| From The Editor September 4, 2006 |
The Freedom TrailThis past week, my colleague and mentor, Amb. Cofer Black and myself had a great opportunity to speak to students at the Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The two-hour discussion about non-traditional security forces was lively, productive, and emotional, and it also demonstrated that we in the private sector have a long way to go in educating leaders of the value that we bring to the global war on terror.But this trip to Boston gave me an even greater opportunity. My 14 year-old daughter joined me for the weekend, and after a short tour of Harvard University (ulterior motives on my part) we planned to walk the "Freedom Trail". We could not have made a better choice. The Freedom Trail winds through the city and begins at Boston Common, America's oldest public park. The Common is where heretics, witches, pirates, and indeed Quakers were hanged, but it's also where the city's celebrations were held, from the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1765, to Martin Luther King's speeches, and where thousands gathered to hear Pope John Paul II celebrate the Mass. A small piece of ground with a great deal of history. The Freedom Trail then proceeds past the Old Massachusetts State House, the Shaw-54th Regiment Memorial, which commemorates the integrated unit where white officers led black enlisted men who wanted to help free the slaves. Just down the hill from the this memorial is the Park Street Church, where the first Sunday School was founded and where, "My Country 'tis of Thee" was first publicly sung. Directly next to the Park Street Church is the Granary Burial Ground. In this small but truly historic area lie the remains of James Otis, whose 1761 speech against the writs of assistance at the Old State House was the "birth of the child Independence". Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Peter Faneuil, the parents of Ben Franklin, John Hancock, and the victims of the Boston Massacre all too lay here. A quick walk across the street leads you to King's Chapel, at the foot of Beacon Hill. A typical chapel of the times, you find inside family pews. The more money paid, the closer to the pulpit you found your pew. There are so many other sights to see on the Freedom Trail. You must stop at Faneuil Hall, the "Cradle of Liberty" given to the town by Peter Faneuil, one of Boston's wealthiest merchants. Faneuil Hall is where patriots first spoke publicly against British rule and directly behind the hall is the infamous Boston Market, also known as the Quincy Market. Further along the trail is the house of Paul Revere. He died at 83 and had eight children. But just a bit further is the historical site for which Paul Revere is best known; the Old North Church. Sam Adams and John Hancock were in Lexington with the militia and the Patriots observed that the British were moving troops and ships which greatly concerned them. Paul Revere and others decided to create a signal to alert the militia in Lexington if the British were on the move. The now famous line "one if by land, two if by sea..." penned by the poet Longfellow was a backup signal in the event that Paul Revere could not cross the Charles River to alert his fellow Patriot. The British first set out toward Boston Common and it was thought that they were to head directly to Lexington to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock. In fact, the British were headed to Concord to seize munitions stores. Either way, they were moving and Paul Revere completed his mission by alerting the militia in Lexington and Robert Newman lit two lanterns in the Old North Church for less than a minute to complete the task. The rest, as they say, is history. My point to this short note? My daughter and I saw all of this history (and much more) in a two-mile walk along the Freedom Trail. Today, families are challenged by the temptations of the Internet, MTV, and Hollywood, and while we all learn about the Revolution in school, it is a far different experience both individually and as a family to visit these historic sites and experience them first-hand. No generation is spared the defense of liberty. The courage that the Sons of Liberty and the Daughters of the American Revolution demonstrated over 200 years ago today lives on in the commitment of our own law enforcement, military, federal agency, and private professionals. Come to Boston and see where American liberty began... and bring your kids. Always faithful, Chris Taylor |
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK |
| There is no present or future, only the past, happening
over and over again, now. Eugene O'Neill |
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PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES, EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS |
The Insurgent's Slingshot: Anti Tank Guided WeaponsWhile not necessarily a new or innovative tactic, Hezbollah's effective use of anti-tank guided missiles allowed it to thwart Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon.During Israel's recent war with Hezbollah, the majority of the media's attention focused on the threat that Hezbollah's long-range rocket arsenal posed to Israeli population centers. Certainly, rocket attacks on Israel served Hezbollah's goals by terrorizing Israeli civilians and diminishing Israel's will to fight a sustained war. However, the rockets attacks did little to affect the military campaign in southern Lebanon. The campaign was largely decided by Hezbollah's successful use of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM). Hezbollah possesses a varied arsenal of ATGMs, including the European-made Milan, the Russian-designed Metis-M, Sagger AT-3, Spigot AT-4, Kornet AT-14, and the US made TOW. Terrorism Research Center Will We Choose to Win in Iraq?Thirty-eight years ago, American politics was rocked by another politically controversial war. Then, as now, liberal Democrats competed for the allegiance of an increasingly powerful antiwar left. Then, as now, that constituency flexed its muscles in a key Democratic primary that seemed to turn American politics upside down: In March 1968, Eugene McCarthy almost defeated President Lyndon Johnson in New Hampshire; earlier this month, Ned Lamont triumphed over Senator Joe Lieberman in Connecticut. And there may be one more parallel. According to Michael Barone, the gold standard in political commentary, many of the voters who pulled the lever for McCarthy were dissatisfied with Johnson's conduct of the Vietnam war not because they believed the war was wrong or wasteful, but because they believed America was losing it. As Barone puts it in Our Country, voters dissatisfied with Vietnam wanted to "win or get out." Full Story Ethical Security: A Challenge and a NecessityThis month IPOA is delighted to partner with the Fund for Peace for our 2006 Ethical Security Conference in Gaithersburg, Maryland (see ad on page 5). This conference will address the many challenging security issues confronting private sector operations in developing countries and regions of the world suffering from low-intensity conflicts. Appropriate corporate behavior, ensuring effective and professional security, and the complexities of working in conjunction with local authorities are all topics that will be addressed in interactive forums. Few serious analysts fundamentally challenge the argument that private sector investments can bring enormous benefits to nations and populations. The Ethical Security Conference moves beyond ideological issues to focus on practical steps to improve the quality and humanitarian responsiveness of commercial security, while minimizing inadvertent damages and maximizing local and national benefits. IPOA's Code of Conduct and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, of which the Fund for Peace is a key advocate, will be the centerpieces of the conference. They are two of the most forward-looking private sector commitments to ethical operations in developing countries and conflict and post-conflict environments, and go far towards ensuring responsible private sector operations. To download the full PDF version of the September/October Journal of International Peace Operations Please Visit PDF Version |
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BREAKING NEWS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Police Chiefs from 50 Cities Meet in D.C. for Crime SummitA top Justice Department official said Wednesday the government would strive to work better with cities to stem crime on the streets. Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty told a gathering of mayors and police chiefs from 50 cities that he was concerned about reports of growing violent crime - including homicides, robberies and aggravated assault - in cities nationwide. He acknowledged difficulties due to demands with fighting terror and wars abroad. "I'm well aware that there are many needs and desires on the part of law enforcement that we have not been able to serve well," McNulty said at the national crime summit organized by the Police Executive Research Forum.Full Story NYPD Plans to Step Up Train SecurityThe New York City Police Department has taken on an unprecedented role in trying to protect trains in the area. Seven weeks after terrorists bombed trains in Mumbai, India, and with the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaching, the NYPD is taking a lead role in securing Amtrak's northeast corridor. While there is no specific threat, officials said they remain concerned about the vulnerability of trains. NewsChannel 4 got rare access to a high-level briefing organized by New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.Full Story Fugitive Suspected in N.Y. ambushTwo state troopers staking out at the hometown of an escaped convict's girlfriend were shot in an ambush early Friday, authorities said. Neither trooper saw the suspect, and neither returned fire, but one was able to radio for help, State Police Superintendent Wayne Bennett said. Both officers were hospitalized in critical condition. "It's clear to me the troopers were ambushed," Bennett said.Full Story Evidence displayed at bombing memorialFBI evidence used to convict Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols goes on display Friday at the Oklahoma City bombing memorial, even as a congressman and others continue to raise questions about the 1995 explosion that killed 168 people. The display includes items ranging from mangled pieces of the truck used in the explosion to the automatic Glock handgun taken from McVeigh when he was arrested by a state trooper 90 miles from the bombing site. "Hopefully, the exhibit will answer some of the questions the public has regarding the investigation," said Nancy Coggins, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. "The evidence we have on display was never viewed by the public because of the nature of the closed trials."Full Story Shooting Suspect Obsessed With ColumbineA teenager accused of killing his father and opening fire outside his former high school was obsessed with school massacres and sent e-mail to the principal of Columbine High School in Colorado warning of his attack, authorities said Thursday. "Dear Principal," the e-mail read. "In a few hours you will probably hear about a school shooting in North Carolina. I am responsible for it. I remember Columbine. It is time the world remembered it. I am sorry. Goodbye." Alvaro Castillo sent the message Wednesday morning, shortly before two students were wounded by the gunfire in the Orange High School parking lot in Hillsborough, said Orange County Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass. One student was grazed by a bullet and another was injured by flying glass.Full Story |
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SECURITY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
FBI's New Data Warehouse A PowerhouseIt's been five years since 9/11 -- and since then, the FBI has done a lot of expensive work to upgrade its troubled computer systems. For the first time, nearly all FBI employees have access to the Internet. Sure, it has taken five years for the FBI to get as high-tech as most high school libraries, but the bureau has accomplished that and a lot more in a short period of time, according to senior FBI officials who briefed reporters for the five-year anniversary of the attacks. The FBI has been plagued by missteps in upgrading its computers for the past five years but according to officials, they have a system, never before publicly demonstrated, that connects the dots in its fight in the war on terrorism.Full Story Celebrated FBI Agent Will Retire Haunted by Those Who Got AwayTime is running out for FBI agent Brad Garrett, who helped solve the Starbucks slayings in the Georgetown area, helped persuade sniper Lee Boyd Malvo to confess and flew to Pakistan to help nab the man who gunned down two CIA workers outside the agency's headquarters in McLean. One of the most renowned agents to work in the FBI's Washington field office, he will retire Thursday after 16 years in Washington and 21 years in all -- regretfully, he said, before he can solve some of his most famous cases. The mandatory retirement age is 57. He is 58, finiishing up a one-year extension approved by the FBI director.Full Story How to Evaluate a Training ProgramIt's your money and it's your time; make sure you know what you're getting before you sign up. You have many opportunities for training outside of your agency. There are a bewildering number of classes offered by martial artists, veterans of elite military units, retired law enforcement officers, and the manufacturers of police equipment. But how do you tell which classes are suitable for you and whether what you learn in those classes will work on the street? First of all, you have to consider your needs and your abilities. Make sure you have the physical endurance and flexibility to participate in the program. Regardless of how strong or how fit you think you are, there are programs that will tax you. You also need to consider any past injuries, weak joints, or other health concerns that might come into play during the class. If you're not sure, ask the instructor.Full Story Who is Training Whom?Sometimes it is good to step back from the grind of the day-to-day routine and ask yourself a few questions: (You know, the ol' "forest and trees" thing...)* What is wrong with this picture? * What can I do to improve the overall situation here? * What biases have I internalized? * What lies have I inadvertently accepted as the truth? I have been in sort of an ongoing debate with some in the tactical training community regarding the concept of "high level" training verses "lowest common denominator training." High-level, being defined as challenging, difficult, slightly beyond the trainees' capability, type of training where everybody does not necessarily "get it" right away; in some cases, never. Training that could be considered steak instead of the disgusting, blended carrots you spoon feed to a toddler. Full Story State's anti-terror program eyes trucksIllinois' latest foray into the fight against terrorism will have state troopers taking an extra look at commercial trucks rolling through the Prairie State. Next month, the Illinois State Police will launch a $145,000 program dubbed Operation Desert Snow that will train police departments how to conduct detailed roadside interviews, identify suspicious vehicles and detect signs that a vehicle has been altered to create hidden storage compartments. "This is good training and good information for the troopers," said Illinois State Police Lt. Col. Michael Snyders.Full Story |
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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 detailed brochure 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 |
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FRANKS REVIEW |
Service Equipment ReviewLightSaver FlashlightsOver the past few years I've enjoyed doing plenty of training (and operations) in low-light environments. I have the good folks at Strategos International for some of the training I've had in such environments. As a result of that training I've developed certain opinions about how a flashlight should perform and what features are good to have. This week's review of LightSaver flashlights - from Brigade Quartermaster - took me by surprise. I started out thinking that they simply weren't going to be "up to par", but found that they perform quite well. Tropical Depression Ernesto had something to do with changing my attitude, but you'll see how that happened farther down. Let's get into the LightSaver line of lights...Full Story Can Be Viewed At: http://www.borelliconsulting.com/evals/lights/lightsaver.htm Recreational Equipment ReviewCamping Equipment In Use After ErnestoAs I type this, Tropical Depression Ernesto swept through my neighborhood (and a huge chunk of the surrounding geography) two days ago. Thanks to his gifts of wind and water we were without power for about a day and we're still cleaning up the mess. Trees were blown down (my dogs' kennel is trash) and some flooding occurred (our local beach is half washed away along with the access road). What inspired me to do this week's review on camping equipment after a storm was the fact that we depended on so much of our camping equipment while we were without power. Even though we weren't living out of a tent, cooking, passing time, coming and going... it was all just like we were at a campsite.Full Story Can Be Viewed At: http://www.borelliconsulting.com/recevals/campback/ernesto.htm |
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CHAPLAINS CORNER |
LABOR..."A Nationwide Holiday" "The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday -- a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement. The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television. Full Story Can Be Viewed At: ../../btw2006/article/090406chaplain.htm |
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