| January 14, 2008 Edition |
How the U.S. seeks to avert nuclear terrorScientists scan cities. Response teams are ready. And if there were a lethal device, experts would work on tracing the source.Los Angeles TimesRalph Vartabedian About every three days, unknown to most Americans, an elite team of federal scientists hits the streets in the fight against nuclear terrorism. The deployments are part of an effort since 2001 to ratchet up the nation's defenses. More than two dozen specialized teams have been positioned across the nation to respond to threats of nuclear terrorism, and as many 2,000 scientists and bomb experts participate in the effort. Spending on the program has more than doubled since it was launched. And an evolving national policy aims to create a system of nuclear forensics, in which scientific analysis could quickly identify the source of a nuclear attack or attempted attack. A key report on nuclear forensics is due next month. Full Story |
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| QUOTE OF THE WEEK |
| I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.
John D. Rockefeller |
| PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES, EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS |
Fears Deepen after Pakistan BombingTimeAryn Baker It was only a matter of time. A suicide bomber struck in the Pakistani city of Lahore today, ending a two-week lull since the spate of spontaneous violence that followed the December 27 assassination of former prime minister and parliamentary candidate Benazir Bhutto. At least 23 riot police were killed and another 58 police and passers-by were injured when a man detonated his vest packed with ball bearings outside Lahore's High Court, according to Police Superintendent Aftab Cheema. Police have recovered the suicide bomber's head, which was thrown some 100 meters across a busy commercial square by the force of the blast. Full Story Battling in the Bread BasketA new U.S. military push is focusing on the militant stronghold of Diyala. An on-scene report.NewsweekLennox Samuels Operation Iron Harvest began in the dark of night, as Blackfoot Company soldiers marched across the bridge leading from their K-Wal combat outpost in Shakarat and headed toward the village of Sinsil some 500 yards away. It could have been another nighttime mission, but in fact was the opening maneuver in a determined U.S. military operation to drive Al Qaeda in Iraq out of Diyala province. Full Story Bolstering homeland defenseWashington TimesPrior to recessing for the Christmas holidays, Congress inched forward a bipartisan bill that would provide funding to combat domestic improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a growing problem outlined last year in a National Intelligence Estimate released by the National Intelligence Council. That report found IEDs are the new weapon of choice for terrorists, particularly those with links to al Qaeda, who are seeking to attack Americans on their own soil. Congressional leaders like Maine Sen. Susan Collins, ranking member of the Senate homeland security panel, and Chairman Joe Lieberman of Connecticut have taken the lead to address the lack of communication and training among domestic law enforcers on the issue of IEDs. Full Story |
| BREAKING NEWS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Mexico takes fight to Zeta drug gangTwo recent clashes show a new strategy emerging in drug warDallas Morning NewsLaurence Iliff Thousands of soldiers and federal police have mounted a new operation along the Mexico-Texas border designed to break up cells of the Zetas paramilitary drug gang, with two bloody firefights just this week, in what Mexican and U.S. officials are calling a new strategy in the drug fight. The plan of attack for the new year goes beyond patrolling streets in border towns such as Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa to actively tracking down Zeta cells in their safe houses, such as an operation Monday that left three heavily armed Zetas dead, said Patricio Patiño Arias, the deputy minister for intelligence and strategy at Mexico's Public Security Ministry. Full Story Iran's ProvocationThe Wall Street JournalWalter Russell Mead "It was a dangerous gesture," said President George W. Bush about Sunday's incident that involved five vessels, apparently under orders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, harassing U.S. naval forces in international waters in the Straits of Hormuz. They broke off moments before the Americans opened fire. "An ordinary occurrence," said a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry. "There will be serious consequences if they attack our ships," Mr. Bush countered. Full Story Air Force may shrink its F-15 fleetDozens of the older fighter jets, which are used to protect the U.S., may be permanently grounded because of suspected structural flaws.Los Angeles TimesJulian E. Barnes The Air Force will probably order dozens of its F-15 fighter jets permanently grounded because of crucial structural flaws, significantly reducing the number of planes available to protect the United States, officials said Tuesday. After one of the jets broke apart during a simulated dogfight in November, Air Force officials grounded the entire F-15 fleet, nearly 700 planes in all, fearing such a defect. The newest versions of the fighter jets were allowed to resume flying shortly afterward, but 440 of the older model F-15s have remained out of service. Full Story Cold-Weather Training IssuesPolice ChiefBrian R. Johnson and Greg L. Warchol Many police officers in the United States are exposed to cold-weather situations for at least part of the year. Of interest, however, is that many agencies never provide firearms training in cold settings. Instead, the training may be suspended during colder months, or it may be moved indoors to protect the officers and the training staff from the effects of the cold. In these indoor settings, officers often appear for their training wearing their cold-weather gear. When they prepare for their training, however, they take off their heavy outer jackets, gloves, and hats; shoot their qualifying course; put their cold-weather clothing back on; and go back to working the road. Full Story Dubai counters rising terror threatAssociated PressSebastian Abbot This oil-rich Persian Gulf state has outfitted high-rises with the latest security, installed an iris-recognition ID system and nearly completed a 500-mile-long barrier along its borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia. With such efforts, the United Arab Emirates has created one of the world's most comprehensive homeland security and anti-terrorism systems. That has kept Dubai - the jewel in the nation's crown and a stop on President Bush's Mideast trip - free from the Islamic extremist attacks that have plagued other countries in the region. Full Story |
| JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
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To view the latest contract opportunities at Blackwater, visit our Contract Web Page. TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND SUBMIT YOUR RESUME CLICK HERE Questions regarding Security Consulting or Training at Blackwater (252) 435-2488 or email webmaster@blackwaterusa.com. |
| SECURITY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Kidnappings cross border into U.S. citiesDrug trafficking, immigrant smuggling rings fuel violent trendAssociated PressA woman leaving an eyeglass store is grabbed in the parking lot by four men who force her, kicking and screaming, into a pickup. The kidnappers demand a $900,000 ransom. But police soon realize her family is holding something back and isn't fully cooperating with them. Later, investigators find out that relatives have arranged the woman's release on their own. And they discover that members of the family are heavy into marijuana trafficking. The case illustrates how a terrifyingly common crime in Latin America has moved across the border into the United States: Criminals and their family members are being kidnapped by fellow criminals and held for six-figure ransoms. Full Story Sri Lanka's Civil War: Not Over YetTimeLasantha Wickrematunge The Sri Lankan government's decision this week to officially pull out of a 2002 cease-fire agreement with the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.) was merely a confirmation of what Sri Lankans have known for the past 18 months: war has returned to the beautiful Indian Ocean island. It never really went away, of course; Hundreds have been killed in skirmishes since the Norway-brokered cease-fire took effect six years ago and a resumption of major battles in 2006 has made a mockery of the truce. But with Sri Lanka's government beset by an inflation rate nearing 20% and growing dissatisfaction among the Buddhist Sinhalese majority in the country's south, it appears to have settled on reopening hostilities as a way to shore up flagging support. Full Story FBI: Violent crime on the declineAssociated PressLara Jakes Jordan Crime dipped slightly for the first half of 2007, the FBI reported Monday, signaling a stop to a 2-year increase in violence nationwide. Violent crime - including murders, rapes and robberies - dropped by 1.8 percent between January and June last year, the FBI's preliminary data show. Property crimes also decreased, including a 7.4 percent drop in car thefts and arsons by nearly 10 percent. But violent crime appears to be rising, if slightly, in small cities and rural areas, the data show. Full Story German Security Services Reveal Bomb Threat to Justice MinistryDeutsche WelleGerman security services were put on alert this week after a terror threat was telephoned to the Lebanese embassy in Berlin claiming to come from a group linked to al Qaeda, the justice ministry said Saturday. Investigators looking into the threat to attack the German justice ministry, which came on Wednesday, said that Lebanese police had arrested the caller, named as Mohammed Ndoub, a Syrian alleged to have links to al Qaeda and the Islamic Jihad movement. Reports detailing the threat were published by two of Germany's leading news magazines, Der Spiegel and Focus. Full Story Colombian Hostages: Free This TimeTimeTim Padgett Colombia's powerful Marxist guerrillas, the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces, or FARC, don't mind being called brutal. They don't mind being called deceitful. What they can't apparently stand, however, is being called stupid. As a result, two prominent Colombian politicians are now free after six years as FARC hostages. International Red Cross helicopters, flying from neighboring Venezuela, picked up former Colombian Congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez and former vice presidential candidate Clara Rojas around noon on Thursday, deep in the jungle some 150 miles (240 km) southeast of Colombia's capital, Bogota. They were whisked to a military base in Venezuela, and were expected to be reunited with family in Caracas soon after. Full Story |
| TACTICAL TRAINING & INTELLIGENCE RESOURCES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Free Terrorism Daily Newsletter Now Available as an RSS FeedSince 1999, the Terrorism Research Center has provided a FREE daily compilation of the top terrorism and homeland security stories. Published as TRC's RealNews, the service has thousands of subscribers and is often referred to as the "terrorism early bird", in reference to the open source newsletter provided to senior government leaders each morning. If you are interested in terrorism, homeland security or other international security issues, you will find it an invaluable resource. RealNews RSS Feed - Click here to subscribe! |
| FRANKS REVIEW |
Tactical Equipment EvaluationEvery Day CarryAwhile back, on several forums, there were conversations about what today's warrior carries every day. Those discussions reminded me of what my father (an attorney / judge) used to empty out of his pockets at the end of every day: keys, check book, wallet, lighter, cigarettes, change, etc. Then I thought about what I unload out of my pockets or off my person every day: gun, knives, flashlight, lighter, cash, coins, wallet, badge it made me think about what we carry and why. I thought I'd share some of that with you.Full Story Can Be Viewed At: Recreational Equipment ReviewEvery Hike CarryJust as with the Tac Review we're talking about what we carry every day, this week's recreational equipment review is going to discuss what we might (or should) consider carrying each time we head out 'into the field'. On a camping trip not long ago I was discussing with a friend of mine what was in my kit that he referred to as a 'go to hell' bag for when things go to hell. I still have this bag together and this week's review will go through the items in there. It's kind of an abbreviated bug out bag.Full Story Can Be Viewed At: http://www.borelliconsulting.com/recevals/huntfish/gth.htm |
| CHAPLAINS CORNER |
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Another week... We have survived... We have overcome multiple circumstances that would have affected us adversely. We are still here to continue the fight.
Sometimes we do not feel like continuing the fight... But we do continue. Even when we are tired we drag out fatigued bodies back to the field and we do what are able to do. Where does the energy come from? Where inside us is the source that energizes those tired muscles... What is it that clears the fogged mind... ? Not many of us can answer those questions... But we know that resource is there... We know it is there. After a full week of stress and work, on Friday afternoon another unit called me to respond to his assigned case to give him assistance. I was running low on duty time. Logoff time was eminent. It actually was my Friday. I needed to gas up my vehicle. All of these things crowded my mind and clamored for attention. I was in heavy traffic on the Interstate enroute back to my precinct from an assistance run with the Automotive Maintenance Officer. Friday afternoon traffic was as thick as fleas on a stray dog. Much communication was necessary with dispatch and with the unit who requested assistance... And I was tired! Duty called... A cohort need assistance... All other things could wait... Communications were handled... Route to the location was obtained... Arrival showed that my training and preparation for all of these years of duty needed to be applied for the benefit of assisting a citizen in a crisis. It was obviously mine to do and by the Grace of my Commander-In-Chief it was done and the citizen was pulled out of an emotional tail spin and restored to peace and clear thinking. When I left the location I was not tired. http://www.blackwaterusa.com/btw2008/article/011408chaplain.htm |
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| THE PRIVATE SECURITY BLOGOSPHERE |
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Black Five (http://www.blackfive.net) Please continue to submit your suggestions to btw@blackwaterusa.com. |
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| BUMPER STICKER |
There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
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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) Questions regarding Security Consulting or Training
at Blackwater (252) 435-2488 Editorial Calendar: The weekly theme may change at the discretion of
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