By Irvin Varkonyi
Originally published in NDTA Defense Transportation Journal, April 2009

The Value of Human Capital

The nation has met the harsh challenges of protecting our national security, weakened by the tragedies of terrorism, natural disasters and low priorities of infrastructure protection, with an immense response at all levels of Government and the commercial sector. This response called on its citizens, whether they are the President of the United States, a night watchman at a semi-conductor factory or a university professor of supply chain management to not only exert maximum effort to protect each other but to recognize the value of human capital to detect, plan for, mitigate, respond and recover from disasters. Such action can make the difference in protecting our Defense Industrial Base, the loss of which, or severe weakening, would compound our weakness in maintaining national security.

Continue reading "A Resilient Industrial Base Relies on Human Capital" »

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By Jenni Hesterman

Speculation of his death in a January, 2008 Predator strike in Waziristan has now been inarguably refuted: Adam Gadahn is alive and talking in his new 40 minute video entitled "Let's Continue our Jihad and Sacrifice."

He's been riding the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist List for year, following indictment in the Central District of California for treason and material support to al Qaeda. The charges are related to Gadahn's alleged involvement in a number of terrorist activities, including providing aid, comfort and services to al Qaeda. The State Department's Rewards for Justice Program is offering up to $1 million for information leading to his arrest.

Continue reading "American al Qaeda Operative Adam Gadahn Alive; Releases New Video" »

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With hopes to provide an "inside-out view" of what is done every day in the world of homeland security, the DHS launched a new site The Blog @Homeland Security.

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By Miller J. Wilson

William J. Daugherty makes some good points in his paper but I would have to disagree with him. The review process for covert actions fails on many levels and for many reasons. Some of these reasons include the sheer number of people who are briefed about actions, the lack of punitive actions against Congressmen/women who leak information, and the belief that somehow it is impossible that an action could not be taken without a Presidential Finding or Congressional approval. I shall discuss each point and why it causes the review process to fail below.

Continue reading "The Realities of Covert Action Review and Approval Process" »

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By Jenni Hesterman

On May 6th, Department of Justice leaders outlined their roles and strategies as related to combating drugs and gun trafficking at/around the U.S. border with Mexico to the House's Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. The hearing's title encapsulates the problem at hand: "Escalating Violence in Mexico and the Southwest Border as a Result of the Illicit Drug Trade".

Continue reading "Department of Justice Experts Testify on Violence, Drugs, Guns at the Southern Border" »

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By Miller J. Wilson

Over the past few weeks we have seen the general public's concern about the H1N1 virus go from the verge of panic to almost nothing. The reason for this is that despite the increasing number of cases reported there have been few deaths outside of Mexico and so the average person is beginning to believe that the worst is over, but is it?

Continue reading "Is A/H1N1 (Swine Flu) Pandemic Over???? " »

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By Miller J. Wilson

One of the best ways to fight Jihad is to prevent the radicalization of people. If you have read any of the RAND reports then you will know that Jihadists are pretty much self- recruited after they have become radicalized.

Continue reading "Preventing Radicalization" »

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By Miller J. Wilson

For everyone out there that keeps screaming for Guantanamo Bay to be shut down and that our interrorgation tactics, including waterboarding, are ineffective here are 8 plots that have been stopped because of Guantanamo Bay and our interrorgation tactics.

Continue reading "The Effectiveness of Gitmo and the Terrorist Detainee Program" »

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By Miller J. Wilson

With the outbreak of the H1N1 virus spreading throughout the globe and threatening to become a pandemic virus one must wonder what the effects will be on the security of nations around the world. An Associated Press report projects an estimated of 90 million ill and 2 million deaths in the US and some British experts claim 120 million deaths world-wide should H1N1 turn into a pandemic similar to the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic.

However, the potential cost in health is limited compared to the potential threats to National Security and economy.

Continue reading "H1N1 Influenza Virus (Swine Flu) and the Effects on National Security" »

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For the last few years, Pirates on the Carribean conjured the swashbuckling antics of Johnny Depp. Nowadays romantized notions of such a thing has been put to rest by the real thing.

In Homeland Security blogger Jenni Hesterman, warned travelers of such happenings months ago.

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