Tysons Corner, VA – Active military personnel will receive video “thank you” messages due to a revolutionary staffing technology at Ultimate Staffing Services. Ultimate Staffing is a division of Roth Staffing Companies, LP, one of the largest privately-held staffing companies in the United States. The staffing company is inviting the local community to use the proprietary interviewing technology to create an Independence Day e-message thanking a loved one who is currently serving in the Armed Forces.

VideoSelect™ allows hiring managers to “meet” candidates in short video clips e-mailed directly to their inbox, virtually eliminating lengthy first interviews. These managers and other members of the community are now being invited to sit on the other end of the technology and create their own video clip.

“I think this is a great way for our office to celebrate Independence Day,” said Mayra Martinez, Ultimate Staffing Branch Manager in Tysons Corner. “Our company loves to create remarkable experiences for the people we serve and this is just another way we can do something extraordinary for our community.”

Ultimate Staffing Services invites the local community to please call their office prior to July 3, 2007, and arrange a time to record an Independence Day “thank you” clip for their military loved one. Ultimate Staffing Services’ Tysons Corner office is located at 1593 Spring Hill Road, Suite 110, Vienna, VA 22182 and can be reached at (703) 734-6080 or by e-mail at tysonscorner@ultimatestaffing.com.

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This Intelligence report from the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response includes information from open and closed intelligence sources.

Not all information is able to be verified; however, the TAM-C is actively evaluating the reporting to establish its accuracy and to determine if it represents a possible link to terrorism.

Intelligence Agencies Skeptical Yet Cautious About "Taliban Graduation Video"

The video dated 09 JUN 2007, showed Taliban military commander Mansoor Dadullah introducing "suicide teams" that had been dispatched to different regions of the world. The countries mentioned specifically were the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Germany. Although the video was created solely for propaganda, its significance cannot be forsaken. (ABC News' blog, The Blotter has posted the full video.)

Taliban forces are unlikely to send bombers abroad -- they have plenty of (local) targets in their region. However, the use of repatriated suicide bombers is a threat. One cannot rule out attempts by Al-Qaeda forces in Pakistan (where the video was filmed) to use foreign experienced jihadi radicals, returning to their home countries, to carry out attacks or set up cells.

It is possible that they were trying to get to Eastern Europe utilizing the easy EU travel regulations. Intelligence agencies are very interested in their actions and TAM-C analysts are keeping an eye on the situation awaiting new intel to come from their interrogations.

Spanish and French Intelligence Agencies Warn of Heightened Threat Level
The Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) (former North African based GSPC) has claimed to be planning a terrorist strike on official targets in Europe in order to "demonstrate their loyalty to Al Qaeda led by Osama Bin Laden". The Jihadi website mentioned that the choice on timing is influenced by a number of factors including French support for the campaign in Iraq and the Muslim headscarf ban.

The attack is though to be imminent but may be delayed because of logistical issues within France where the explosives to be used in the attacks are stored in the Pyrenees Mountains area on the border with Spain. The cities near the border in both countries (Barcelona, Marseilles) as well as other large cities could be the target for the planned attack.

Nuclear Material Discovered in Vehicle Attempting to Enter Georgia from Azerbaijan
Georgian Customs using a radiation meter found extremely high levels of Plutonium-Beryllium in a vehicle that was attempting to pass over from Azerbaijan. The officials decided to turn the car back because of storage and handling problems. It not known if Azeri officials were notified of the large amount of materials that can be used in the making of nuclear bombs

The fears that uncontrolled amounts of nuclear weapons-grade material are easily found in Former Soviet countries are becoming justified. A recent Georgian special services sting operation foiled an attempt by a Russian citizen to purchase weapons-grade uranium for $1m.

"Oh heroes, strike all the Zionist-Crusader targets in the land of Egypt without shedding blood of the Muslims."
The statement was posted on a Jihadi website used by Al Qaeda, by Mohammed Hakaima, former leader of Egypt's "Jamaah Islamiya".

Al-Qaeda in India declared its jihad a few weeks ago and TAM-C analysts expect attacks on Indian targets by local and Jammu/Kashmir Islamic groups. Al Qaeda published its 12 year plan for India a few months ago and seems to be sticking to it. A convict in a Parliament Attack case has been sentenced to death before June 30. The letter that gave the threat mentioned that it demanded the release of the convict. TAM-C analysts expect one of the threats to be carried out before that date.

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An Overview and Lessons Learned

A high alert was declared in the Jerusalem area at around 11:30am, Tuesday, March 21, 2006, after the domestic Shin Bet intelligence service received a tip-off that militants in a blue van had infiltrated from the West Bank and were planning to carry out an attack in an unknown Israeli city.

Following a dramatic high-speed chase, Jerusalem police on, intercepted a van on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway transporting a Palestinian suicide bomber on his way to carry out an attack in the center of the country, Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco said. The van was stopped midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv near Kibbutz Sha'alabim with ten Palestinians inside and a bag containing seven kilograms of explosives.

The would-be bomber, an Arab man in his 20s from the West Bank village of Yamoun, is affiliated with the Islamic Jihad, Franco said.

Tuesday's high-speed drama, foiled a potentially devastating bombing just days before national elections. The incident began shortly after noon when police, aided by a police chopper, gave chase to the vehicle, a GMC van, as it left the city just one hour after a red alert went into effect in Jerusalem about an impending terror attack. The van, which was driven by an east Jerusalem resident, was transporting illegal Palestinians. The driver of the van, who aroused the suspicions of police, ignored orders to stop the vehicle and a high-speed highway chase ensued. The police, their weapons drawn, eventually surrounded the van, which was stopped in traffic due to multiple roadblocks erected by police on the highway, were able to arrest all 10 men inside the vehicle. During the arrest, police ordered all the passengers to strip and lie on the ground as police searched their bodies for explosive belts. Ambulances rushed to the scene, fearing the occupants would try to detonate the explosives. Police sappers neutralized the explosives on the scene.

Dissemination of information

The summarized scenario includes many lessons learned and good practices that law enforcement agencies and security forces at all levels can review and adapt to their own agency. In this incident, similar to other incidents in Israel in the past, intelligence was received and disseminated down to the local precincts for their response and interdiction. The dissemination of information between the agencies is an imperative tool for interdicting the bombers and their supporters before the explosive device is detonated. In this instance, immediately upon reception by the security agencies of such an imminent attack, Jerusalem police units, primarily patrol units, were mobilized in an operational plan for such an incident. Being that the bomber is inbound; an attempt must be made to interdict the bomber as far away from the population as possible. The flow of information between the agencies is a tool that will enable all security forces (a force multiplier) to search for the unknown bomber.

The response by Law Enforcement

Immediately upon receiving the intelligence, law enforcement initiates an operational plan that is geared towards containing a bomber to a particular location and in turn “pushing” the adversary to a point where law enforcement can interdict and make contact with the adversary. The erections of checkpoints are used for such a tactic along with other counter terror techniques that can not be discussed for operational security reasons. As a result of Israel’s history with terrorism, the patrol officers in Israel, and especially in Jerusalem, have been trained both in a law enforcement capacity, but also hold a dual role as a counter terror unit that can interdict on its own and mitigate or defuse many adversarial schemes of maneuvers. The response by any tactical unit will always take longer in comparison to the patrol units already on the street.

With the checkpoints erected in the predetermined strategic locations throughout the city, the suspicious vehicle was identified and the terrorists apprehended. It is not enough to simply control the entrances and exits to the city while awaiting the arrival of the adversary. Understanding the tactic of the adversary and the targets the enemy has chosen in the past, law enforcement must consider securing locations where the bomber may target. Taking into consideration that the bomber was able to bypass the overt checkpoints established based on the intelligence that was disseminated to law enforcement, the command should increase the presence of both covert and overt officers at assets where the bomber may target. These sites include the highly populated areas, transportation venues, Center City, business districts, hospitals and other sites within the jurisdiction.

The initial minutes of an incident of this nature are critical in the success of law enforcement. By educating law enforcement and security personnel on all levels of the command structure as to the techniques of the adversary and the phases that the adversary must go through to be successful, will assist law enforcement and security forces in identifying the earlier phases of an attack. In this incident, law enforcement understood that the transport of a potential bomber would be done by a vehicle that was transporting other Palestinian workers to different sites throughout the country. Immediately upon receiving the intelligence alert, law enforcement needs to implement preplanned and tested responses to secure the sites where the adversary may cross. Flexible and speedy responses with command directly supervising and managing the response would expedite and intervention, potentially resulting in a successful detection and interdiction of the bomber.

Private Security
Considering operational security and the disclosing of intelligence secrets to personnel without clearance, law enforcement can disseminate the information in a format that can be passed on to private security forces. Based on the information relayed to relevant private entities, security managers would be able to initiate an elevated threat level with responses that may include the hardening of their respective assets. It is impossible to secure all ingresses and egresses to a potential jurisdiction, and success of the adversary in getting to the intended target must be considered. In order to mitigate such an attack, law enforcement needs to report in a well structured and expeditious format, the threat to the security personnel responsible for safeguarding the asset. Testing of such cooperation between public and private enterprises needs to be a part of the routine relationship between the management.

Suicide Bomber Interdiction

The interdiction of law enforcement with the suspicious van occurred on one of Israel’s main highways that connect two of the major cities. If the bomber would have successfully detonated oneself, there would have been a number of casualties. Ingress and egress of emergency personnel would be delayed and there would have been difficulty in securing such a scene from additional threats. As part of the response to such incidents, the Jerusalem Police attempts to secure immediately, adequate means for emergency medical services and supporting agencies, easy access to the scene while ensuring a secure perimeter. This technique is done with the assistance of a police helicopter to identify routes for the responding emergency services as well as at an earlier point in the interdiction, identifying the specific point for containment and control of the suspicious vehicle.

Another point for consideration is the need to properly contain and control the suspicious occupants of the vehicle to a location to mitigate any early detonation of the explosive device. In coordination and guidance of the bomb disposal teams, the suspects need to be considered armed with an explosive device until proven otherwise.

Summary

The successful response to such an incident is dependent upon the preplanning between all the agencies at all the levels of the command. Dissemination of information, and at a fast pace to the other security agencies is critical in interdicting such a threat. This needs to be done on a regular basis, with open dialogue and cooperation between all agencies. Security forces need to train and cooperate with private security forces at assets that may or have been adversarial targets. Law enforcement needs to understand that in this changing reality, the patrol officer on the street may be responsible for counter terror interdiction. This requires agency policies and procedures that will guide the law enforcement officers at the incident. Communications between the commanders and preplanned responses expedite the response and maximize the initiation of specific tactics for interdiction.

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By Aaron Richman
Co-Director, The Institute of Terrorism Response and Research

The age of terrorism into which we have been flung presents new and unique challenges for law enforcement in the field. At a time when nightclubs, office buildings, buses or pizzerias are all targets for international terrorists, the police officer, uniformed or not, has become a frontline counter-terrorist agent.

There are many ways to maximize success in that role. Chief among them is training, by all levels of command, for preventing mass-casualty attacks before they occur and for handling the situation if they do.

At the time of any high-profile event, the commander on "watch" needs to be trained to properly make strategic and tactical decisions, based on the needs of the district, the specific event and the units available at any given moment. When tactical decisions made in the wake of a terrorist attack are implemented in an instantaneous fashion, immediate goals are met and the system operates efficiently, with minimal losses and a quick return to normalcy for the citizens.

One city with extensive experience of terrorism's effects is Jerusalem, where I was the captain responsible for the busy center city district. To understand how a modern police force trains for and copes with terrorism, let us examine a real-life scenario from the days of severe and frequent terrorist attacks in the Israeli capital.

The Scenario
The busy Friday night in the center city of Jerusalem was rattled by an explosion in the parking lot of a large concentration of discos and pubs. It happened approximately 20 feet from a unit that I was visiting at the time. In fact, I was the first to report the sound of the explosion, relaying to dispatch what had become a sadly routine report of a suspected terrorist attack.

Under pressure to start the ball rolling - the treatment of the wounded, the clean up and investigation, and most importantly, the hunt for the perpetrators - I ordered the opening of a command center and told the dispatcher to stay on the set routine frequency, while I moved to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) frequency. There is a limited amount of resources at a commanding officer's disposal in order to catch assailants and adequately care for the scene itself, including coordinating specific routes and avenues of approach for the incoming units that are ultimately needed for securing the scene.

Events that night unfolded according to standard procedure. Additional emergency services, ranging from firefighters, EMS and police, were dispatched to the targeted location. The roadblocks were closed, and I updated the sergeant on duty as to what was happening. He stayed on the routine band, working with dispatch, as I worked solely on the EOC channel. In addition to the regular emergency calls, the sergeant was to ensure that the units not at the scene of the explosion were on heightened alert for any additional threats or secondary attacks that may follow in our locale. I transferred the units coming in to my scene to the EOC channel and delegated a specific task to each unit.

In the event of such a terrorist incident, securing the scene is a priority. The potential for a secondary device or attack is extremely high, as proven in the very recent past. Each incoming unit was tasked with shutting off the scene of the explosion, clearing a path for emergency vehicles and, more importantly, scanning the vicinity for potential secondary threats.

Taking into account an eyewitness report of someone fleeing the scene of the attack, the direction the suspect ran, and the proximity to the predominantly Arab areas of Jerusalem, I was able to coordinate incoming units to cover specific high probability paths the felon might attempt to take. As it turned out, an incoming unit met the fleeing suspect head on and was able to arrest him.

Lessons

When responding to an incident of terrorism, there tends to be different aspects that need immediate attention. In addition to securing the scene of the explosion, police multitasking will include:

• the manhunt for accomplices or perpetrators;

• the search for additional devices targeting the responding emergency personnel; and

• the securing of other sensitive locations that may be targeted in a series of attacks.

Preplanning for any large event is imperative, but even more so if the large, sudden event is a terrorist attack. To prevent further loss of life in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, all commanders and all units must know what to do, and how and when to do it.

Training

In Jerusalem, the patrol units are so well-trained in responding to terrorist incidents that they perform the sweep, the patrol and the ultimate suicide bomber confrontation in such a natural fashion that it appears almost routine. The police officers carrying out these operations are 21-year-old cops who proactively patrol the streets, picking out suspicious behaviors, individuals, packages or vehicles that may be involved in terrorist activity, in addition to acting as a familiar reactive force. This dual role - as an emergency response team that every agency is familiar with and as an active counter-terror unit - requires of the patrol officers extreme self-discipline and unit cohesion.

When any emergency dispatch call may in fact be a potential suicide bomber en route to his or her target, the importance of well-trained security personnel is self-evident. The soft targets of the public transportation routes, restaurants, sidewalk cafes and entertainment districts require that even the two-man patrol unit be able to transform itself into a fighting machine when confronted with a terrorist incident.

Daily Training

To successfully ensure that the patrol units will properly perform in such a stressful situation, the officers must be drilled on a daily basis. Through drilling and briefings on the current threats, tactics and responses, the patrol unit will instinctively respond in such a fashion as to ensure their own safety and the safety of the civilians.

Integrated Training

There should be complete integration of hands-on training and drills with classroom-style lectures and briefings, including case studies relevant to the potential threats within the jurisdiction. The hands-on training should utilize both walk-through table-top scenarios, as well as live drills and exercises.

Multilevel Training

Training scenarios, whether table-top or real-life, need to be drilled at the level of the lone patrol up to the level of an entire unit. Furthermore, commanding officers should be drilled by their supervisors along with their subordinates. The benefits of such an approach are abundant: the commander can improve at a personal level, as well as learn to better identify training points for him to focus on among his personnel. As the commanding officer needs to be at the scene of an actual terrorist attack as soon as possible, managing the incident, he also needs to be an integral part of the training and drilling for such an event.

Reflective Training

All training scenarios and all real incidents need to be followed by an after-action debriefing among the commanders and personnel who took part. Lessons learned from such an event should be forwarded to all relevant parties. Such debriefings and reporting contributes to a scenario-based review of agency policies and procedures further up the command chain, with specific focus on minimizing additional casualties while enforcing the law and making the response mechanism more efficient.

When policy or procedural changes are made, the training needs to adequately incorporate them, as they will be reflected in possible scenarios confronting security personnel. The agency may have excellent procedures and policies in effect; however, when the officers are unfamiliar with the integration of the policy or procedure, it will fail.

Pitfalls

The best policies and procedures will fail when security personnel succumb to the ever-deadly laziness. The terrorist enemy is out at all hours of the day, learning and studying the agencies; while the typical patrol commander or sergeant is making the rounds only to large incidents or for periodic checks throughout the shift, as a result of being overly tasked. Therefore, all emergency services personnel must understand that the adversary is looking for a weakness in the system, and this weakness may very well be the "human factor": the officer that takes a nap, drinks a cup of coffee, or worse, abandons his post. Commanders must be aware of such vulnerabilities, and adapt their inspections and supervise their personnel adequately and at all times of their shifts.

Finally, to be effective, any type of training must include drills that periodically test both the commissioned and non-commissioned officers, as well as any emergency services that are to respond jointly with law enforcement.

Conclusion

As a commander or someone in a supervisory position, it is imperative to ensure that your personnel are properly trained and educated to respond to terrorist scenarios, so as to minimize operational complications, misunderstandings, lack of communications, or injury to civilians and emergency personnel, as well as to maximize response efforts.

Constant attention to training assures the optimal functioning of the commander himself, as well as each and every one of his unit subordinates.

Aaron Richman, MBA, of the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response comes from a career in military and law enforcement in the Middle East. Among his various roles, Richman served as patrol commander of the security forces within the Old City and Center City of Jerusalem where he responded to a majority of all the terror incidents in the city. Richman has taken part in the pre-planning phases to some of the major incidents in Israel that include the Millennium, the rioting at the Dome of the Rock, the Iraq chemical threat on Israel, and counter terror programs to combat the suicide bombers.

Currently, Aaron Richman is a security consultant specializing in counter terror emergency planning and training for large and special events both for the public and private sectors. He is also an adjunct professor at American Military University, teaching courses in the Emergency and Disaster Management program. For more information, contact Richman at arichman@terrorresponse.org.

© Aaron Richman, MBA
Institute of Terrorism Research and Response
www.terrorresponse.org

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20 June 2007 London: Anti-war protests are scheduled for 10 AM in Parliament Square. This demonstration is a protest against possible future military actions aimed at Iran.
Peace Strike, the group sponsoring this event, has previously attempted to serve a citizen's arrest warrant on Great on Britain's PM Tony Blair. (Also see 23 June 2007)

22 June 2007 Quebec City: The GUERRE À LA GUERRE coalition has called for the disruption of military ceremonies that are to occur prior to the Afghanistan deployment of the Royal 22nd Regiment of Valcartier. The group has planned "a day of disruptive actions."

23 - 28 June 2007 London: An Anti-war Camp is scheduled to be conducted in Parliament Square. This unauthorized demonstration (no parade/demonstration permit has been obtained) is intended to influence incoming British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The focus of the demonstrations is the Trident nuclear submarine project, the war in Iraq, and the potential for conflict with Iran.

Peace Strike, the group sponsoring this event, has previously attempted to serve a citizen's arrest warrant on Great on Britain's PM Tony Blair. (Also see 20 June 2007). The unauthorized nature of this demonstration will likely produce street disorder as police take enforcement actions.

24 June 2007 Los Angeles: ANSWER is sponsoring a mass march for immigrant rights in Los Angeles. The theme is ". A strong and united movement for immigrant rights will bolster the overall struggle for civil rights and against racism." ANSWER events typically include mass civil disobedience.

27 June - 1 July 2007 Atlanta, GA: The United States Social Forum (USSF) is dedicated to opposing United States policies and actions within the country and abroad. They will be holding a conference in Atlanta to discuss various issues and to build an action calendar for the next year. The Forum includes "anti-imperialism" and anti-war groups. TAM-C analysts expect the USSF to focus attention on the Iraq war through legal demonstrations.

28 June - 3 July 2007 Glen Woods, Scotland: Protests targeting the Faslane Trident nuclear submarine base are scheduled. Billed as a "student camp", it will include protests and direct action.

29 June 2007 Montreal: Anarchy groups will be demonstrating their anger at the CN Railroad and their support of Indian activists who state that the railroad was built a stolen indigenous people's land.

30 June 2007 London: A Gay Pride parade is scheduled to start on Baker Street at 1 PM. This even will end with a rally in Trafalgar Square. Parade organizers expect anti-gay protests along the parade route .

30 June 2007 Leeds, UK: The World Development Movement will be holding a training/educational program at the University of Leeds. The program, aimed at anti-establishment groups from across the world, is entitled "Whose Rules Rule?" Although this is billed as an educational program, TAM-C analysts expect "anti-globalization" protests in the area.

30 June 2007 London: In preparation for protests at August's Climate Action Camp, British ecological activists are conducting a day of Non-Violent Direct Action (NVDA) training. The training is designed to help the activists prepare for confrontations with police and security personnel. At this time, protest leaders are being asked to use this training opportunity to conduct actual protests in the area of the construction of the International Olympic site that is being prepared for the 2012 Olympics. TAM-C researchers will continue to monitor this in an attempt to confirm that the protests will actually occur and to provide an exact location.

30 June 2007 Multiple Locations: Racist organizations are mourning the death of David Lane, the founder of the militant group, The Order, who died in prison. Racist organizations are attempting to organize a Global Day Of Remembrance And Protest For David Lane. Locations with active "White Nationalist" groups should prepare for protests and counter protests surrounding this event.

6 - 8 July 2007 Iceland: A summer of international dissent and action against infrastructure improvement in Iceland will begin 6 July 2007. These protests are aimed at the improvement of roads and the construction of a power plant that will enable the growth of industry in the island nation.

19 - 23 July 2007 Los Angeles: Animal Rights 2007, the animal rights movement's annual national conference will be taking place in Los Angeles. Speakers include representatives of extremely militant AR organizations − from SHAC (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty) to SPEAK (the organization currently trying to shut down Oxford University's research lab [currently under construction]).

TAM-C analysts expect street demonstrations throughout this period. However, organizers are planning for demonstrations on 23 July 2007. Likely targets are UCLA's animal research labs.

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This Intelligence report from the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response includes information from open and closed intelligence sources.

Not all information is able to be verified; however, the TAM-C is actively evaluating the reporting to establish its accuracy and to determine if it represents a possible link to terrorism.

Media and Television Crews Used as Cover for Terrorist Acts Twice This Week

Basra, Iraq- Shiite terrorists posing as a television film crew arrived at the Talha bin Obeidallah Mosque in Basra, Iraq and wondered around the Mosque planting explosives at major structural supports to guarantee destruction of the Sunni shrine.

Kisufeem, Gaza- Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists attempted to carry out a kidnapping operation with 4 gunmen using a white jeep with the letters "TV" in black. (The "TV" painted on or using tape began during the Al Aksa Intifadah and was a way for media vehicles to travel in dangerous areas without coming under fire from either side.) Israeli soldiers noticed the car in an area that the media does not usually go, and began to follow its movements. The white jeep blasted through the border fence and stopped outside an abandoned IDF outpost where the gunmen got out and began to open fire on the entrance. The military unit dispatched to the scene engaged the gunmen, killing one and thwarting the attempt.

Terrorists and those engaged in guerilla warfare are notorious for using internationally agreed-upon non-combatant covers to carry-out attacks. Militants posing as members of the media, humanitarian aid agencies, or even the using ambulances as cover for terrorist movement are a common and accepted technique within such terrorist organizations. Criminals and terrorists have been known to exploit the freedom of movement that members of the media receive.Security managers are advised to brief security officers on how to deal with media and to assure credential authenticity.

Israeli Security Services released information this week that a pregnant mother of eight and her niece, also a mother, were arrested while on their way to carry out a double suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and Netanya on behalf of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

This event further clarifies the exploitation of humanitarian issues as a cover for terrorist operations. It is a particularly troubling issue for security personnel that are worried about being perceived as overly aggressive.

The issuance of a clear Standard of Procedure to security personnel and Law Enforcement Officers, provides them the confidence to carry-out the necessary security measures while causing the least amount of distress for civilians.

The JFK airport gas tank plot was stopped by FBI officials in the USA and security officials in Guyana and the Caribbean island of Trinidad. However, a lot can be learned from the techniques used to gain the pre-operational intelligence needed to plan such an attack. A few facts of interest to law enforcement and security personnel can be ascertained from the investigative report:

• Defreitas (the principle suspect) used a video camera to record sections of the gas pipeline.
• GoogleEarth was used for accurate aerial imagery of the pipeline layout.
• It was observed that the nighttime security provided by the NYPD was much tighter than the private security that guarded during daylight hours.

Security managers and Law Enforcement officers must be briefed that any plot requires pre-operational intelligence if it is to be a success. Keeping up-to-date on threats and techniques is essential in successful counter-surveillance.

Malaysian Government Warns of Serious Terrorist threat in Malacca Straits

The essential waterway between the western island of Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra carries 30% of the world's trade. This area, through which half of the world's oil shipments pass, is patrolled by the three surrounding countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

One month ago, TAMC2007-05-14 reported on Al Qaeda's Operation Doctrine: "There are five important maritime passages in the world, 4 in Arab countries control and one in American. Most of the things that pass through these are oil vessels from the Gulf to the West. There was a demand for attacks on US and allied vessels by use of sea mines, light arms and missiles, and suicide attacks."

"This can be seen as a direct threat to all Western Ships that pass through any of the maritime passages worldwide but specifically the Suez Canal. TAM-C analysts are operating to find more information on this specific maritime threat."

Al Qaeda has repeatedly called for attacks on commerce and sees the world economy as a major target. The oil industry has been specifically targeted. Any organizations with international maritime interests should take the high alert in the area into consideration.

This past week, three bridges were targeted by Iraqi insurgents bent on destroying critical infrastructure in Iraq. Iraqi bridges have been targeted for a number of reasons over the last few months. Recently, in an attempt to cut Baghdad into two, the main bridges connecting the east and west sections of the city were targeted.

A bridge's symbolic significance is also a motive for the targeting. The effect of the destruction of a bridge is much greater than other attacks on transportation venues. The time needed to repair or rebuild a bridge is much more than any other attack on transportation infrastructure.

The use of explosive-laden trucks has been the weapon of choice in the targeting.

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By Bob Jaffin

For a number of reasons related to safety and risk, i.e. theft of high value goods and potential risks to the public of dangerous goods incidents or misuse, we have long needed to improve our maritime port security systems and structure.

From a homeland security perspective what is the value of tightly controlling access to the bulk of the contiguous areas that make up our maritime ports? If there are incoming materials sitting on these facilities then we are probably two or three layers of protection too late while we are geographically too close. By the same token it is highly implausible that we need to protect these ports from the outbound smuggling of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

As part of a layered approach and as an extension of the greater risks from a commercial/insurance aspect there is no doubt that ‘port security needs to improve. The larger issue that needs to be addressed is how those homeland security dollars are being spent to upgrade and protect the infrastructure and approaches to our ports. For many major ports taking down a single bridge or blocking a shipping channel represent a much greater risk and therefore might deserve many more dollars.

Bob Jaffin is currently a program manager for the Military Studies and Public Safety degree programs at American Military University.

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Global security is a huge market – in excess of $100 billion and made up of tens of thousands of businesses. How can you be part of this exciting industry – and launch a rewarding career? Jeffrey T. Fowler, program manager for security management at American Military University, provides tips and insights for entering and succeeding in the field.

Where are the growth areas in the security industry?

Principal growth occurs in several key areas:

• Corporations
  
• Critical infrastructure
  
• Overseas markets
  
• Governmental entities (local, state, and federal)
  
• Private Military Companies (PMCs)

Corporations continue to turn to technology – and those who have expertise in that technology – to implement first-class security operations. Spending is on the rise as corporations take advantage of new advances in digital video, biometrics and other technologies.

Legislation may provide another boost to the industry. Mandates are either in place or under review regarding additional security for chemical and petroleum facilities and other critical infrastructure sites.

Another major growth area is in countries such as China, India, Korea, and, of course, the Middle East.

Finally, due to massive force reductions in the uniformed military services of Western nations at the end of the Cold War, the current Global War on Terror has placed many military security responsibilities in the hands of private security contractors.

Which security positions are in high demand?

The principle employment opportunities include training indigenous forces, executive protection services, and general security-related duties formerly associated with uniformed armed forces. There are also opportunities to consult with security and law enforcement agencies in those same areas as well as facility design and construction.

It is important to remember that many lucrative security positions are not formally advertised. They are earned through networking and other contacts.

Can you provide information about specific positions in network security? What can I expect to earn?

Generally, security management positions offer a good starting salary and opportunities to advance. For example, a security architect’s salary ranges from about $70,000 to about $150,000, depending on experience, location and other factors. A network intrusion detection specialist can earn between $60,000 to more than $100,000. An information assurance trainer can earn between $50,000 and $90,000. Keep in mind that many of these positions require at least an undergraduate degree and often require professional certifications.

What are the opportunities in the executive protection arena?

Executive protection operations are a fertile field for security professionals with the optimal mix of formal education, experience, and networked contacts. Gone are the days of “bodyguards.” The modern executive protection professional must be well traveled, well educated, and able to move in the social circles of a society in which most principals (the persons being protected) live and work.

Most modern executive protection professionals have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and many have a master’s degree. The security management master’s program at American Military University is among the nation’s top higher education programs. The program is “tailor-made” for the security professional. In addition, the networked contacts may prove extremely valuable when seeking a position in executive protection.

I would like to reach an executive level position. What qualities can help me earn a chief security officer position?

Many chief executive officers look for a Chief Security Officer (CSO) with a background that establishes broad security competency, but also allows them to move unobtrusively and easily in the circles of senior management. The CSO should be well educated, conversant in a number of areas such as politics, the arts, sports, etc. You will also have an advantage if you are proficient in a foreign language. Perhaps, most importantly, the CSO must understand business and the vision of the firm in question.

How important is having a security clearance?

A validated clearance is highly marketable in the security world today. Many firms contract with the government and require personnel with security clearances. Fortunately, security personnel leaving military service already have this vetted security clearance at some level of authorization.

I am interested in starting my own security firm. How can I prepare to do that?

Establishing oneself as a security consultant takes skill, networked contacts, and a slow process of building your reputation. I recommend you read one or more of the following books:

• Security Consulting for the 21st Century Consultant, by Kelly E. Riddle
  
• Security Consulting by Charles Sennewald

I also encourage you to become active in professional organizations, such as ASIS International, the International Association of Professional Security Consultants, and the American College of Forensic Examiners International.

Also, check out industry blogs – such as this blog on jobs for those with security clearance -- for networking opportunities.

I cannot over-emphasize the importance of networking. Remember, a contact with which you do not occasionally “touch base” often becomes useless. Stay in touch!

How can I be successful, for the long term?

Long-term success stems from a combination of factors, such as the correct mix of formal education, experience, networked contacts, and sustained excellent performance. Success in the 21st century also entails a firm understanding of change as a constant in our lives.

Jeffrey T. Fowler, CPS, CHS-III, is program manager for security management at American Military University.

He is also the Director at Osprey Protective Services, Inc., which provides security consulting in the areas of risk management, threat assessment and workplace violence. He is a certified Army historian and author of the book, Axis Cavalry in WWII. He writes frequently on security and terrorism-related issues as well as presents at national workshops on homeland security topics.

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