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Colombia: Issues for Congress [April 23, 2010]
"Since the development of Plan Colombia in 1999, the Colombian government has stepped up its counternarcotics and security efforts. The U.S. Congress has provided more than $7 billion to support Colombia from FY2000 through FY2010. In October 2009, Colombia and the United States signed a defense agreement that provides U.S. access to Colombian military bases for counter-terrorism and security-related operations for the next decade. The improving security conditions in the country and the weakening of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas are cited as evidence that the strategy is working by supporters. Critics, however, argue that while pursuing these security improvements, U.S. policy has not rigorously promoted human rights, provided for sustainable economic alternatives for drug crop farmers, or reduced the amount of drugs available in the United States. […]. While acknowledging the progress in security conditions in Colombia, some Members of Congress have expressed concerns about labor activist killings and labor rights in Colombia; extrajudicial killings of Colombian civilians by the Colombian military; the para-political scandal (linking Colombian politicians with paramilitaries); and the domestic security agency (DAS) scandal concerning unauthorized spying on President Uribe's political opponents and human rights activists. These concerns have delayed consideration of the pending U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). President Obama in his State of the Union address in January 2010 supported strengthening trade ties with Colombia, but prospects for the CFTA in the 111th Congress remain uncertain."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Beittel, June S.
2010-04-23
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Securing Nuclear Materials: The 2010 Summit and Issues for Congress [April 16, 2010]
"In an April 2009 speech in Prague, President Obama pledged that his Administration would launch 'a new international effort to secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years.' To motivate world leaders to achieve this goal, the President hosted a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, on April 12-13, 2010. Leaders of 47 countries attended the summit, including many heads of state. Attendees represent a wide geographic range of states and nuclear capabilities, and include China, India, Israel, and Pakistan. The summit resulted in a joint statement saying that international cooperative action is necessary to prevent an act of nuclear terrorism. Summit attendees also pledged to improve nuclear security standards, bring international agreements into force, and share best practices. Nuclear security measures refer to a wide range of actions to prevent theft or diversion of nuclear material or sabotage at an installation or in transit. They could include physical protection measures, material control and accounting, personnel reliability screening, and training. A broader understanding of nuclear security also includes measures to prevent and detect illicit trafficking-- cargo inspections, border security, and interdiction measures. The U.S. government has worked for more than a decade both domestically and in partnership with other countries to address this problem through multiple programs at the Departments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, and State. The International Atomic Energy Agency has also played a lead role in these efforts, particularly since the 9/11 terrorist attacks."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham
2010-04-16
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Domestic Terrorism: The Sovereign Citizen Movement
"Domestic terrorism--Americans attacking Americans because of U.S.-based extremist ideologies--comes in many forms in our post 9/11 world. To help educate the public, we've previously outlined two separate domestic terror threats--ecoterrorists/ animal rights extremists and lone offenders. Today, we look at a third threat--the 'sovereign citizen' extremist movement. Sovereign citizens are anti-government extremists who believe that even though they physically reside in this country, they are separate or 'sovereign' from the United States. As a result, they believe they don't have to answer to any government authority, including courts, taxing entities, motor vehicle departments, or law enforcement. This causes all kinds of problems--and crimes. For example, many sovereign citizens don't pay their taxes. They hold illegal courts that issue warrants for judges and police officers. They clog up the court system with frivolous lawsuits and liens against public officials to harass them. And they use fake money orders, personal checks, and the like at government agencies, banks, and businesses."
United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation
2010-04-13
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Complacency in the West in the Face of Islamic Radicalism
"Osama Bin Laden declared war in 1996 against Americans occupying the 'land of the two holy places.' The Worldwide Islamic Front declared war against the United States in 1998. Islamic radical leaders desire to kill millions of Americans by first lulling the West into a sense of complacency, and they think they can get the United States there via the murky waters of ignorance, apathy, and a lack of moral clarity, leaving America vulnerable to catastrophic attacks. United States national leaders seemingly refuse to acknowledge the commitment of Islamic radicalism's intentions, and this failure is crippling America's efforts to develop a strategy to counter these Islamic radicals. If the American people and her leaders do not take this threat seriously, devise an enduring strategy, and commit sufficient resources to fight it, the next 9-11 will be more devastating than the last. This thesis will assess national policy, expenditure of national power, and public support of the 'War on Terror' from 2001 to present day. Analysis will assess public support for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but also attitudes concerning related domestic activities. This paper will show that Islamic radicalism presents a formidable threat to America. It will analyze United States strategy to counter Islamic radicalism. The author will analyze American attitudes from 2001 to 2010 in order to survey complacency in the face of this threat, and show that public support for war is strong when the case is well explained, but that this support is perishable, and that it must be sustained by national leadership."
Joint Forces Staff College (U.S.). Joint Advanced Warfighting School
Travis, Matthew E.
2010-04-02
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To Lose China's Support is to Lose Superpower Status
From the thesis abstract: "The United States has been the worlds leading superpower since the end of World War II. However, if history tells us anything, it surely tells us that superpowers, whether a superpower in the true sense of the word, a hegemonic power, imperial dynasty, or even an empire, do not last forever. Many journals often tout China as the next likely superpower. The United States has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world. However, the United States is also $12.25 trillion dollars in debt with China being the largest foreign holder of this debt. Additionally, the trade balance, or rather the trade imbalance, between the United States and China is very telling. While the United States receives 16.9% of its imports from China, Chinain turnonly imports 5.6% of its imports from the United States. Given Americas significant debt and trade imbalance with China, the U.S. must maintain good relations with China in order to retain its superpower status. As a communist country, China may never fit the mold to become a full ally with the United States, assisting all NATO countries in spreading democracy around the world. However, the United States must accept the fact that China does possess vital resources and capabilities that would be extremely helpful in assisting to solve world crisis. While the U.S. continues to fight a War on Terror, with no end in sight, and while continuing to honor its commitments to allied nations around the world for various reasons to include domestic, humanitarian, and military operations other than war, it is critical to gain (additional) support from countries able to assist. And China, with its vast economic resources, is a country able to assistthus affording the United States a better opportunity to remain a superpower."
Joint Forces Staff College (U.S.). Joint Advanced Warfighting School
Washington, Fletcher V.
2010-04-02
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International Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Security Threats, U.S. Policy, and Considerations for Congress [March 18,2010]
"This report provides a primer on the confluence of transnational terrorist and criminal groups and related activities abroad. It evaluates possible motivations and disincentives for cooperation between terrorist and criminal organizations, variations in the scope of crime-terrorism links, and the types of criminal activities--fundraising, material and logistics support, and exploitation of corruption and gaps in the rule of law--used by terrorist organizations to sustain operations. This report also discusses several international case studies to illustrate the range of crime-terrorism convergence and non-convergence, including Dawood Ibrahim's D-Company; the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC); the 2004 Madrid bombers; the Taliban; Hezbollah; Al Qaeda; the 2005 London bombers; Al-Shabaab; as well as known or alleged crime-terrorism facilitators such as Viktor Bout, Monzer Al Kasser, and Abu Ghadiyah. Policy considerations discussed in this report include possible tensions between counterterrorism and anti-crime policy objectives, implications for U.S. foreign aid, gaps in human intelligence and analysis, the value of financial intelligence in combating the crime-terrorism nexus, impact of digital and physical safe havens and ungoverned spaces, implications for nuclear proliferation, and effects of crimeterrorism links in conflict and post-conflict zones. Unless otherwise noted, this report does not address potential crime-terrorism links in the domestic or border environment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rollins, John; Wyler, Liana Sun
2010-03-18
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Readout of Secretary Napolitano's Meeting with Airline Industry CEOs on Strengthening International Aviation Security [March 4, 2010]
"Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Napolitano today met with CEOs of the member airlines of the Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the largest airline trade association in the United States, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents approximately 230 airlines and more than 90 percent of the world's air traffic--part of her ongoing efforts to bring together major domestic and foreign air carriers to work on ways to bolster international aviation security. 'Government and the private sector must work collaboratively to develop and implement enhanced international security measures and standards,' said Secretary Napolitano. 'Working together with our partners in the aviation industry, we can and will strengthen the global aviation network to protect the traveling public from terrorism and other threats.' During the meeting, Secretary Napolitano and airline CEOs from across the United States and Europe discussed the international airline industry's important role in implementing stronger and more effective international aviation security measures to protect the traveling public."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office
2010-03-04
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Leveraging Rural America in the Fight against Terrorism in America through the Use of Conservation Districts
From the thesis abstract: "A vast, untapped resource is available to the federal government and the Department of Homeland Security in the war on terror. The citizens that comprise rural America have long been ignored by the efforts to wage the war on terror, and have been told, along with their urban counterparts, that the government would wage the war on terror, not citizens. […]The findings and recommendations of this research advocate the creation of a domestic intelligence-gathering network, which utilizes the nation's 2,946 local conservation districts to interact with rural citizens. Conservation districts, as a unit of local government, occupy a unique place in their local communities due to their nonregulatory nature. As a result, they have a high degree of trust in their local communities. Conservation districts would forge a partnership with rural Americans and state fusion centers for information gathering purposes. Intelligence analysts would analyze that information at the state fusion center and use it to support the war on terror. In this way, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. intelligence community could leverage rural America as a force multiplier."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Eller, William L.
2010-03
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Responding to a Terrorist Attack Involving Chemical Warfare Agents
"Because of their availability and relative ease of dispersal, toxic and often lethal chemicals are potentially attractive weapons for terrorists. A chemical agent attack could result in high casualties, especially if the release occurs in an office building, indoor stadium, airport, or train station. The economic losses would be significant as well because of the time involved to remediate the area following such an attack. Federal and state agencies are thus working with major transportation centers to strengthen plans for responding to the possible use of chemical warfare agents. […] At the Laboratory's Forensic Science Center (FSC), chemists have been working closely with chemical warfare agents since the early 1990s to support treaty verification and U.S. intelligence efforts. Founded in 1991, FSC supplies analytical expertise to counter terrorism, aid domestic law enforcement, and verify compliance with international treaties. FSC researchers analyze virtually every kind of chemical evidence, some of it no greater than a few billionths of a gram. In addition, the center is one of two U.S. laboratories internationally certified for identifying chemical warfare agents, sometimes referred to as the poor-man's atomic bomb. Since 2008, Lawrence Livermore has been working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prepare for incidents involving chemical weapons. FSC serves as EPA's environmental reference laboratory for developing and validating reliable, accurate, and extremely sensitive methods to analyze chemical warfare agents and their degradation products. Laboratory researchers have also characterized many toxic industrial compounds because the molecular structure and health effects of these substances are similar to those of known chemical warfare agents."
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Heller, Arnie
2010-03
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Improving Strategies to Prevent and Prepare for Radiological Attack
"The threat of radiological attack against the United States is viewed as credible, imminent, and capable of inflicting lasting negative impacts on domestic society. The United States is pursuing detection/denial and public preparedness strategies in order to prevent and minimize the effects of a possible radiological terrorist attack. This thesis surveys the prevalence of radiological material in society, as well as major U.S. programs to secure international trade, U.S. borders, and radiological material, and to prepare the public in order to determine their effectiveness against the threat of radiological attack. The research conducted indicates that U.S. government strategies against the radiological threat favor costly and problematic technological detection programs over public preparedness strategies, which are not optimized or resourced to address the general public's fear of radiation, fatalism toward terrorism preparedness, and skepticism of the government as a credible source of information on terrorism and radiation. This thesis concludes that the government should empower the Weapons of Mass Destruction czar with strategic oversight and technology funding-approval authority to de-conflict and streamline technological detection programs at the national level. It should also improve public education outreach resourcing and capabilities to increase public preparedness, thereby developing the public into a national security asset."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Dubay, Anthony R.
2010-03
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National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)--Responsibilities and Potential Congressional Concerns [January 15, 2010]
"The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) was established in 2004 to ensure that information from any source about potential terrorist acts against the U.S. could be made available to analysts and that appropriate responses could be planned. Investigations of the 9/11 attacks had demonstrated that information possessed by different agencies had not been shared and thus that disparate indications of the looming threat had not been connected and warning had not been provided. [...] Two recent incidents--the assassination by an Army Major of some 13 individuals at Fort Hood Army Base on November 5, 2009 and the failed attempt to trigger a bomb on an airliner approaching Detroit on December 25, 2009--led to increased concern about counterterrorism capabilities domestically and internationally. An Executive Branch assessment of the December bombing attempt concluded that, whereas information sharing had been adequate, analysts had failed to 'connect the dots' and achieve an understanding of an ongoing plot. Attention has focused on the NCTC which is responsible for ensuring both the sharing of information and for all-source analysis of terrorist issues. Congressional hearings have been scheduled to review what was known in advance about the individuals involved in these two incidents. Congress may choose to go further to review the statutory responsibilities of NCTC as well as the record of the Center since it was established in 2004. This Report will be updated as more information becomes available."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Best, Richard A.
2010-01-15
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United States and New Zealand Sign New Agreement to Strenghten Security through Increased Cooperation on Science and Technology
"New Zealand and the United States have agreed to enhance cooperation in science and technology research to improve the shared capabilities of both nations to protect against acts of terrorism and other threats to domestic and external security. 'International collaboration in science and technology is a major part of our ongoing efforts to counter threats of terrorism,' said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Janet Napolitano. 'This agreement will enhance our ability to collaborate on research and share innovative technologies to ensure our mutual security and protect the public.' 'The Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation Contributing to Domestic and External Security Capabilities strengthens New Zealand's longstanding relationship with the U.S. in research science and technology,' said New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully. 'Under the Agreement New Zealand transport security and civil defense emergency management researchers will now benefit from collaborative project work with their U.S. counterparts.' The Agreement calls for close cooperation between the US and New Zealand on the development of threat and vulnerability analyses and new technologies, and strengthened collaboration on border and transport security and civil defense emergency management."
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2010-01-08
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International Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Security Threats, U.S. Policy, and Considerations for Congress [January 5, 2010]
"This report provides a primer on the confluence of transnational terrorist and criminal groups and related activities abroad. It evaluates possible motivations and disincentives for cooperation between terrorist and criminal organizations, variations in the scope of crime-terrorism links, and the types of criminal activities--fundraising, material and logistics support, and exploitation of corruption and gaps in the rule of law--used by terrorist organizations to sustain operations. This report also discusses several international case studies to illustrate the range of crime-terrorism convergence and non-convergence, including Dawood Ibrahim's D-Company; the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC); the 2004 Madrid bombers; the Taliban; Hezbollah; Al Qaeda; the 2005 London bombers; Al-Shabaab; as well as known or alleged crime-terrorism facilitators such as Viktor Bout, Monzer Al Kasser, and Abu Ghadiyah. Policy considerations discussed in this report include possible tensions between counterterrorism and anti-crime policy objectives, implications for U.S. foreign aid, gaps in human intelligence and analysis, the value of financial intelligence in combating the crime-terrorism nexus, impact of digital and physical safe havens and ungoverned spaces, implications for nuclear proliferation, and effects of crimeterrorism links in conflict and post-conflict zones. Unless otherwise noted, this report does not address potential crime-terrorism links in the domestic or border environment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rollins, John; Wyler, Liana Sun; Rosen, Seth D.
2010-01-05
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TSA Guidance for Passengers on Heightened Security Measures in Place Following Dec. 25 Incident
"Today, the Transportation Security Administration [TSA] issued new security directives to all United States and international air carriers with inbound flights to the U.S. effective January 4, 2010. The new directive includes long-term, sustainable security measures developed in consultation with law enforcement officials and our domestic and international partners. Because effective aviation security must begin beyond our borders, and as a result of extraordinary cooperation from our global aviation partners, TSA is mandating that every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world who holds a passport issued by or is traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening. The directive also increases the use of enhanced screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for passengers on U.S. bound international flights."
United States. Transportation Security Administration
2010-01-03
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Guantanamo: Implications for U.S. Human Rights Leadership, Hearing Before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, June 21, 2007
From the opening statement of Alcee L. Hastings: "This is the Helsinki Commission's first hearing in some time examining an issue of domestic compliance, an area which will receive warranted attention during my chairmanship. As many people here know, in executing the Helsinki Commission's mandate, members of this Commission are engaged in a continual dialogue with representatives of other countries, including parliamentarians, on issues of concern, with a particular focus on human rights. [...] In organizing this hearing, it's painfully difficult to unpackage a whole set of issues related to our counterterrorism efforts: The offshore detention center at Guantanamo; the treatment of detainees in custody and the interrogation practices to which they may be subjected; the legal procedures for holding, trying and potentially convicting detainees of crimes; and the issue of extraordinary rendition, to name a few. Frankly, in my opinion, the United States has not covered itself with glory when it comes to most of these issues. I'm, of course, mindful of the fact that many other committees of both the House and Senate are actively engaged in oversight on many aspects of this subject. It's not our intention to duplicate those efforts. Rather, we hope to address the specific implications of Guantanamo for U.S. human rights leadership." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Alcee L. Hastings, Benjamin L. Cardin, Steny H. Hoyer, John B. Bellinger III, Anne-Marie Lizin, Tom Malinowski, Gabor Rona, Christopher J. Dodd, Hilda Solis, and the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights.
United States. Government Printing Office
2010
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Domestic Wiretapping in the War on Terror: A Briefing Before the United States Commission on Civil Rights Held in Washington, DC, Briefing Report
"On March 9, 2007, a panel of three experts attended a briefing on domestic wiretapping in the war on terror at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Gregory T. Nojeim, Assistant Director and Chief Legislative Counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union, Washington Legislative Office; Dr. John Eastman, Professor at Chapman University School of Law and Director of the Claremont Institute Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence; and Kareem W. Shora, National Executive Director of the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee presented their insights on the constitutional implications of wiretapping in the war on terror, the role of the President and Congress in national security policy-making and program authorization, and the impact of surveillance programs on Arab Americans and other groups. The briefing was held in Room 540 at 624 Ninth Street, Northwest, Washington, DC. The briefing was originally scheduled in response to Bush administration policies generally described as the Terrorist Surveillance Program (TSP). In general terms, the dispute focused on the fact that, in 2002, President George W. Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to conduct warrantless phone-taps of domestic targets reasonably believed to be in communication with a member or agent of al Qaeda, or an affiliated terrorist organization. Supporters of this program argued that the President has the constitutional and statutory authority to conduct such warrantless phone taps. Critics, on the other hand, argued that the program violated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which permits warrantless taps of 72 hours, but otherwise requires an order from a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Critics also argued that these taps did not comport with the Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures."
United States Commission on Civil Rights
2010-01
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United States Attorneys' Annual Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2010
"The report is made up of narrative information describing the United States Attorneys' programs and initiatives over the past year. The report also contains statistical tables displaying both national and district caseload data. These priorities represent just some of the many important areas of criminal prosecution and civil litigation handled by the United States Attorneys. [...] The United States Attorneys' offices conduct a majority of the criminal prosecutions and civil litigation handled by the Department of Justice. The offices investigate and prosecute a wide range of criminal activities, including domestic and international terrorism, organized drug trafficking and firearms crimes, and white collar crime and regulatory offenses. In the civil arena, the United States Attorneys' offices defend Federal Government agencies, such as in tort suits brought by those who allege suffering as a result of government actions, or alleged medical malpractice by federal employees. The United States Attorneys also initiate civil cases against individuals or businesses to enforce the law, such as in civil health-care fraud cases, or to represent the government's interests, such as in bankruptcy actions."
Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys
2010?
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Greece Update [December 16, 2009]
"The Greek city-state of Athens is believed to have developed the first known democracy around 500 B.C. Modern Greece has been a democracy since the toppling of a military junta in 1974. Since then, the New Democracy (ND) party and the PanHellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) have alternated leadership of the government. ND ruled from March 2004 until October 4, 2009, when PASOK won national elections and a clear majority of the seats in parliament. PASOK's victory has been attributed to anti-ND public sentiment caused by the economic recession, corruption scandals, and law-and-order issues. On taking power, PASOK inherited a severe financial crisis: economic growth has contracted for three consecutive quarters in 2009, and the budget deficit is projected to be 12.7.% of gross domestic product (GDP) and debt to be 125% of GDP in 2010. Therefore, the economy is the dominating issue on the government's agenda. The Greek government's foreign policy focuses on the European Union (EU), sometimes-strained relations with Turkey, reunifying Cyprus, resolving a dispute with Macedonia over its name, other Balkan issues, and sustaining good relations with the United States. Greece has assisted with the war on terrorism, but is not a member of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and has a limited presence with NATO in Afghanistan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Migdalovitz, Carol
2009-12-16
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Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Import Terminals: Siting, Safety, and Regulation [December 14, 2009]
"Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a hazardous fuel shipped in large tankers to U.S. ports from overseas. While LNG has historically made up a small part of U.S. natural gas supplies, rising price volatility, and the possibility of domestic shortages have significantly increased LNG demand. To meet this demand, energy companies have proposed new LNG import terminals throughout the coastal United States. Many of these terminals would be built onshore near populated areas. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) grants federal approval for the siting of new onshore LNG facilities under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58). This approval process incorporates minimum safety standards for LNG established by the Department of Transportation. Although LNG has had a record of relative safety for the last 45 years, and no LNG tanker or land-based facility has been attacked by terrorists, proposals for new LNG terminal facilities have generated considerable public concern. Some community groups and governments officials fear that LNG terminals may expose nearby residents to unacceptable hazards. Ongoing public concern about LNG safety has focused congressional attention on the exclusivity of FERC's LNG siting authority, proposals for a regional LNG siting process, the lack of 'remote' siting requirements in FERC regulations, state permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act and the Coastal Zone Management Act, terrorism attractiveness of LNG, the adequacy of Coast Guard security resources, and other issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Parfomak, Paul W.; Vann, Adam
2009-12-14
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President Obama Releases National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats [December 9, 2009]
"Today [December 9, 2009], President Obama released the National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats. This Strategy outlines the President's vision for addressing the challenges from proliferation of biological weapons or their use by terrorists. It highlights the beneficial nature of advances in the life sciences and their importance in combating infectious diseases of natural, accidental, and deliberate origin. It also outlines how the risks associated with misuse and potential consequences of a biological attack require tailored actions to prevent biological threats. The Strategy emphasizes the need to (1) improve global access to the life sciences to combat infectious disease regardless of its cause; (2) establish and reinforce norms against the misuse of the life sciences; and (3) institute a suite of coordinated activities that collectively will help influence, identify, inhibit, and/or interdict those who seek to misuse the life sciences. Through this Strategy the United States Government will work with domestic and international partners on the following seven objectives to PROTECT against misuse of the life sciences to support biological weapons proliferation and terrorism:"Promote global health security; Reinforce norms of safe and responsible conduct; Obtain timely and accurate insight on current and emerging risks; Take reasonable steps to reduce the potential for exploitation; Expand our capability to prevent, attribute, and apprehend; Communicate effectively with all stakeholders; [and] Transform the international dialogue on biological threats.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2009-12-09
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Deterrence of Nuclear Terrorism Via Post-Detonation Attribution: Is the United States on Target?
From the thesis abstract: "As nuclear terrorism is a risk of low probability and high consequences, the United States is right to address it as a significant--but not the utmost--national security priority. The science of nuclear forensics makes possible the characterization of nuclear materials used in a nuclear attack, and, as such, provides the backbone of an attribution program. Nuclear forensics-based attribution serves the dual purpose of helping to prevent nuclear terrorism by enabling deterrence, as well as guiding and enabling post-attack response options in the event of deterrence failure. The deterrence that an attribution capability alone enables is fairly narrow in its effective scope, though this deterrence does cover what would otherwise be a critical gap in U.S. strategy for preventing nuclear terrorism. The U.S. attribution capability is currently lacking in several important regards, the most significant of which is a future dearth of highly qualified personnel. Since an attribution capability is a critical enabler, the United States must do more to efficiently develop its attribution program. This can be done most cost-effectively in the short term by focusing on unilateral program needs while building an enduring domestic political will to improve and then maintain the nation's attribution capability."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Geelhood, Philip
2009-12
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U.S. Footprint on the Arabian Peninsula: Can We Avoid a Repeat of the Pullout from Saudi Arabia?
"This thesis seeks to identify a means for achieving equilibrium between the U.S. requirements for military presence in the Persian Gulf and increasingly negative domestic perceptions of U.S. foreign policies from the societies, religious establishments, and governing bodies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Only by calibrating U.S. military presence with host GCC nation perceptions, can the United States support its national interests and foreign policies in the region. The costs and benefits of the U.S. footprint in three critical GCC countries allow U.S. policymakers to examine the undesirable withdrawal of most U.S. military forces from Saudi Arabia in 2003, the comparatively successful U.S.-Bahrain bilateral security arrangement, and the potential to establish a substantive U.S. basing structure in Oman. This understanding is fundamental to the United States' ability to protect trade, continue prosecuting the Global War on Terrorism, promote democracy, and cultivate stability from within the region."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Marone, David Paul, Jr.
2009-12
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Nuclear Terrorism: Calibrating Funding for Defensive Programs in Response to the Threat
"The risk of a nuclear attack by terrorists is one of the most urgent and threatening dangers facing the U.S. The U.S. National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction depicts a layered system of preventive measures ranging from securing materials at foreign sources to interdicting weapons or nuclear materials at ports, border crossings, and within the U.S. Several departments within the U.S. government manage these preventive programs with little [cross-departmental] integration to determine where additional funds could provide the greatest impact. Furthermore, no governmental office with budgetary or staffing authority exists to direct the overarching effects of these programs and expenditures as a whole. This study examines the fiscal prioritization and relative effectiveness of the primary U.S. programs to prevent acts of nuclear terrorism contrasted against the threat of a terrorist nuclear attack within the U.S. This effort seeks to bridge departmental lanes of responsibility, provide a holistic perspective, and identify programs in need of additional resources and emphasis, as well as efforts that offer comparatively little added security. This research concludes that while proactive domestic and overseas source security measures receive appropriate fiscal emphasis, border and cargo security measures and the supporting research and development efforts do not."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Haglund, Sean W.
2009-12
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Presidential Policy Directive 2: National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats
From the White House Press Release (December 9, 2009): "Today, President Obama released the National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats. This Strategy outlines the President's vision for addressing the challenges from proliferation of biological weapons or their use by terrorists. It highlights the beneficial nature of advances in the life sciences and their importance in combating infectious diseases of natural, accidental, and deliberate origin. It also outlines how the risks associated with misuse and potential consequences of a biological attack require tailored actions to prevent biological threats. The Strategy emphasizes the need to (1) improve global access to the life sciences to combat infectious disease regardless of its cause; (2) establish and reinforce norms against the misuse of the life sciences; and (3) institute a suite of coordinated activities that collectively will help influence, identify, inhibit, and/or interdict those who seek to misuse the life sciences. Through this Strategy the United States Government will work with domestic and international partners on the following seven objectives to PROTECT against misuse of the life sciences to support biological weapons proliferation and terrorism."
National Security Council (U.S.)
2009-11
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CTC Sentinel [November 2009]
This November 2009 issue of the U.S. Military Academy's Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) Sentinel features an article about the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai titled "Lashkar-i-Tayyiba: One Year After Mumbai," by Stephen Tankel. Other reports include: "Success of the Meta-Narrative: How Jihadists Maintain Legitimacy," by Akil N. AWan; "AQIM and the Growth of International Investment in North Africa," by Geoff D. Porter; "Hizb Allah's Domestic Containment and Regional Expansion Strategies," by Benedetta Berti; "Jihadist Radicalization and the 2004 Madrid Bombing Network," by Fernando Reinares; "The Past and Future of Deobandi Islam," by Luv Puri; and "Maintaining the Message: How Jihadists Have Adapted to Web Disruptions," by Manuel R. Torres Soriano. The issue concludes with highlights of recent terrorist activity.
Combating Terrorism Center (U.S.)
2009-11
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Assessing the Efficacy of Capital Punishment in the War on Terror Through the Lenses of History, Law, and Theory
From the thesis abstract: "Prior to President Obama halting all ongoing military commissions, the United States charged six Guantanamo Bay prisoners with capital crimes. Further, his latest policy directive for new military commission rules has not excluded the death penalty as punishment. Application of the death penalty for convicted terrorists will draw worldwide attention. President Obama's decision to approve or disapprove a capital sentence has both domestic and international implications. Not only will application of the death penalty draw international attention, and possibly international ire, it will prove problematic because of competing issues related to strategic communication, international expectations, domestic desires, and the overall effort in fighting global terrorism. In President Obama's early days in office, he has put great emphasis on the American identity in the international arena and on using the American identity to build relationships with other nations. Therefore, the constructivist approach to international relations is an effective tool for evaluating President Obama's decisions during the punishment phase of military commissions. Using constructivism to frame his overarching decision, an examination of history, identity, law, and strategic communication help complete the examination of his strategic outlook. This paper provides a description of the international relations approach of constructivism as the theoretical basis for the author's evaluation. The application of this approach requires a combination of history, philosophy, and law. In essence, this approach presupposes that American national identity, as manifested through President Obama and his administration, will explain the decision whether or not to use capital punishment against terrorists and of the potential positive and negative consequences of this decision based on group identities. Because the factors that define, shape and describe a national identity are nearly infinite, this paper focuses on a broader historical, legal, and cultural analysis to measure the efficacy of using capital punishment against convicted terrorists. The author's analysis leads her to conclude that President Obama will approve a capital sentence handed down to convicted terrorists from a military commission."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies
Bohrer, Mandi L.
2009-09-08
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Nonproliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Extended Deterrence in the New Security Environment
"With the end of the Cold War, in a dramatically changed security environment, the advances in nonnuclear strategic capabilities along with reduced numbers and roles for nuclear forces have altered the calculus of deterrence and defense, at least for the United States. [...] In place of the old Soviet threat, there has been growing concern about proliferation and terrorism involving nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD), regional conflicts, global instability and increasingly serious new and emerging threats, including cyber attacks and attacks on satellites. For the United States at least, in this emerging environment, the political rationales for nuclear weapons, from deterrence to reassurance to alliance management, are changing and less central than during the Cold War to the security of the United States--and its friends and allies. Nuclear weapons remain important for the United States, but for a far more limited set of roles and missions. As the Perry-Schlesinger Commission report reveals, there is a domestic U.S. consensus on nuclear policy and posture at the highest level and for the near term, including the continued role of nuclear arms in deterring WMD use and in reassuring allies. Although the value of nuclear weapons has declined for the United States, the value of these weapons for Russia, China and so-called 'rogue' states is seen to be rising."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Contemporary Conflict
Pilat, Joseph F.
2009-09
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Federal Response to a Domestic Nuclear Attack
"The United States government needs to plan for and prepare against terrorist attacks. Terrorism, when combined with weapons of mass destruction, increases the planning complexity. In the event of a nuclear terrorist attack, the government will need to conduct consequence management in the affected areas, govern the non-affected areas, and prevent future attacks. This paper examines what actions, following a nuclear terrorist attack on domestic soil, produce the broadest and deepest results and what options the President has to address such a national emergency. The federal government must address the national effects caused by the attack itself as well as the anticipated results caused by communities enacting protective measures at the detriment of their neighbors. To produce the list of coordinated actions and options, this paper uses a scenario where a terrorist loads a 10-kiloton (kt) weapon into a truck, drives it to the nation's capital, and detonates it. After detonation, the government must attempt to mitigate the weapon's real and perceived effects. A review of the mitigating responses reveals that some actions are nearly impossible without prior planning and coordination. Additionally, the government must operate within a framework of constitutionally granted authorities. Continuity of government is assumed sufficient to exercise command and control and is beyond the scope of this paper. It is also beyond the scope of this paper to present more than a cursory overview of preventing a subsequent attack."
USAF Counterproliferation Center
Mercer, James C.
2009-08
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Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations [July 9, 2009]
"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant political and economic influence as the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its large energy reserves. Since 2005, King Abdullah bin Abd al Aziz Al Saud has sought to strengthen Saudi relations with European and Asian counterparts and has worked to build and lead an Arab consensus on regional security issues such as Lebanon and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Domestic reforms under King Abdullah have codified royal succession rules, begun restructuring the justice system, and updated some educational curricula and practices. An Al Qaeda-inspired terrorist campaign inside the kingdom appears to have ebbed as security improvements and anti-extremism campaigns have been implemented. However, the threat of domestic terrorism remains: In February 2009, Saudi authorities identified several dozen individuals suspected of continuing involvement in Al Qaeda activities, including some former prisoners of the U.S. facility at Guantanamo Bay. Robust energy export revenues in recent years strengthened the kingdom's regional and global economic position and are now providing Saudi leaders with resources to meet fiscal challenges posed by the global economic downturn. […] While security cooperation has improved since 2003, the United States and Saudi Arabia continue to face a core challenge identified by the 9/11 Commission in its final report: defining a broader bilateral relationship that 'leaders on both sides are prepared to publicly defend.' The Bush Administration attempted to meet this challenge by continuing high-level consultations with key decision makers in the Saudi royal family on issues of mutual concern, including energy policy, finance, Israeli-Arab peace, human rights, and political and economic reform. In conjunction with a May 2008 visit by President Bush to Saudi Arabia, the Administration announced new agreements relating to nuclear cooperation, infrastructure security, and visas."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2009-07-09
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Iran's 2009 Presidential Elections [June 22, 2009]
"On June 12, 2009, following a heated campaign between reformist candidate Mir Hussein Musavi and incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranians turned out in record numbers to vote in the presidential election. Shortly after the polls closed, the Interior Minister announced that President Ahmadinejad had been reelected by a 62% margin. The announcement was followed by allegations of vote rigging and election fraud and prompted supporters of leading reformist candidate Mir Hussein Musavi and others to hold public demonstrations in several major cities of a size and intensity unprecedented since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Despite a government ban on unauthorized public gatherings, protests have reportedly continued every day since the election. Restrictions on foreign and domestic journalists, reported disruptions of mobile phone networks, limited accessibility of some internet sites, mass arrests, and clashes between civilian protestors and Basij forces have garnered international attention and increased concerns about the Iranian government's apparent disregard for human rights and basic civil liberties. Regardless of the actual election results, the current stand-off between the government and opponents of the election outcome has caused observers to speculate about how this stalemate will be resolved, and what the outcome might mean for U.S. efforts to resolve the issue of Iran's nuclear weapons program, its support for terrorism, and other national security concerns. This report will be updated to reflect recent events. For more information and background on Iran, see CRS Report RL32048, Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, by Kenneth Katzman."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Addis, Casey L.
2009-06-22
