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FATA/NWFP Dilemma; Defining United States Policy for Long Term Stability on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border
From the thesis abstract: "During the 9-11 Commission Report, a question was asked to American and foreign government officials, as well as military officers on the front lines fighting terrorists. The question was 'if you were a terrorist leader today, where would you locate your base?' The number one answer was western Pakistan and the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. A failure of the United States and its Allies to engage the region with a coherent long-term policy, strategic goals and objectives will result in the FATA/NWFP [Federally Administered Tribal Areas/North-West Frontier Province] becoming the long-term 'center of gravity' (COG) for al Qaeda and Islamic fundamentalist extremism. The Obama administration is facing the most complex set of National Security issues in recent history. All of these issues require well-defined national policy and a focused strategy integrating all elements of national power and a whole-of-government approach. Since 9-11, the United States has not clarified its vision to deny the extremists safe havens in the FATA/NWFP region. This thesis demonstrates through case studies how the United States, its allies, the United Nations, and the International Community unwittingly enabled, and later successfully denied al Qaeda center's of gravity in the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. It is imperative that the United States demonstrate the resolve to deny al Qaeda future COG's, starting in the FATA/NWFP."
Joint Forces Staff College (U.S.). Joint Advanced Warfighting School
Voorhees, Van J.
2010-05-18
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Improved Multispectral Skin Detection and its Application to Search Space Reduction for Dismount Detection Based on Histograms of Oriented Gradients
From the thesis abstract: "Due to the general shift from conventional warfare to terrorism and urban warfare by enemies of the United States in the late 20th Century, locating and tracking individuals of interest have become critically important. Dismount detection and tracking are vital to provide security and intelligence in both combat and homeland defense scenarios including base defense, combat search and rescue (CSAR), and border patrol. This thesis focuses on exploiting recent advances in skin detection research to reliably detect dismounts in a scene. To this end, a signal-plus-noise model is developed to map modeled skin spectra to the imaging response of an arbitrary sensor, enabling an in-depth exploration of multispectral features as they are encountered in the real world for improved skin detection. Knowledge of skin locations within an image is exploited to cue a robust dismount detection algorithm, significantly improving dismount detection performance and efficiency. This research explores multiple spectral features and detection algorithms to find the best features and algorithms for detecting skin in multispectral visible and short wave infrared (SWIR) imagery. This study concludes that using SWIR imagery for skin detection and color information for false alarm suppression results in 95% probability of skin detection at a false alarm rate of only 0.4%."
Air Force Institute of Technology (U.S.)
Brooks, Adam Lee
2010-03
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Independent Auditor's Report on the FY 2019 DoD Detailed Accounting Report for the Funds Obligated for National Drug Control Program Activities
From the Document: "Public Law 105-277, Title VII, 'Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 (the Act),' October 21, 1998, requires National Drug Control Program agencies to submit detailed accounting each year to the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The detailed accounting reports all funds expended by the agencies for National Drug Control Program activities during the previous fiscal year. The Act also requires each agency Inspector General to authenticate the detailed accounting before it is submitted to the ONDCP Director (section 1704(d), title 21, United States Code). The ONDCP National Drug Control Strategy, 'FY 2020 Budget and Performance Summary,' May 2019, identified that the DoD enacted $1.4 billion in FY 2019 for DoD drug control spending. Additionally, $2.5 billion was transferred to the Drug Interdiction and Counterdrug Activities appropriation for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' construction of the Southwest Border barrier in support of the Department of Homeland Security."
United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Inspector General
2020-01-30
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National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel of the United States of America
"The National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel presents an integrated plan to ensure the United States stops terrorist attempts to travel to conduct attacks on the homeland or against our interests abroad. The strategy outlines how the United States Government will expand coordination and maximize the full capabilities of Federal departments and agencies to identify, detect, and deter terrorists from transiting international borders. The United States Government will use all available tools to constrain terrorist travel planning, facilitation, and mobilization, including providing support to law enforcement, private-sector partners, and communities. Key to detecting and interdicting terrorists attempting to travel will be enhancing systems that validate identities and advancing the use of biometric technologies. The United States Government will work closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to achieve these goals. The strategy also recognizes that the United States cannot pursue these goals alone - our foreign partners are vital to the effort to identify, disrupt and deter terrorist travel. The United States Government will therefore leverage foreign partners to improve global travel security capabilities and capacity consistent with strong counterterrorism (CT) measures that the United States has pioneered since the attacks of September 11, 2001."
United States. White House Office
2018-12
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Caucasus Emirate: Emerging Force or Jihadist Fantasy?
From the thesis abstract: "The ongoing conflict in Russia's North Caucasus region continues to pose a threat to the stability of not only Russia, but to areas well beyond its borders. What began as an independence movement for one small ethnic group from the Russian Federation has evolved into a front in the global jihadist movement. As the movement for Chechen independence faltered, insurgents increasingly relied on Islamic ideologies to expand the conflict and attract support and funding from the greater Islamic community. The current insurgent leader declared the creation of the Caucasus Emirate in 2007, which corresponds to Russia's North Caucasus region and purports to represent Russia's Muslim community. After nearly two decades of war, Russia has been unable to fully return stability to the area and the insurgents continue to attack Russian security forces in the region, as well as engage in horrific terror attacks in the heart of the Russian Federation. This Strategy Research Project examines the most likely outcome of this conflict based on key factors identified in contemporary theories explaining weak actor victories in asymmetric conflicts."
Army War College (U.S.)
Predmore, Jeffrey C.
2011-03-22
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Combating Transnational Organized Crime: International Money Laundering as a Threat to Our Financial Systems, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, February 8, 2012
From the opening statement of F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.: "Today's hearing examines the subject of transnational organized crime [TOC], specifically how international money laundering is a threat to our financial and banking systems. As a part of its overall national security strategy, the Administration has proposed a strategy to combat transnational organized crime. TOC is organized crime coordinated across national borders for the purpose of attaining power, influence, or financial gain, wholly or in part by illegal means. These criminal networks protect their activities through a pattern of corruption and violence, while exploiting transnational commerce. The networks can take many forms, such as cells, clans, or cartels, and may involve into other criminal structures. Although the crimes they commit vary, these criminal organizations share the similar primary goal of financial gain, and they use similar methods to achieve their profits. The use of violence to intimidate or threaten, the exploitation of differences between countries, and the influence of government, politics, and commerce through corrupt and legitimate means." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Robert C. Scott, Jennifer Shasky Calvery, Luke A. Bronin, and David B. Smith.
United States. Government Printing Office
2012
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Posse Comitatus: An Impediment to Our National Security
From the thesis abstract: "The Posse Comitatus Act (PCA) is often the so called linchpin that bars the use of our military forces to support and enforce civil law within the borders of the United States. This act has in effect, denied the citizens of the United States the utmost protection they should be afforded by the federal government by restricting the use of Department of Defense assets to be used as force multipliers to our federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The United States will be required to once again do more with less as federal spending is decreased on not only homeland defense, but its security as well. The Federal Government will need to effectively utilize the combined resources of its numerous departments in order to accomplish this endeavor. Currently, the misinterpretation of the Posse Comitatus Act and the addition of subsequent restrictions have degraded our ability to properly protect the homeland. The Posse Comitatus Act is am ambiguous and highly misinterpreted law that needs to be rescinded and replaced with a new law that clearly identifies the terms in which the use of military forces in protection the homeland is appropriate. This research paper focuses on the use of military forces in domestic affairs within the historical context of posse comitatus within the United States, the subsequent Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, the interpretation of the Posse Comitatus Act since its passage, and its current influence on the United States ability to defend its homeland."
Joint Forces Staff College (U.S.). Joint Advanced Warfighting School
Schad, Jason Thomas
2012-04-25
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COVID-19 and the Liberal International Order: Exposing Instabilities and Weaknesses in an Open International System
From the Document: "The Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic is threatening the liberal international order in three ways. First, the open nature of the LIO [liberal international order] provides favourable conditions for the proliferation of infectious diseases. With the spread of the disease, governments also started implementing political and economic policies inconsistent with the liberal international order. The health crisis presents a second test for the LIO insofar as it undermines political freedoms. Border closures, ethnic differentiation and biometric surveillance have ensued since the outbreak. Third, both coordinated and uncoordinated actions to cope with Covid-19 put economic freedoms at risk as pecuniary activity declines and 'economic security' policies consistent with economic nationalism start to jeopardize liberal policies."
Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)
Norrlof, Carla
2020-04
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Roundtable: Are We Prepared? Protecting the U.S. from Global Pandemics [video]
From the Opening Statement of Ron Johnson: "The emergence of the novel coronavirus from Wuhan, China and its arrival on our doorstep shows the threat that pandemics pose to our nation. Already, around the world, this coronavirus has infected tens of thousands of people and killed hundreds. […] If we want to stop infectious diseases from becoming global problems, then we must ensure that our policies and procedures are thoughtfully developed and ready to go before the next infection crosses our borders. To achieve this goal, we must be able to answer some key questions: First and foremost, who's in charge? We have learned that an effective response to a pandemic requires a whole-of-government approach: health officials who identify and treat the disease, homeland security officials who protect against infection, and a host of others. But our response is not effective if it is not well-managed. Second, do we have clear strategies and plans to combat these global diseases and pandemics? Third, what lessons have we learned from previous responses? Have we addressed and resolved those issues?" Witnesses for this roundtable include the following: Nikki Clowers, Julie L. Gerberding, Scott Gottlieb, Luciana Borio, and Asha M. George. A transcript for the opening statement in this 2 hour, 12 minute, 32 second video is also available [https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Opening Statement-Johnson-2020-02-12.pdf].
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
2020-02-12
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Commission Recommendation of 8.4.2020 on a Common Union Toolbox for the Use of Technology and Data to Combat and Exit from the Covid-19 Crisis, in Particular Concerning Mobile Applications and the Use of Anonymised Mobility Data
From the Document: "(1) This recommendation sets up a process for developing a common approach, referred to as a Toolbox, to use digital means to address the crisis. The Toolbox will consist of practical measures for making effective use of technologies and data, with a focus on two areas in particular: (1) A pan-European approach for the use of mobile applications, coordinated at Union level, for empowering citizens to take effective and more targeted social distancing measures, and for warning, preventing and contact tracing to help limit the propagation of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] disease. This will involve a methodology monitoring and sharing assessments of effectiveness of these applications, their interoperability and cross-border implications, and their respect for security, privacy and data protection; and (2) A common scheme for using anonymized and aggregated data on mobility of populations in order (i) to model and predict the evolution of the disease, (ii) to monitor the effectiveness of decision-making by Member States' authorities on measures such as social distancing and confinement, and (iii) to inform a coordinated strategy for exiting from the COVID-19 crisis."
European Commission
2020-04-08
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Responding to the Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Food Value Chains Through Efficient Logistics
From the Document: "To contain the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic (caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2]), governments around the world have implemented measures, including a severe reduction in the transportation of goods (ground, ocean freight and air freight), services that rely on transport, as well as migration of labour domestically and internationally. Workers are less available reflecting both disruptions in transportation systems and restrictions to stop the transmission of the disease, within and across borders. These factors induce overall disruptions in the logistics of the food supply chains, impeding the shipment of food and agricultural inputs, threatening food security and nutrition, particularly for the most vulnerable population segments. [...] The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) urges countries to maintain functioning food value chains to avoid food shortages, following practices that are being proven to work. This note summarizes some practices that could be useful for governments and the private sector to maintain critical logistical elements in food value chain."
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
2020-04-04
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COVID-19: Medical Equipment & Food Supplies
From the Document: "Shortages of medical equipment worldwide and procurement delays are further complicated by border closures and transport disruptions. Ventilators and treatment are also unlikely to be available or sufficient for some time, emphasising the importance of lower-intensity technological solutions in developing contexts. Governments need to quickly assess, prioritise and articulate needs to development partners and private suppliers, forecasting demand based on modelling and affordability. Priority should be given to prevention - protective equipment, thermometers, and dedicated medical facilities - and ensuring the safety and adequate training of health-care workers. In the short to medium term, there may also be opportunities to support the manufacturing of PPE [personal protective equipment] and equipment locally. Countries worldwide are restricting the movement of people and goods and imposing food bans, threatening global trade, commodity prices, and food availability. This is particularly important for Africa given its current levels of food imports, domestic production, and export revenues. Governments need to quickly assess food needs and availability, ensure that supply chains remain open, and identify mitigation actions for vulnerable populations. Planting and expanded cultivation should also be accelerated for the coming planting season (March to May) and plans made for storage. While addressing national food security and domestic production, countries should continue to leverage private sector investment and regional economic cooperation."
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
2020-03-30
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National Communicable Disease Surveillance Manual of Saint Lucia
"The purpose of surveillance is not just to detect communicable diseases but rather to respond to any communicable diseases with the appropriate disease control measure. The potential for rapid spread of a communicable disease has demanded that our surveillance system provides information as close to real time as possible. It is probably more appropriate to think of our national communicable disease surveillance and control system as a health security system. The system demands accurate and rapid intelligence. This intelligence must be available in a system that can see and respond rapidly at the country borders as well as within each community and within every sector e.g. trade, health, agriculture, education or tourism. We live in a global environment within which an emerging infectious disease from anywhere in the world can arrive in Saint Lucia within 24 hours of emerging. Infectious diseases can arrive via people or through agricultural and goods imports. Therefore the scope of our disease surveillance and response systems must be competent to manage this."
Saint Lucia
2006-05
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Trade Facilitation Best Practices Implemented in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Overview: "Maintaining trade flows as much as possible during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic will be crucial in providing access to essential food and health supplies and in limiting the negative impacts on jobs and poverty. The implementation of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) provides governments with a sound framework for improving trade facilitation and border management. During this crisis implementing measures contained in the TFA can contribute to ensure that trade in critical supplies proceeds smoothly and safely thereby contributing to food security and the health of citizens. This document builds on the World Bank Group's Trade and COVID Guidance Note on Managing Risk and Facilitating Trade in the COVID-19 Pandemic which provides recommendations to governments in maintaining the supply chain that are facilitating the trade of critically needed commodities during the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting workers at ports, terminals and points of entry."
World Bank Group
Yang, Aileen; Sela, Shane; Zawacki, Marisa
2020
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How COVID-19 Restrictions and the Economic Consequences Are Likely to Impact Migrant Smuggling and Cross-Border Trafficking in Persons to Europe and North America
From the Executive Summary: "The unprecedented crisis that COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] has suddenly unleashed upon the world is affecting all aspects of society and is likely to have an effect on the routes and characteristics of both regular and irregular migration. Smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons will also be affected in certain ways by the crisis. Many factors shape the dynamics of these two criminal phenomena, from the international political and security landscape to macro socio-economic dynamics and national law enforcement capacity - all of which have been affected by the global pandemic. The impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, and of the measures adopted by governments to contain it, differ across the globe, and the effects of these measures on smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons are likely to vary from country to country and from region to region. This Research Brief analyses possible scenarios of how smuggling of migrants and cross-border trafficking in persons are likely to be affected by the COVID-19 crisis along mixed migration routes to two important destination regions: North America and Europe."
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Sarrica, Fabrizio; Healy, Claire; Serio, Giulia . . .
2020-05-14?
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security: FY 2019 Summary of Performance and Financial Information
From the Document: "During FY 2019, DHS delivered results across all mission areas, ensuring lawful trade and travel, enhancing border operational control, interdicting migrants and drugs in the maritime environment, combatting transnational criminal organizations, and vetting all domestic passengers and checked baggage. [...] FY 2019 marks DHS's seventh consecutive year for a clean financial statement audit opinion. DHS's Net Cost of Operations for FY 2019 was $66.1 billion as compared to $66.8 billion in FY 2018. Whether sustaining a clean opinion on our financial statements or improving internal controls, the value of transparent and accurate financial reporting cannot be stressed enough. We hope you enjoy our FY 2019 Summary of Performance and Financial Information (Citizen's Report) that highlights the efforts of our operational Components."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
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Opioid/Fentanyl Detection Project
From the Document: "Through Executive Order 13784, the Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis was established to counter the public health crisis responsible for 47,600 overdose deaths in 2017. In direct response, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has established a program in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to deliver improved drug detection capabilities within 12-18 months. [...] The Opioid/Fentanyl Detection Project will identify and develop capabilities to better detect and interdict synthetic opioids like fentanyl entering the United States through international mail and parcel shipments. This program will provide advanced detection technologies and analytics that increase screening capacity at international mail facilities, without unduly impacting the flow of legitimate trade. This program aims to increase the number of interdictions of illicit drugs, reducing the overall supply entering the United States."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2020-01
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COVID-19 and the Food and Agriculture Sector: Issues and Policy Responses
From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic is a global health crisis that is already having devastating impacts on the world economy -both directly and through necessary measures to contain the spread of the disease. These impacts are also being felt by the food and agriculture sector. While the supply of food has held up well to date, in many countries, the measures put in place to contain the spread of the virus are starting to disrupt the supply of agro-food products to markets and consumers, both within and across borders. The sector is also experiencing a substantial shift in the composition and -for some commodities -the level of demand. How damaging these impacts turn out to be for food security, nutrition and the livelihoods of farmers, fishers and others working along the food supply chain will depend in large part on policy responses over the short, medium and long term. In the short term, governments must manage multiple demands -responding to the health crisis, managing the consequences of the shock to the economy, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the food system. While the pandemic poses some serious challenges for the food system in the short term, it is also an opportunity to accelerate transformations in the food and agriculture sector to build its resilience in the face of a range of challenges, including climate change."
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
2020-04-29
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Venezuela: Pandemic and Foreign Intervention in a Collapsing Narcostate
From the Document: "In late June and early July, three separate events highlighted the growing risk that the political, health, economic, and security crisis in Venezuela could come to a head in the coming months, which would have grave consequences for its neighbors in the region. First, two figures affiliated with the regime, Diosdado Cabello and Tarek El-Aissami, tested positive for Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], with the prospect that Nicolás Maduro himself--with whom El-Aissami met--could be next. Second, the Maduro regime excluded three of the four political parties opposing him--Popular Will, Justice First, and Democratic Action--from National Assembly elections to be held in December; it also replaced their leaders with regime loyalists, decisively closing one of the few remaining possibilities for a democratic exit to the political crisis in the country. And finally, a report by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on illegal mining in Venezuela highlighted the degree to which the national territory is controlled not by Nicolás Maduro or Juan Guaidó, but by criminal organizations. Beyond the greater Caracas area, Venezuela has devolved into a series of criminal fiefdoms bound not by an allegiance to Maduro or Guaidó but rather by a shared interest in the continued absence of effective governance; this enables those with guns to persist in their criminal enterprises, from narcotics and illegal mining to extorting desperate Venezuelans seeking to cross the border or to send remittances to their loved ones."
Center for Strategic and International Studies (Washington, D.C.)
Ellis, Robert Evan
2020-08
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States of Terror: Understanding Evolving Islamist Terrorist Organizations and the Threat They Pose
From the thesis abstract: "Islamist militant organizations appear to be evolving from traditional disassociated networks, al- Qaeda's model, into centralized regional powers with the intent of developing into national governments. This thesis presents a comparative case study of five mainstream Islamist militant organizations, the Islamic State, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, al-Shabaab, the Afghan Taliban, and Hezbollah, to determine how close they have come to statehood and how such a change may affect U.S. homeland security. The criteria used to analyze the case studies were primarily derived from the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, which describes a state as an entity with a permanent population, defined borders, an ability to conduct governance, and an ability to enter into relations with other national governments. Additional criteria were used to determine the organizations' propensity to threaten the United States in their governmental capacity. This thesis found that none of the Islamist militant organizations in the case studies currently fit all the criteria for statehood; however, none fit al-Qaeda's disassociated model either. Therefore, the international community should consider defining and more accurately classifying these groups as militant states."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
McCulley, Dylan P.
2016-09
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Libya: A Future Arab Democracy
From the thesis abstract: "Libya has overthrown its long time dictator Muammar Gadhafi with the aid of both Western and Arab militaries. The United States acted under the authority of U.N. mandate 1973 as part of a broad coalition of both NATO and Arab Nations primarily in a supporting role. In Libya, as in its neighbors Egypt and Tunisia, the successful revolution has now established transitional governments who's effectiveness is yet to be determined. Unlike other Arab nations, Libya possesses a combination of vast oil reserves, a small and balanced population, and a relatively high education level in its citizens. These factors all bode well for the establishment of a lasting representative government. If successful, Libya can not only secure its borders, and deny safe haven to terrorism as is the declared interest of the United States, but also serve as a positive economic and political influence on the region. Egypt remains the most significant and strategic nation in the region, but the benefits of a successful Libya and the relatively low cost at which it may be achieved should not be overlooked."
Army War College (U.S.)
Kulzer, Jacob
2012-03-21
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'Old Army' 1898-1941: A Blueprint for the Future?
From the thesis abstract: "The U.S. Army faces a challenge of maintaining a force able to meet global commitments and in an era of shrinking budgets when no immediate peer competitor justifies a large standing army. Additionally, the focus of military strategy has shifted to the Pacific. This is not a new situation. The Army faced a similar dilemma during the period of 1898 to 1941. During this time the Army had to maintain a continuous presence in the Philippines, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Panama Canal Zone while simultaneously mobilizing for World War I, deploying expeditions to China, Russia, and Siberia, fighting a border skirmish against Mexican bandits, conducting peace keeping operations in Cuba and maintaining stateside garrisons. In a country traditionally wary of maintaining a large standing Army, and with no direct threat to justify having one, this required the Army of the period to have several characteristics: It had to be relatively small, but able to expand rapidly through the use of reserves; it had to be highly selective, professional and well trained to accomplish much with a small force, as well as provide a skilled cadre for mobilization; finally, it had to rely on native soldiers overseas to expand its capabilities and to augment its forces. These same characteristics and competencies may serve as an effective blueprint for guiding current reform initiatives as the Army transitions to meet contemporary security challenges."
Army War College (U.S.)
Reed, Christopher D.
2012-03-19
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What is the Extent of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Where Does It Derive Its Strength in the Sahelian-Saharan Region: A Case Study of Northern Mali
From the thesis abstract: "What Is The Extent of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Where Does It Derive Its Strength in the Sahelian-Saharan Region: A Case Study of Northern Mali, by MJR Mohamed Al Moustapha Touré, 131 pages. While Algeria was facing internal security issues with illegal Islamist armed groups in the 1990s, some Sahelian-Saharan states were reducing their institutional presence in their border region with Algeria. Mali was demilitarizing its northern region in application of the peace agreement with the Arab-Tuareg rebellion, opening a large corridor to all kinds of smugglings and illegal activities. The Author used the RAND study's variable of ungovernability and conduciveness to analyze AQIM [Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb] in northern Mali. The importance of kinship relationship in Somalia supported the emergence of a new variable called 'Fortified Relationships'. The objective of the study was to use the RAND's variables to do an analysis of AQIM's center of gravity. The conduciveness variables constitute AQIM's center of gravity critical capabilities and 'Fortified Relationships' constitute its critical vulnerabilities. This emergent variable of 'Fortified Relationships' seems to be a critical factor, at least in an African context, and warrants further study."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Toure, Mohamed Al Moustapha
2012-06-08
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Automated Commercial Environment Overview and Status Update [presentation]
This presentation from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offers information on the following topics: "Automated Commercial Environment [ACE]"; "International Trade Data System"; "PGAs [Participating Government Agencies] in ITDS [International Trade Data System]"; "Summarized ACE Timeline"; "ACE Project Priorities"; "ACE Program Successes and Current Capabilities"; "ACE Entry Summary Functionality Highlights"; "CBP Forms 28, 29, and 4647"; "Sending Documents Via the ACE Portal"; "Census Warning Processing"; "AD/CVD Case Management"; "Post Summary Corrections"; "Document Image System [DIS]"; "DIS Forms Initially Supported"; "Periodic Monthly Statement"; "Key ACE Reports"; "ACE Report Categories"; "ACE Reports Data Refresh"; "e-Manifest: Trucks"; "e-Manifest: Rail and Sea"; "Importer Security Filing"; "ACE Functionality: Delivered March 2012"; "ACE Functionality: Delivered May 2012"; "ACE Functionality: Delivered May 2012 Simplified Entry"; "ACE Functionality: Delivered May 2012 Simplified Entry Data"; "ACE Priorities/Planned Capabilities"; "ITDS - PGA Message Set"; and "Additional Resources".
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2012-06
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Update to the 2008 Report Concerning Passenger Name Record Information Derived from Flights Between the U.S. and the European Union
"In advance of the 2010 Joint Review of the 2007 U.S. -- EU Passenger Name Records (PNR) Agreement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Privacy Office updated its December 2008 Report Concerning Passenger Name Records (2008 Report) derived from flights between the U.S. and EU. The purposes of the update are to: (1) review the status of recommendations contained in the 2008 Report and (2) identify key Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program practices and assess whether such practices continue to comply with the 2007 U.S.-EU PNR Agreement."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Privacy Office
2010-02-05
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Privacy Impact Assessment Update for the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) [June 23, 2011]
"The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is updating the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) in order to provide further notice of the expansion of routine sharing of APIS with the intelligence community in support of the Department's mission to protect the United States from potential terrorist activities."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Privacy Office
2011-06-23
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Defeating Mexico's Drug Trafficking Organizations: The Range of Military Operations in Mexico
From the thesis abstract: "Drug Trafficking Organizations within Mexico have become a challenge to the state and are affecting both Mexican and U.S. citizens within the U.S. and Mexico border region. As the situation continues to spiral out of control, the U.S. military, with approval of the Mexican government, may need to conduct operations within Northern Mexico to defeat drug trafficking organizations and stabilize the region. As the full range of military operations have been conducted within Afghanistan, this study explores those military operations and their applicability to defeating drug trafficking organizations within Northern Mexico. Through operational design, the primary conclusion drawn is that there is no single military operation that should be conducted. Rather, the U.S. military operations that can be employed to defeat drug trafficking organizations and stabilize Northern Mexico are a combination of security cooperation, limited contingency operations, and major operations."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Wade, Mark J.
2012-06-08
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Information Technology Management Letter for the FY 2011 U.S. Customs and Border Protection Financial Statement Audit
"We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and related consolidated statements of net cost, changes in net position, and custodial activity, and the combined statements of budgetary resources (hereinafter, referred to as 'consolidated financial statements') as of September 30, 2011 and 2010. In connection with our audit of CBP's consolidated financial statements, we performed an evaluation of general information technology controls (GITCs), to assist in planning and performing our audit. The 'Federal Information System Controls Audit Manual' (FISCAM), issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), formed the basis of our GITC evaluation procedures. The scope of the GITC evaluation is further described in Appendix A. FISCAM was designed to inform financial auditors about information technology (IT) controls and related audit concerns to assist them in planning their audit work and to integrate the work of auditors with other aspects of the financial audit."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2012-05
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Port Isabel Service Processing Center: Final Environmental Assessment
From the Purpose and Need for the Project: "The Port Isabel Service Processing Center (commonly referred to as the Port Isabel Detention Center or PIDC) is located at 27991 Buena Vista Boulevard, Los Fresnos, Texas. Los Fresnos is part of Cameron County, the southernmost county in Texas. The U.S./Mexico border lies to the south of Cameron County. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) proposes a variety of improvements at the existing Port Isabel Service Processing Center (SPC), including construction, renovations, expansion, and demolition. ICE has prepared this Final Environmental Assessment (EA) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 United States Code [USC] 4321 et seq.) and other relevant federal and state laws and regulations. This Final EA discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action and alternatives."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; United States. Department of Homeland Security
2019-02-21
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Investing in a Safer United States: What is Global Health Security and Why Does it Matter?
"In response to the questions-why does the United states engage in global health,and what are the national interests of the Untied State in this area? - humanitarian and ethical considerations are often the lead rationales cited: the United States is a philanthropic nation committed to the values of easing the vulnerability and suffering of people from HIV/AIDS, malaria, polio, and a number of other diseases. Not far behind are the U.S. foreign policy and development states: U.S. investments in global health are a cost-effective 'soft power' tool that promotes economic growth and prosperity in poor communities and that generates important earned goodwill toward the United States by visibly saving and enhancing lies. No less important than these however, but often less acknowledged, is the U.S. interest in global health security: investing in the basics of quality public health systems, including effective and adequate laboratories, information systems, and human resources to conduct disease surveillance and epidemiological analyses, and effective response strategies that can protect Americans and persons around the world from both predictable and unforeseen emerging health threats that can quickly cross populations and borders."
Center for Strategic and International Studies (Washington, D.C.)
Miller, Rebecca; Dowell, Scott F.
2012-08
