HomelandSecurityLeader.com

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Ralph Basham will deliver remarks to the Trans Atlantic Business Dialogue Conference. 

Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications Greg Garcia will testify before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology on DHS’ efforts to work with the 17 critical infrastructure and key resource sectors to address the security of the cyber elements of their infrastructures.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator R. David Paulison, Assistant Administrator for Disaster Assistance Carlos Castillo, and Region 9 Administrator Nancy Ward will participate in a media briefing to discuss recent developments related to the coordinated federal response and recovery effort in wake of the Southern California wildfires.

From Esquire.com, by John H. Richardson

Two former high-ranking policy experts from the Bush Administration say the U.S. has been gearing up for a war with Iran for years, despite claiming otherwise. It’ll be Iraq all over again.

In the years after 9/11, Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann worked at the highest levels of the Bush administration as Middle East policy experts for the National Security Council. Mann conducted secret negotiations with Iran. Leverett traveled with Colin Powell and advised Condoleezza Rice. They each played crucial roles in formulating policy for the region leading up to the war in Iraq. But when they left the White House, they left with a growing sense of alarm — not only was the Bush administration headed straight for war with Iran, it had been set on this course for years. That was what people didn’t realize. It was just like Iraq, when the White House was so eager for war it couldn’t wait for the UN inspectors to leave. The steps have been many and steady and all in the same direction. And now things are getting much worse. We are getting closer and closer to the tripline, they say.

“The hard-liners are upping the pressure on the State Department,” says Leverett. “They’re basically saying, ‘You’ve been trying to engage Iran for more than a year now and what do you have to show for it? They keep building more centrifuges, they’re sending this IED stuff over into Iraq that’s killing American soldiers, the human-rights internal political situation has gotten more repressive — what the hell do you have to show for this engagement strategy?’ ”

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers a wide-range of emergency preparedness resources to help schools create safe and secure environments for their students.  Emergency preparedness is an important responsibility shared by all individuals as well as communities, including schools.  In order to advance school preparedness nationwide, DHS offers several planning and training resources to help local schools prepare comprehensive all-hazard emergency preparedness plans that are exercised regularly and developed in partnership with their community leaders and first responders.

·        Safe School Initiative: Established in collaboration by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education’s Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, the Safe School Initiative (SSI) focuses on prevention and provides useful information about the thinking and behavior of students who commit acts of targeted violence in our nation’s schools. One of the key recommendations of the SSI was that schools form multidisciplinary threat assessment teams to assist with identifying, assessing and managing students who may pose a threat of targeted violence. An interactive CD-ROM, titled A Safe School and Threat Assessment Experience: Scenarios Exploring the Findings of the Safe School Initiative, complements the published documents of the Safe School Initiative. The CD is available to law enforcement and school safety personnel across the country and can be ordered via the Department of Education website at http://www.edpubs.org/. 

·        Protecting Our School’s Infrastructure: DHS’ Office of Infrastructure Protection (OIP) has developed and issued Characteristics and Common Vulnerabilities, Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activity, and Protective Measures reports for public and private schools (K-12) and higher education institutions. With dual benefits in addressing both terrorism and criminal-related security issues, these resources are available to local law enforcement and school officials to help identify site-specific vulnerabilities, anomalies or incidents that may precede a terrorist attack or other kind of harmful incident, and certain measures that can be taken to better protect and create a safer environment. DHS has conducted over 40 Site Assistance Visits at schools to help officials identify potential vulnerabilities as well as Soft Target Awareness Courses that address the security of schools and higher education institutions.
 
·        Protecting Against Man-Made or Terrorist Incidents:  The DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a series of manuals and publications to help schools address their physical design and layout as part of a mitigation process to protect against terrorist attacks and natural disasters. These materials include:  Design Guide for Improving School Safety in Earthquakes, Floods and High Winds;  Primer to Design Safe School Projects in Case of Terrorist Attacks; Incremental Seismic Rehabilitation of School Buildings (K-12): Providing Protection to People and Buildings; and FEMA Mitigation Case Studies Protecting School Children from Tornadoes: State of Kansas School Shelter Initiative.
 
·        School Preparedness Training Courses: FEMA also offers several courses – both online and in-person, through the Emergency Management Institute to help schools and district personnel develop emergency plans for all-hazards. Through “train-the-trainer” courses, FEMA links school personnel with first responders, law enforcement, public health officials and others to discuss different needs and decisions that may arise during an emergency such as transportation, food and health, medical assistance, facility management, and communication. More information on available courses may be found at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb.

·        Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS): Established to help first responders, emergency planners and managers, and homeland security partners prevent, prepare for, and respond to terrorism, this web portal includes valuable best practices and lessons learned information, including a section on school emergency planning. Additional information may be found at https://www.llis.gov.

·        DHS “READY” Campaign: A national public service advertising campaign produced by The Advertising Council in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, the Ready Campaign is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. Ready Kids is the newest addition the campaign and provides a family-friendly tool to help parents and teachers educate children, ages 8-12, about emergencies and how they can help their families better prepare. Individuals interested in more information about family, business and community preparedness can visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY to receive free materials.

·        Citizen Corps: Created by President Bush in 2002, Citizen Corps provides Americans of all abilities with opportunities to gain information, training, and hands-on volunteer opportunities that increase community preparedness and resilience to all types of hazards. Headquartered at FEMA, there are more than 2,220 Citizen Corps Councils nationwide. These councils operate at the community level bringing public and private sectors together with local government, emergency managers, voluntary organizations, and first responders to coordinate disaster preparedness planning and response efforts in our communities.  Schools are encouraged to partner with local Councils to integrate school emergency plans with community plans; coordinate alert systems; and educate, train and exercise the school community. Visit www.citizencorps.gov for more information.

Funding and Additional Resources: DHS offers several grant programs to State and local governments with potential applicability to school-related violence or terrorism.  States and local governments make the decision as to whether this program may be applied to educational facilities. Information on DHS grants is available at www.grants.gov.

A complete DHS list of emergency preparedness resources for schools may also be found online at www.dhs.gov/schoolpreparedness.  In addition, individuals can view a School Preparedness Virtual Town Hall conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Education.  This 90-minute web cast provides information concerning grant programs and other school preparedness resources available from the Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools as well as the United States Secret Service and Federal Emergency Management Agency, components of the Department of Homeland Security.

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has accused Britain of not doing enough to fight international terrorism, which he says could take 20 or 30 years to beat.

He was speaking in a BBC interview ahead of a state visit to the UK - the first by a Saudi monarch for 20 years.

He also said Britain failed to act on information passed by the Saudis which might have averted terrorist attacks.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says Whitehall officials have strenuously denied this.

Full story…

From The Canadian Press

American security officials have finally bought into the idea of high-tech driver’s licences as alternatives to passports at the Canada-U.S. border, a Canadian business leader said Monday.

But Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, complained that they’re still not collaborating properly with Canada on border technology.

That means wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on security systems that can’t talk to each other, said Beatty.

The U.S. Homeland Security Department is expected to identify enhanced driver’s licences as complying with their new security measures when they publish a final rule on passports in the next while.

Full story…

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad W. Allen will provide keynote opening remarks at the 2007 Coast Guard Innovation Expo.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern will deliver remarks at the Maritime Security Council’s 2007 Chairman’s Leadership Summit.

Secretary Michael Chertoff  will participate in the Securing the Schools Initiative Event with Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez  and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings to encourage schools to establish emergency preparedness plans for all-hazards and potential threats, including natural disasters or emergencies, potential acts of violence as well as terrorism.

Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications Greg Garcia will deliver remarks to the 3rd Annual Information Technology Association of America Chief Information Security Officer Workshop on cyber security collaboration activities with other federal agencies.

Secretary Michael Chertoff will deliver remarks at the 2007 B’Nai B’Rith International Policy Conference on the ongoing threat posed by terrorist organizations that foster extremism.

U.S. Coast Guard Captain Frank Sturm, Transportations Security Administration Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program Director Maurine Fanguy, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Director Vayl Oxford and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations Assistant Commissioner Thomas Winkowski will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism on the SAFE Port Act.

By Michael Chertoff

America has witnessed the wildfires raging in California this week, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims, evacuees, and responders who are working around the clock to gain control of this disaster. I want to take a brief moment to share a few comments with you from my experience on the ground.

Early Tuesday, FEMA Administrator Dave Paulison and I flew to Southern California to assess the situation and support the state and local officials managing the response effort. When we arrived we saw massive fires fueled by near-hurricane force winds engulfing thousands of acres of land and threatening property and lives.

What we also saw were heroic firefighters battling these infernos with exceptional bravery. We witnessed emergency managers efficiently directing relief supplies, personnel and evacuations. I want to personally thank all the men and women who have had a hand in fighting these fires and helping during this disaster. Many firefighters and response personnel work 18 to 20 hour shifts, rest a few hours, and then go back into the hot zones to relieve their colleagues. They are the true heroes of this story, and deserve the support and gratitude of everyone in southern California and throughout the country.

These wildfires have demanded an efficient, coordinated response from all levels of government, and have underscored the value of being prepared for emergencies. San Diego’s reverse 911 system is a great example, and the shelter situation at Qualcomm Stadium is a useful model for future disasters.

We were also impressed by the incredible spirit of volunteerism throughout the communities we visited. The massive volunteer effort, coupled with orderly and successful evacuations, are examples the entire country can learn from when preparing for and responding to emergencies of any kind.

Thankfully, Mother Nature is beginning to cooperate and reduced winds are allowing firefighters to get a better handle on these massive fires. We’re still not out of the woods, but as we begin to transition from response to long-term recovery, the people of southern California can rest assured that we will continue to support them as they rebuild their homes and businesses.

Thanks for reading.

Link to DHS Leadership Journal

STATEMENT BY HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY MICHAEL CHERTOFF ON ELAINE DUKE’S APPOINTMENT AS DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT

“I’m extremely pleased to announce that I have named Elaine Duke as the Department of Homeland Security’s first Deputy Under Secretary for Management. Elaine will begin her new role by leading the day-to-day operations of the Management Directorate while Paul Schneider serves as the acting Deputy Secretary of the department.

Elaine has been a key player to this department since its inception in 2003 and brings a wealth of management knowledge and experience, with more than 25 years of federal service. She began her service to the department as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Transportation Security Administration. She served as the department’s Deputy Chief Procurement Officer from October 2004 to January 2006, when she assumed duties as the Chief Procurement Officer.

As Deputy Under Secretary, Elaine can exercise all of the authority of the Under Secretary for Management. In this capacity she will manage our department’s budget, appropriations, expenditure of funds, procurement, human resources, information technology systems, and facilities and property management. Elaine’s leadership in this area is part of my strategy to ensure that the department continues to carry out its critical mission effectively through the change in administration and beyond.

Congratulations to Elaine. I look forward to working with her in her new and expanding role concerning the many facets of the department’s management needs. I know the success she has brought to the department so far will continue as she supports the department, Paul Schneider, and me.”

State and Local Law Enforcement Training Symposium (SLLETS).

Date:  December 4-6, 2007             Location: Panama City, FL

Click to register: SLLETS Info/Registration

Registration is open now and space is limited to only 300 attendees so register now to reserve your seat.  Free lodging is limited to the first 120 participants who qualify.  Up to 2 nights of lodging will be paid for participants who live over 75 miles from the training site. Lodging information will be included in the confirmation notice.

This highly requested training will be taught by dynamic subject matter experts from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. 

Topics include:

        Roadside Interviewing
        Use of Force
        ID Theft and Stored Value Cards
        Hidden Compartments
        Drug Recognition & Clandestine Labs
        Overview of Terrorism & Pre-Incident Indicators
        Active Shooter
        Leadership
        Fraudulent Documents
        Officer Survival 

This training is co-hosted by the Gulf Coast Community College and Florida Regional Community Policing Institute at St. Petersburg College.

For additional information please email stateandlocaltraining@dhs.gov (Put “SLLETS” in subject line) or call 800-74FLETC (Ext. 4522).

From FoxNews.com, by Associated Press

The homeland security chief on Saturday lashed into his own employees for staging a phony news conference at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“I think it was one of the dumbest and most inappropriate things I’ve seen since I’ve been in government,” Michael Chertoff said.

“I have made unambiguously clear, in Anglo-Saxon prose, that it is not to ever happen again and there will be appropriate disciplinary action taken against those people who exhibited what I regard as extraordinarily poor judgment,” he added.

Asked specifically if he planned to fire anyone at FEMA, which is part of his department, Chertoff declined to say, citing personnel rules.

Full story…