| From The Editor August 28, 2006 |
Americans Helping Americans
Blackwater USA Post-Katrina Rescue and Relief EffortsOur efforts to assist fellow citizens during Hurricane Katrina was about Americans helping Americans, and began when Blackwater donated the services of its Puma helicopter and crew to the U. S. Coast Guard for emergency relief operations. Additionally, one of our CASA 212 aircraft was contracted to move people and supplies. In all, Blackwater professionals moved 125 people and 12 tons of food and supplies.We immediately began receiving calls from commercial and private clients. In less than 36 hours, Blackwater had 145 security professionals in New Orleans supporting the relief effort. When the Department of Homeland Security called with an emergent and compelling requirement for a turnkey security solution for multiple federal assets, we responded. Within the following days and weeks, Blackwater deployed nearly 700 security professionals all of whom were supported by our organic rapid response resources which allowed us to deploy mobile housing, showers, offices, command & control centers, vehicles, armories, and other supplies to ensure success. Blackwater continues to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the recovery effort. Our Rapid Response Enterprise has global reach and can make a positive difference in the lives of those who are affected by natural disasters and terrorist events. Gary Jackson President Blackwater |
| QUOTE OF THE WEEK |
| A life of leisure and a life of laziness
are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave. Benjamin Franklin |
| PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES, EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS |
Sniper Manual and IED Videos Appear on Mahdi Army BlogThe Mahdi Army blog, affiliated with Muqtada al-Sadr's Shiite organization in Iraq, has recently posted a sniper manual and videos of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and mortar attacks. The sniper manual appears to be copied from a site affiliated with the Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigade, a militant wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The videos show attacks predominately attributed to the 'Partisans of the People of Truth, Imam Ali Brigades,' potentially a fringe militant group linked to the Mahdi Army.Iraqi National and Coalition forces have targeted Sadr's organization, particularly elements responsible for persistent sectarian killings, as part of a new security enforcement campaign in Baghdad. Cumulatively, these blog postings could indicate a direction of tactics for the Mahdi Army and affiliated cells in response to the government crackdown. Full PDF Article can be found at: Full Story Exclusive: The Pentagon Plans for an African CommandIn what may be the most glaring admission that the U.S. military needs to dramatically readjust how it will fight what it calls 'the long war,' the Pentagon is expected to announce soon that it will create an entirely new military command to focus on the globe's most neglected region: Africa. Pentagon sources say that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is close to approving plans for an African Command, which would establish a military organization to singlehandedly deal with the entire continent of Africa. It would be a sign of a significant strategic shift in Administration policy, reflecting the need to put more emphasis on proactive, preventative measures rather than maintaining a defensive posture designed for the Cold War. Full Story US Military Aircraft: Unit and total costs by programThe real cost of U.S. military aircraft continues to be the subject of some debate, especially as the Pentagon's tendency to change procurement numbers and budget envelopes can easily obfuscate the actual figures and prove confusing. The prices below are extrapolated from the Pentagon's latest Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs), submitted to Congress on August 10, 2006. In the SARs, total program costs reflect actual costs to date, when available, or future anticipated costs when not. All estimates include anticipated inflation allowances. Our price figures are calculated by dividing the SAR's total program cost by the number of units to be produced. The resulting unit program cost amortizes research and development costs, and some support costs, over the entire production run, and is thus not an indication of actual acquisition prices. It is, however, the simplest, clearest and most accessible measure of weapon costs available. 
Full Article |
| BREAKING NEWS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Silence After the StormWhen it was fresh, the epic wreckage of Hurricane Katrina inspired rallying cries of "We will rebuild!" But a year after the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, vast stretches of this city and the Gulf Coast are still largely abandoned, and many here wonder whether the destruction may be more permanent than anyone could at first conceive. Tallies of electric bills and school enrollment figures show that less than half of New Orleans's pre-storm population of 455,000 has returned. The population of adjacent St. Bernard Parish has shrunk from 65,000 to less than 20,000. In small towns along the Mississippi Coast from Bay St. Louis to Biloxi, fewer than 5 percent of destroyed homes are being rebuilt.Full Story Engineers worry about New Orleans leveesDespite aggressive efforts to repair the New Orleans levee system following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, it isn't clear yet whether it could withstand a hurricane with heavy storm surge this year, the head of the Army Corps of Engineers conceded Saturday. Lt. Gen. Carl Strock said the agency was carefully tracking Tropical Storm Ernesto, which was in the Caribbean and projected to reach hurricane strength Tuesday. It was on track to enter the Gulf of Mexico, but it too early to tell whether it would strike the southern United States.Full Story Planning for Unthinkable Events Could Mean SurvivalLast week's terrorism scare has thrown a spotlight on the crucial role of risk management for companies in a turbulent business environment. Taking risks is part of the cost of doing business. But a company can pay dearly for ignoring the need to identify and plan for those risks. This is especially true for small businesses, which often operate on the edge. For executives dragging their feet on taking a companywide approach to risk management, last week's events may add a needed sense of urgency, experts say.Full Story Global forces train to prevent Panama Canal attackEighteen nations are preparing for a weeklong series of maneuvers off Panama's coast designed to safeguard the country's famous canal from terror attacks, a U.S. military chief said on Thursday. "All nations of the Western Hemisphere have a vested interest in safeguarding this vital waterway," said Cmdr. Bruce Erickson of the U.S. Southern Command in Panama City on the eve of the official start to "Panamax 2006," an annual event sponsored by the United States since 2003. The Southern Command is responsible for U.S. military activities in most of Latin America and the Caribbean.Full Story All-Star security team presents program to U.S. Attorney GeneralThe U.S. Attorney General in last week requested and received a briefing from the team charged with securing this year's Major League Baseball's All-Star Game -- praising the multi-agency project for its success with securing the stadium and the its surroundings during the game held earlier this summer. Kevin Hallinan, senior vice president of security and facilities management at MLB, said he and his team along with eight other agencies, including the Pittsburgh police and the FBI, were summoned to present a briefing on the event to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales -- focusing on the cooperation between the multiple agencies across the board. The event was prior to Gonzales' speech at the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh titled "Stopping terrorists before they strike: The Justice Department's power of prevention."Full Story |
| JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
|
TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND SUBMIT YOUR RESUME AND DD-214 CLICK HERE Questions regarding Security Consulting or Training at Blackwater (252) 435-2488 |
| SECURITY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
When a Hummer won't doIt can stop a bullet from an AK-47, shrug off a roadside bomb, and it makes a Hummer look like a chick car. The $200,000 (U.S.) Gurkha is coming to a road near you - thanks to a King City-based company that is finding itself in demand because of the global war on terror. "They are pretty awesome machines," says William Whyte, owner of Armet Armored Vehicles Inc., the company that builds the Gurkha. "We've been stopped on roads with people taking pictures and wanting to know what they are."Full Story Security breach reported at Lynn LNG facilityTwo people were seen on surveillance tapes cutting through a fence and climbing atop the storage tank at a liquefied natural gas storage facility in Lynn last week, and while it does not appear to be an act of terrorism, authorities are calling for a full-scale investigation. Authorities were especially displeased with the five-day lag between the Aug. 16 security breach and when KeySpan Corp. reported it to the state on Monday, said Mike Coelho, chief of staff of the state Executive Office of Public Safety. ``That's less than ideal, that kind of reporting turnaround," he said. ``We're not happy about it."Full Story 3 Leave AOL Over Security BreachAOL's chief technology officer is stepping down and the firm has fired two other people following last month's massive data breach that caused more than 36 million member search queries to be released on the Internet, according to an internal memo and a source familiar with the matter. In addition, the company has begun notifying dozens of individuals whose Social Security or credit card numbers were part of the exposed data, said the source, an employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it involved a personnel issue. The data came from 658,000 members who used AOL's search engine between March and May.Full Story Chadian president orders Chevron Corp., Petronas to leave countryChad's president on Saturday ordered oil companies Chevron Corp. and Petronas to leave the country, saying neither has paid taxes and his country will take responsibility for the oil fields they have overseen. In remarks on state-run radio, President Idriss Deby gave the companies - part of the African country's oil production consortium that is led by ExxonMobil - a deadline of just 24 hours to start making plans to leave. "Chad has decided that as of tomorrow (Sunday), Chevron and Petronas must leave Chad because they have refused to pay their taxes," Deby said in a message broadcast on state-run radio.Full Story BofA hires Homeland Security officialBank of America Corp. has hired a Department of Homeland Security official as business-continuity executive. Donna Bucella, who heads the U.S. Terrorist Screening Center for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will join Charlotte-based BofA in mid-October. She will lead all aspects of the bank's business-continuity planning and recovery efforts, both domestically and internationally. She will establish plans, policies and guidelines in support of business and corporate preparedness and event management. Bucella, who will be based in Charlotte, will report to Doug Smith, corporate information security and business-continuity executive.Full Story |
| TRAINING FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Mirror Image Training: Training to Combat TerrorismMirror Image is a tactical and strategic training course developed and owned by the Terrorism Research Center. TRC instructors have trained hundreds of military personnel that are subsequently deployed to active combat operations, as well as large numbers of first responders, law enforcement, and security professionals. Mirror Image is an intensive one-week classroom and field-training program, designed to realistically simulate terrorist recruiting, training techniques, and operational tactics. During the course, participants will receive insight into the mindset and rationale of the terrorist through hands-on experience with the methods and means terrorist employ, education about terrorist ideologies and the cultural dimensions that influence their decision making process. Military, law enforcement, intelligence, and security professionals will, in turn, be able to see themselves as the terrorists see them and understand the weaknesses in their own environment that the terrorists will seek to exploit, and which all too often they miss. Armed with these insights participants will leave the course better able to anticipate, prevent and respond to multiple terrorist threats. September 17-22, 2006: Blackwater Training Center, Moyock, NC A detailed brochure may be downloaded at: www.terrorism.com A Registration Form/Information may be downloaded at: www.terrorism.com Questions on TRC training, please contact Betty O'Hearns-Hines, Training Coordinator for the Terrorism Research Center. Email: betty@terrorism.com Phone: (727)360-4302 voice or (727)409-1754 |
| FRANKS REVIEW |
Service Equipment ReviewMil-Tac 1911 Pistol Grips & an UZI Watch?A few months ago I received a pair of grips from Mil-Tac Knives & Tools for my 1911 .45ACP pistol, and just a week ago I received a new watch from UZI. Now, if you're anything like me you look at the two words "watch" and "UZI" put together and one of those confused looks pops up on your face. What does UZI have to do with watches? Brand name is everything I guess. At any rate, I've spent the last several weeks and several range sessions carrying / evaluating the Mil-Tac 1911 Grips. I've spent the last week wearing the UZI watch and I still haven't managed to get a controlled burst out of it. (Sorry: trying to be funny) This week's review is a look at the grips - and what else is available from Mil-Tac - and the watch. Here we go!Full Story Can Be Viewed At: http://www.borelliconsulting.com/evals/other/miltacuzi.htm Recreational Equipment ReviewMagna 24" 15-Speed Mountain BikeThis week's recreational review is of an average trail bike: the 24" 15-speed model from Magna. If you're looking for a top-of-the-line Tour-de-France style bike... this ain't it. I would describe it as the Costco bike assembled by your average high school kid. Nevertheless, I have found it to be rugged, dependable, and capable of handling most terrain from paved roads to sand and gravel. In its defense, I haven't managed to break it in the seven years I've owned it. This bike has out-performed all of the other budget model bicycles that I've ridden (and broken), and has caused the fewest injuries (none of which were a result of bicycle failure).Full Story Can Be Viewed At: http://www.borelliconsulting.com/recevals/bike/magna2415.htm
|
| CHAPLAINS CORNER |
PERSEVERANCEIS DOING WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO... DOING WHAT MUST BE DONE... OR DOING WHAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO... AND DOING IT TO THE VERY BEST OF YOUR ABILITY... NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE IS... OR IS NOT DOING! Perseverance is what makes peace keeping and peace making work. No other one thing in the formula for success is more important than perseverance... keep on keeping on!!! It means to keep up the effort to overcome adversity and evil. It means to try all that you know at the moment and to pray and seek for the needed knowledge that you do not have so that the objective of peace can be achieved or restored... no matter where the location of your field of battle at the moment of effort. It means making the effort to overcome the evil that threatens peace and safety with all of the ability that you have within you and to use all of the resources at your disposal to stop the threat and preserve peace and safety... That was the gist of the oath that you took or the statement that you made just by accepting the position and the responsibility that goes with the job you were appointed to achieve. Full Story Can Be Viewed At: ../../btw2006/article/082806chaplain.htm
|
| BUMPER STICKER |
|
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
|
The Blackwater Tactical Weekly is a free weekly e-publication. The BTW provides readers valuable information from diverse sources regarding tactical and strategic security issues. Editor-in-Chief
– Gary Jackson (btw@blackwaterusa.com) Editorial
Calendar: The
weekly theme may change at the discretion of the Editor based on
current events. To view an archived BTW, Click Here |
| LEGAL NOTICE |
| Blackwater USA (the "Company"), provides this Newsletter as a source of diverse information to its readers. The Company does not warrant or endorse the products or services advertised in or reviewed in the Newsletter. The views and statements of the reviewers and commentators presented in the Newsletter are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Company or its affiliates. The Company does not monitor or warrant the accuracy or reliability of the material provided in this Newsletter or presented at any of the third-party websites to which links are provided in this Newsletter. WARNING: Use of certain of the products and services discussed or reviewed in this Newsletter can lead to personal injury or death. It is critical to follow manufacturers' instructions in using such products or services. The Company will not accept any liability for damages, injuries, or death resulting from the use or misuse of any such products or services. |
 |
   
|
|
