 2008 authorities arrested two Bedouin residents in the southern village of Rahat who reportedly transferred information regarding Israel Defense Forces bases and other details about Tel Aviv locations — including the Azrieli towers, Ben Gurion International Airport (LLBG/TLV) and other public places — to al-Qaeda elements via the Internet.

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July 16, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

Detecting the Covert Movement of Radioactive Materials

The covert movement of dangerous, radioactive materials is a great security threat. Radionuclide detection and identification systems are required to effectively monitor this threat. The Stride^TM detection units and systems are designed not only to detect, but to also classify such materials.

Stride systems can be openly or covertly installed in any high traffic area or portal as well as along parcel or freight conveyor systems. Within just a few seconds, a Stride detection unit will classify the type of material detected (medical, industrial, naturally occurring or special nuclear material). In addition, the system will also categorize it as innocent, suspicious or threatening and relate the specific isotope detected

http://www.icxt.com/products/icx-detection/radiation/stride/

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July 14, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

 The Russian and Chinese United Nations Security Council delegations vetoed a proposed sanctions resolution against Zimbabwe on 11 July 2008. Although the resolution secured the nine votes necessary to pass, the proposal failed because of the Russian and Chinese vetoes. The vetoes have been met with sharp criticism from the United States, which accuses the two countries of “standing with Mugabe against the people of Zimbabwe.” Russia and China deny these accusations, instead stating that the situation in Zimbabwe remains a domestic affair and has not escalated to a point where it requires international intervention.

President Robert Mugabe and his administration expressed thanks to Russia and China for vetoing the resolution, praising them for not “yielding to international pressure and to the machinations of the West led by Britain and the United States.” The proposed resolution would have imposed an arms embargo on the regime, along with a total asset freeze and travel ban on Mugabe and 13 of his top aides.

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July 14, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

 On 14 July 2008 the International Criminal Court (ICC) called for an arrest warrant to be issued for President Omar al-Bashir and other Sudanese officials for crimes against humanity. There have been protests against the ICC in Sudan in the days leading up to 14 July. Thousands of protesters demonstrated close to the Cabinet office where emergency talks were being held on 13 July in anticipation of the issuance of the arrest warrant. Traffic was disrupted as protesters associated with President Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP) and the NCP’s Sudanese Student Union marched through the streets.

In anticipation of the ICC’s issuance of the warrant, the United Nations raised the security level for staff members working in the Darfur region on 12 July and had previously ordered the departure of dependent family members. According to a spokesman, the security level is at phase four, which means that “all internationally recruited staff who are not directly concerned with emergency or humanitarian relief operations or security matters are relocated.”

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July 14, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

 On 14 July 2008 a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the garden of the U.S. Consulate General in Okinawa. The device burned itself out almost immediately after hitting the ground and caused no injuries or damage. Witnesses saw a person on a black motorbike flee the area after the attack.

Meanwhile, on 13 July approximately 13,000 protesters rallied against the stationing of the nuclear-powered USS George Washington aircraft carrier near Tokyo, which is set to occur in the coming months. The demonstration was held at a park close to the port of Yokosuka, located south of Tokyo. The protesters claim that the stationing of the warship is dangerous in light of a May 2008 fire onboard the vessel. Several residents have even filed lawsuits in hopes of keeping the vessel from being stationed in Japan.

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July 14, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

On 14 July 2008 Brazilian oil workers began a five-day strike to protest offshore working conditions. The strike will affect 42 oilfields in the Campos Basin off the coast of Sao Paulo. Reports indicate that production at 33 out of the 42 oilfields has stopped due to the protests, but management of the Petrobras oil company stated that they will nevertheless strive to maintain output. The strikes are expected to put more pressure on the already increasing price of oil.

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July 10, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on a targeted sanctions resolution against Zimbabwe on 10 July 2008. The proposed sanctions include a travel ban and asset freeze on President Robert Mugabe and 13 of his top aides and an arms embargo on the regime, which many in the international community consider illegitimate after Mugabe won the one-candidate run off election on 27 June amid an environment of intimidation and violence. U.S. representatives believe the resolution will garner the necessary votes to pass, despite objections voiced by Russia and China, two permanent members of the Security Council who hold veto power.

In past statements, Mugabe has accused the draft resolution of being “racist” and has warned the international community to stop “meddling” in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs. Mugabe and the African Union instead have taken steps to pursue a negotiated settlement to the political crisis. However, despite government press releases to the contrary, so far the opposition Movement for Democratic Change has rejected negotiations under the current conditions.

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July 10, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

 The militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) announced on 10 July 2008 that it is ending the ceasefire it declared in late June. The ceasefire suspension was in response to a 9 July statement by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown that the United Kingdom will help Nigeria quell unrest in the Niger Delta, which MEND has taken as support for Nigeria’s “illegal government.” The ceasefire is set to end at midnight local time on 12 July. The statement announcing the end of the ceasefire specifically mentioned British citizens and interests in the region as legitimate targets.

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July 9, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

FEMA course IS 860

Course Overview

Protecting the critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) of the United States is essential to the Nation’s security, public health and safety, economic vitality, and way of life.  The purpose of this course is to introduce the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP).

Course Objectives

• Explain the importance of protecting critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR).
• Identify the relevant authorities and roles for CI/KR protection efforts.
• Describe the NIPP unifying structure for the integration of CI/KR protection efforts, including:
  • Sector security partnership model.
  • Risk management framework.
  • Information sharing process

http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is860.asp

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