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28 February 2010
Middle East: Fall-out of Dubai Assassination
Initiator: Johan Mostert Contributions and enquiries dalene@4knowledge.co.za
Reports from 18-28 February 2010
New developments in the alleged assassination of Mahmoud alMabhouh by the Mossad in January 2010: •
Inside This Issue
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Middle East: 1 Fall-out of Dubai assassination 2. Lebanese sentenced to death for spying for Israel 4 Pakistan: CIA, ISI work together but warily Iraq: NIS changes its religion Europe: 4 Greek Intel service probes market speculators 5 UK/US intelligence event called off 5 UK Defence green paper calls for intelligence without borders 6 Netherlands: Educating the public on intelligence issues 6 KGB secrets to be published Africa: 6 Zimbabwe & Botswana row resolved 6 Mugabe’s spy agency recruits thousands of illegal vendors as informers Australia & New Zealand 7 Terrorists could “Steal” Aussie planes 8 Australia sets spies on people smugglers 9 NZ Intelligence Agency releases annual report US 10 CIA recruits Chinese during Lunar New Year 10 Secret Service Computers only work at 60% capacity, uses 1980’s mainframe 11 House resolves dispute, authorizes intelligence bill 11 When the system works Terrorism 12 The link between Engineers and Jihad 13 Officials wary of agricultural terrorism 14 Australia’s counter terrorism whitepaper People 14 US appointments 15 Saudi Arabia 16 Algerian police chief shot dead
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24/2: The Dubai police add another 15 suspects to the team of alleged assassins. Information on more suspects: Officials say the new suspects entered the United Arab Emirates with British, Irish, French and Australian passports and provided "logistical support" in carrying out al-Mabhouh's murder. The 10 men and five women bring the total number of people wanted in connection with the killing to 26, but police say that number could rise. http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/dubai-identifies-15-new-suspects-inhamas-case-1.587918 http://video.gulfnews.com/services/player/bcpid4267205001?bctid=683295180 01
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24/2: Ireland Ambassador Ciaran Madden met with officials from the United Arab Emirates who have confirmed that more fake Irish passport numbers had been identified. An Israeli spy based in Dublin is suspected of supplying information for the forged Irish passports used by the team of assassins who murdered a Hamas commander in Dubai. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/israelispy-sourced-details-for-passports-in-dublin-2076414.html
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26/2: Global media reports about Israeli secret service's involvement in Dubai assassination create unprecedented hype, increasing applications for jobs within the spy agency. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3854880,00.html
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27/2: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he is “deeply concerned” about the use of three “fraudulent” Australian passports in the assassination of a senior Hamas commander in Dubai last month. http://www.islamidavet.com/english/2010/02/27/ruddangry-over-aussie-passports-in-dubai-hit/
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27/2: German federal prosecutors have launched a preliminary investigation into the use of German passports by a Mossad death squad. http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/news/2010/intell-100227irna01.htm
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28/2 UK team arrives in Israel: The first indications that an international investigation might emerge were provided by the arrival of the British team in Tel Aviv. The Serious Organised Crime Agency said it would be conducting interviews at the British embassy with the six BritishIsraeli dual nationals whose names appeared among the first batch of 11 passports released by the Dubai authorities. Israel feels the heat over passports. http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100228/NATIONAL/702279847/1042
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Hamas hit shows best spies are bald, pudgy. Suspected Israeli assassins have inadvertently given the world an unusual master class in clandestine killing in broadcast surveillance video of them going about their murderous trade. There is cold-eyed admiration in the intelligence community for a near flawless "hit" by the nondescript group of travellers who executed a Hamas commander undetected within hours of his arrival in Dubai thanks to strong teamwork and preparation. Putting aside questions of morality, security experts say the skills on display to a fascinated global TV and online audience are those of a national intelligence service adept at hiding in plain sight. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Hamas-hit-shows-best-spies-arebald-pudgy/articleshow/5622026.cms
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The role of women in “Mossad’ death team. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/7280625/Mossad-the-elite-women-who-work-for-the-family.html
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Comment: Either the new revelations are another salvo in Dubai’s psychological warfare or the police investigators are groping in the dark. It is doubtful we will ever know the truth. The evidence linking Israel to the affair is still weak, certainly for courtroom purposes but also in the diplomatic sphere. But the saga also sends a message of deterrence to Hamas that the long arm of whoever carried out the operation can hit another senior Hamas official. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1152244.html
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On page 3: The detailed diagram of the flight itineraries of the 26 members of Mossad who Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai, on January 19, 2010. assassinated http://www.thenational.ae/assets/pdf/AD53408224.PDF
Lebanese sentenced to death for spying for Israel Ali Hussein Saleh in 2003, as well as the 2002 (AFP) –18 Feb 2010 murder of Jihad Jibril, son of Popular Front for BEIRUT — A retired member of Lebanon's the Liberation of Palestine-General Command Internal Security Forces, Mahmoud Qassem leader Ahmad Jibril. The trial for those killings Rafeh, 63, was sentenced on Thursday to is still underway. death for having spied for Israel and for his Rafeh was arrested in 2006 and confessed last involvement in the murder of two Palestinian year to having collaborated with Israeli militant leaders. intelligence agents from 1993. He was also convicted of involvement in the More than 70 people were arrested in Lebanon 2006 car bomb murder in the southern coastal in 2009 in a crackdown on espionage rings, town of Sidon of brothers Mahmoud and Nidal including a retired general and a policeman. Mazjoub, members of the Islamic Jihad group. Lebanon and Israel remain in a state of war, A second defendant, Hussein Sleiman Khattab, and convicted spies face life in prison with was convicted in absentia. hard labour or the death penalty if found guilty Rafeh remains accused of the murder of of contributing to Lebanese loss of life. Hezbollah officials Ali Hassan Dib in 1998 and http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h7Oe4cracFlrIecdHygVNfhty28Q
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Pakistan: CIA, ISI work together but warily While the two sides are wary of one other, ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Feb. 25 (UPI) - The analysts told The New York Times the CIA and recent capture of a top Afghan Taliban its Pakistani counterparts are cooperating on commander in Karachi shows the growth of tactical operations as the CIA extends its the CIA's role in Pakistan, intelligence analysts operations such as drone attacks in the tribal said. regions to other operations deeper into major Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the No. 2 in the Pakistani cities. Taliban group after its supreme commander Besides Mullah Baradar, CIA operatives, along Mullah Muhammad Omar, was captured this with the ISI, have been involved in a number of month in the Pakistani port city in a joint raids in the past year, made possible through operation by the CIA and Pakistani intelligence electronic intercepts by U.S. spy satellites or by agencies. Pakistani informants throughout the country, The CIA and the Pakistani Directorate of InterPakistani security officials told the newspaper. Services Intelligence thus far have had a roller coaster relationship, intelligence analysts say. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/02/25/Report-CIA-ISI-work-together-but-warily/UPI94411267081732/
Iraq: NIS changes its religion 02/25/2010 Having removed the agency’s Sunni director last year, Iraq’s Prime Minister
Nouri al-Maliki is now replacing all of the Sunni management at the National Intelligence Service with Shi'ites.
http://www.intelligenceonline.com/government-intelligence/organizations/2010/02/25/nischanges-its-religion%2C81062819-ART-login
Europe Greek Intelligence Service Probes Market Speculators 19 Feb/ Athens
According to the newspaper, the investigations Greece΄s spy agency, the National Intelligence have identified four foreign funds that were Service, has joined efforts with other active in short-selling or otherwise speculating European agencies to investigate financial in Greek assets during the recent market funds speculating in Greek markets during the turmoil. continuing crisis, a local newspaper reports Friday. Those funds include U.K.-based Brevan Howard, U.S.-based Fidelity International, and Without citing sources, To Vima daily U.S.-based hedge funds Moore Capital and newspaper says that the NIS has been in Paulson and Co., the newspaper said. constant communication with its counterparts in Spain, France and the U.K. http://english.capital.gr/News.asp?id=911816 also: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE61I24520100219
Editor: Dalene Duvenage
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UK/US intelligence event called off Channel 4 News: 23 February 2010: (Excerpts) The "special relationship" is showing strain as a meeting set to celebrate UK and US intelligence sharing is called off in the wake of the decision to publish information about Binyam Mohamed. A meeting to celebrate 60 years of UK/US defence intelligence sharing was called off last week, Channel 4 News has learned, in the wake of the controversial court of appeal ruling in the Binyam Mohamed case. Ministry of Defence intelligence officials were due to attend the seminar at the US embassy, but it was considered inappropriate to proceed at a time when the future of the UK's intelligence relationship with the United States was being questioned publicly.
It follows the court's recent decision to publish previously secret CIA information relating to the torture of the former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed. Around 100 delegates, mostly academics and students, as well as some British military intelligence officials and US embassy staff, were informed that it had "proven necessary to postpone the event". A note circulated to some of the participants stated: "This is a joint UK/US decision taken most reluctantly in the light of the current high media profile being accorded, on both sides of the Atlantic, to the possible consequence for future UK/US intelligence sharing of the recent High Court ruling ordering the release of material provided confidentially to Her Majesty's Government by the CIA." http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/exclusive+ukus+intelligence+c elebration+called+off/3556877
UK Defence Green Paper calls for Intelligence without borders February 03, 2010 (Ed: Excerpted) The Defence Green Paper has set out the need for closer links with international partners in the future. Professor Anthony Glees, director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence studies at the University of Buckingham, explains why our current reluctance to share intelligence with our EU partners is hampering the battle against terrorism The UK urgently needs better intelligence-led policy, produced more cost-effectively and our intelligence community must be greatly improved if we are not to lose the fight against national and international terrorism. This means, undeniably, that our domestic security
now lies in ever closer intelligence cooperation with our EU partners. Yes, an element of intelligence cooperation with our EU partners already exists. EU intelligence chiefs meet for a chat four times a year. We can call on Europol (led by a Briton, Rob Wainwright), the European Joint Situation Centre, known as SitCen (led by another Briton, William Shapcott) or ESA, the EU's geospatial intelligence agency. But Britain does not cooperate properly with Europol; like others we deny SitCen diplomatic or intelligence-derived reporting and consequently it remains an analysis unit not an operational one. Whilst we receive satellite imagery from ESA, we give it none in return.
http://www.defencemanagement.com/feature_story.asp?id=13560. Full Green Paper can be found at http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/790C77EC-550B-4AE8-B22714DA412FC9BA/0/defence_green_paper_cm7794.pdf Editor: Dalene Duvenage
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Netherlands: Educating the public on intelligence issues February 2010: The Dutch Algemene Inlichting en Veiligheidsdienst (AIVD) published 3 brochures to educate citizens on the dangers of espionage. The three, only available in Dutch are:
• Espionage in Netherland – what is the risk? • Espionage when travelling abroad: what is the risk? • Digital /cyber espionage: what is the risk?
https://www.aivd.nl/actueel/@125345/drie-publicaties http://www.expatica.com/nl/lifestyle_leisure/news_focus/Social-networking-sites-used-byforeign-intelligence-services_15564.html#
KGB secrets to be published TOP NEWS Feb 24, 2010 VILNIUS — President Dalia Grybauskaitė Wednesday ordered that all documents relating to the KGB secret services in Lithuania be released for the general public to view.
The order to release the documents is part of what is known as the “lustration” process, which is the outing and punishing of former KGB agents in the country. http://balticreports.com/?p=11541
Africa Zimbabwe & Botswana Row Resolved 26 February 2010 (Excerpted – ed) The diplomatic row sparked by the arrest and subsequent conviction of three armed Batswana game rangers who had strayed into Zimbabwe has been resolved. This follows a Zimbabwe-Botswana Joint Permanent Commission meeting in Victoria Falls this week. Security and foreign affairs officials also met on Wednesday under the auspices of the commission. "We are happy to note that the impasse that had arisen has been resolved.
"However, before any action or information can be released, delegates have agreed that we report to the ministers (first)," an official said. He said there were more issues that the two countries were working on. Botswana threatened to recall its military and intelligence attaches from Harare at the height of the dispute.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201002260051.html
Zimbabwe: Mugabe's Spy Agency recruits thousands of illegal vendors as informers
Harare – Zimbabwe’s premier spy agency, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) has recruited hundreds of youthful street vendors and illegal street dealers as informers, a report revealed.
28 February 2010
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Sources within the spy agency said hundreds of street vendors, particularly airtime vendors and others have been recruited to monitor the activities of Movement for Democratic Change Officials and supporters, as well as diplomats and members of civil society including trade unionists. The source said the youths have received Zanu PF ideological training and were now considered as a reserve militia. “They have been deployed along streets, at shopping malls and outside hotels and restaurants where they will be able to observe the activities of unsuspecting targeted individuals,” he said. The CIO source said most of the recruited youths have been issued with police special constabulary identity cards which empowers them to make arrests in the event of something happening.
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A cellphone airtime vendor operating in Harare City Centre confirmed to Zimdiaspora that he was recruited by the CIO as an informer. He said he was tasked with informing authorities whenever demonstrations are being held by members of civil society and political parties other than Zanu PF. “We were told to infiltrate all demonstrations involving MDC and civil society members,” said the Vendor. “Whenever possible, we are expected to hijack such demonstrations by causing violence in order to discredit the demonstrators.” An illegal foreign exchange dealer at Harare’s Roadport who now offers cross-rates for the United States dollar and South African Rand following last year’s demise of the Zimdollar said he was forced to become an informer after he was threatened with arrest.
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/4655.html
Australia & New Zealand Terrorists could 'steal' Aussie planes The Sunday Telegraph, February 28, 2010 A commonly used regional commuter aircraft, the Dash 8, has been deemed "critically Australia: AIRCRAFT and iconic public places vulnerable" because it cannot be locked and are wide open to terror attacks, security has a weak point in its cockpit experts and former airline staff door. claim. Counter-terrorism and aviation Gaping holes have been security consultant Roger identified in Australia's air Henning, who has audited security system that could allow airports and air transport terrorists to plant bombs on security, said the nation's air planes or steal aircraft to turn security system was a terror them into flying weapons. attack waiting to happen. "Are we going to Up to 40 regional airports have been assessed get serious or wait till we have some massive as having "minimal" security in an audit of air tragedy," he said. infrastructure and practices. More at http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sunday-telegraph/terrorist-could-steal-aussieplanes/story-e6frewt0-1225835110556
Editor: Dalene Duvenage
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Australia sets spies on people smugglers border threats, and will change the definition By Greg Ansley Thursday Feb 25, 2010 (Ed: of "foreign intelligence" to allow the excerpted) organisation and other national security Australia is setting its domestic spy agency on agencies to collect people-smuggling people smuggling, handing the Australian intelligence overseas. Security Intelligence Organisation greater ASIO is at present not able to directly act powers and allowing it to operate overseas. against people smuggling and can only use The Government in Canberra is also boosting and pass on information it has indirectly co-operation with Malaysia - another key link obtained as part of its counterterrorism in the people-smuggling chain - improving operations. intelligence-sharing, immigration controls and The new legislation will allow it to specifically the interception of smugglers' operations. work against people smugglers, supported by The moves emerged yesterday as Attorneyextended interception and General Robert McClelland surveillance powers and the introduced new laws that ability to collect foreign will widen ASIO's brief and intelligence. introduce tough new The gathering of foreign penalties, and as Home intelligence under present laws Affairs Minister Brendan is restricted to information O'Connor met Malaysian relating to foreign Governments counterparts in Sydney. and political organisations The Government's drive to relevant to the defence of clamp down on people Australia or the conduct of the smuggling has been pushed nation's international affairs. by a new wave of boats carrying asylum "This position no longer adequately reflects seekers from Indonesia, straining detention the contemporary threats to Australia's facilities on Christmas Island and raising a national interests," McClelland said. "In an political storm in Australia. increasingly interconnected global The Opposition claims the influx has been community, activities such as people sparked by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's smuggling are usually undertaken by nonrelaxation of the tough regime imposed by state actors, and [the new law] will enable conservative Liberal predecessor John information about foreign individuals or Howard. groups operating without Government But introducing the new laws to Parliament support to be collected." yesterday, McClelland said a global surge in The legislation also introduces a range of new asylum seekers was being driven by conflicts offences, including providing material support and turmoil in Afghanistan, the Middle East for people smuggling, which will carry a maxiand Sri Lanka. mum penalty of 10 years' jail and/or a fine of The new laws will enable ASIO to specifically A$110,000 ($123,563). target people smugglers and other serious http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10628335
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New Zealand Intelligence Agency Releases Annual Report Scoop News, 24 February 2101 The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service has released its unclassified annual report for the year ending June 30 2009. The SIS's preface states: “This is the unclassified version of the Annual Report of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS), for the year ended 30 June 2009. This version will be tabled in Parliament, and made available to the public via the NZSIS internet site. “Much of the detail of the work undertaken by the NZSIS has been omitted from this unclassified version of the report, for reasons of security. This is necessary in order to protect the ongoing ability of the NZSIS to be effective in its role as prescribed in the New Zealand Security Intelligence Act 1969.� http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdf s/1002/nzsisar09.pdf New Zealand faced a security threat last year which was successfully countered by the Security Intelligence Service (SIS), a report presented to Parliament today reveals. The SIS, however, gives no details in its annual report other than a single sentence in a list of what it describes as its successes during the 2008/09 financial year that ended on June 30 last year. "We undertook successful counter terrorism operations which delivered important information about activities that posed a security threat," said Director of Security Warren Tucker.
The report also reveals that during the year 24 domestic interception warrants were in force - 14 issued during the 2008/09 year and 10 which were issued during the previous year but remained in force for part of the year. "Action was taken under all domestic warrants during the year under review," it said. "Methods of interception and seizure used were telecommunications interception, listening devices and the copying of documents." The report said the information obtained "materially contributed to the detection of activities prejudicial to security, or produced foreign intelligence essential to security, that was not likely to have been obtained by other means". The Government Communications Security Bureau also presented its annual report but, like the SIS, gave few details of its operations. "New Zealand's security environment over this last year has changed significantly, becoming more complex and unpredictable," said director Sir Bruce Ferguson. "During this period the bureau continued to provide unique intelligence creating a decision-making advantage for the New Zealand Government, bringing a wide range of skills, products and services to bear on this goal." In the report, Sir Bruce referred to "financial constraints placed upon the bureau over this last year" which he said made the challenges more daunting. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3364726/SIS-involved-in-counter-terrorism-operations
Editor: Dalene Duvenage
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US CIA Recruits Chinese During Lunar New Year World Journal, Posted: Feb 18, 2010 outhern California’s Chinese language media during the Lunar New Year. In an attempt to absorb talented Chinese Americans into their workplace, the ads encourage readers to consider works in international and crossethnicity intelligence. According to World Journal, a full-page CIA advertisement with a majestic tiger figure and “Happy New Year” in Chinese characters ran continuously in their paper for the last three days.
Interviewed by the paper, CIA’s spokesperson Pula Weiss said the agency wishes to increase its number of ethnic minority employees by 22 to 30 percent in 2012. Recruited employees will receive training in languages and decoding skills, also learning different countries’ politics, economy and cultures. Apart from investigators, CIA is also recruiting scientists, statistics analysts, psychologists, language teachers and administration officers and managers, with annual wages ranging from $35,000 to $120,000 dollars. http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=e128c165601b8193752
Secret Service Computers Only Work at 60 Percent Capacity; Agency Uses 1980s Mainframe System Is 'Fragile' and Cannot Sustain Tempo of Current or Future Operational Missions WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2010 (ed- excerpted) existing hardware infrastructure is more than A classified review of the United States Secret 5 years old and is prone to failures." Service's computer technology found that the agency's computers were fully operational The service says that its protective details only 60 percent of the time because of have not been impacted by any issues with outdated systems and a reliance their computer systems. They note on a computer mainframe that that the agency is responsible for dates to the 1980s, according to protective detail as well as a vast Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. array of electronic crimes, such as banking and financial fraud issues Sources tell ABC News that the and cyber-security issues. Secret Service was so plagued by computer problems that the A Secret Service contracting memo agency invited the National from Oct. 16, 2009, reviewed by ABC Security Agency to formally review News found, "Currently, 42 missionits information technology systems. The oriented applications run on a 1980s IBM Secret Service's databases are outdated and mainframe with a 68 percent performance users are at times unable to conduct searches reliability rating. Networks, data systems, from one system to another. applications, and IT security do not meet current operational requirements. The IT The DHS budget justification for 2011 noted, systems lack appropriate bandwidth to run "The Secret Service data environment is multiple applications to effectively support fragile and cannot sustain the tempo of USSS current or future operational missions. The offices and operational missions around the world." http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-secret-service-outdated-computer-mainframe-system1980s/story?id=9945663
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House resolves dispute, authorizes intelligence bill Congress Daily, February 26, 2010 (Excerpts)
passed the amended authorization bill, 235168. The Intelligence Committee expressed concern about adding the provision and did not agree to add it, but left it up to Rules to make the final decision, according to a senior Intelligence Committee aide. But another Democratic source said Intelligence Committee aides were neutral about adding the language when it was raised at a meeting. The House on Friday also voted 410-1 to approve an amendment from Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Mich., requiring the administration to investigate the Christmas airline bombing attempt and report to Congress on measures that have been taken or will be taken to prevent future intelligence failures. And by a 401-11 margin, the House passed an amendment from Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., that requires the administration to report to Congress on plans to increase diversity in the workforce of the intelligence agencies. http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0210/022610cdpm1.htm?rss=getoday&oref=rss House Democrats on Friday pushed through a major bill authorizing programs and spending for U.S. intelligence agencies after dropping a provision that would have set criminal penalties for CIA interrogators and others who use cruel or inhuman methods to extract information from suspected terrorists. The provision was inserted at the last minute into a manager's amendment to the fiscal 2010 intelligence authorization bill, resulting in an unexpectedly heated partisan battle on the House floor Thursday evening. The clash forced Democratic leaders to pull the bill and return it to the House Rules Committee to strip the criminal penalties provision from the manager's amendment. But they already had given House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other GOP lawmakers plenty of time to attack Democrats for a "shameful" attempt to target "American intelligence officials for criminal prosecutions. Once stripped of the disputed provision, the House on Friday approved the manager's amendment, 246-166, and then
When the system works Wednesday, February 24, 2010
NAJIBULLAH ZAZI wanted to be a foot soldier for the Taliban, so in 2008 the 25-year-old legal permanent resident of the United States flew from Newark International Airport to Pakistan to receive weapons training at an al-Qaeda outpost. His instructors had other ideas. "Al-Qaeda leaders asked us to return to the United States and conduct martyrdom operation," Mr. Zazi calmly told a New York federal judge. "We agreed." The ultimate plan: set off explosives in New York's subway system. Mr. Zazi was arrested last September in Denver, just days away from carrying out what Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.
Editor: Dalene Duvenage
called "one of the most serious terrorist threats to our nation since September 11th, 2001." On Monday, Mr. Zazi pleaded guilty to three terrorism-related counts that could keep him behind bars for the rest of his life. Details about why U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials first came to suspect Mr. Zazi or how they built a case against him are sparse; such information is being closely guarded, according to the Justice Department, to prevent disclosure of sensitive sources and methods. It seems the Obama administration effectively used an array of available tools. During a news conference Monday, FBI
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Deputy Director John S. Pistole credited the National Security Agency and the CIA -- which gather only overseas intelligence -- "for outstanding contributions to this interagency effort." Last September, Justice Department prosecutors informed a New York court that they would use information from domestic surveillance carried out under the auspices of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act against Mr. Zazi and an accomplice.
The administration has legitimately come under fire for its failure to "connect the dots" to identify and thwart an attempted attack by would-be "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Only faulty explosives and the bravery of passengers prevented a Christmas Day disaster. The administration, and countless unnamed government workers, deserve credit for actively averting the atrocity that Mr. Zazi and his cohorts might have caused. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/23/AR2010022305337.html
Terrorism The Link Between Engineers and Jihad Newsweek February 26, 2010 (Excerpted)
Intelligence agencies tasked with profiling the terrorist mind, and figuring out where future extremists might be found, have begun focusing on a surprising target: science students. As it turns out, many recruits in extremist groups such as Al Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizbullah, and Hamas have backgrounds in medicine, engineering, and other hard sciences. In one study by Oxford sociologists -Diego Gambetta and Steffen Hertog, who will be publishing a book on the subject next year, out of 178 terrorists with higher education, almost half studied math or science. And the phenomenon is not limited to Islamists--strong links to science and engineering studies have been found among neo-Nazis, too, and engineers disproportionately supported Hitler and Mussolini during World War II. With an eye on such statistics, Western and Israeli intelligence agencies are now ramping up their monitoring of hard--sciences departments in universities across the Middle East, says Claude Moniquet, a former French intelligence operative and current head of the -Brussels-based European Strategic
Editor: Dalene Duvenage
Intelligence and Security Center, which advises foreign intel agencies. U.S. officials are also apt to give visa requests from engineering students extra scrutiny, says Juan Zarate, deputy national-security adviser for counterterrorism under former president George W. Bush. So why do geeks disproportionately turn to terror? According to personality experts, engineers are more likely than humanities students to view society like a big machine. And when that machine breaks down, engineers often tend to think it can be fixed by eliminating the so-called bad parts and replacing them with good ones. This clear distinction between right and wrong, good and bad, broken and fixed, appeals to scientific minds, which are more likely to be troubled by the idea that life might have messy moral gray -areas. It's a mindset of "either the equation works or it doesn't," says Mitchell Silber, head of intelligence analysis for the New York Police Department. Silber says this mentality helps explain why engineers are more likely to make literal interpretations of Islamic holy writings that appear to call for violence or jihad. The ability to get inside the engineering mind is also proving helpful when suspects are
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captured, says Ami Angell, former civilian head of a Department of Defense-funded insurgent-rehabilitation program at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq. The rehab program had a rough start in 2007, says Angell, but results drastically improved when the program was tweaked to target the insurgents' love of logic. Respected Iraqi clerics refocused class discussions on Quran passages that appeared to highlight the need to interpret scripture in context, rather than
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just literally; and they pushed the students to make clear arguments about why indiscriminate killing would not make society a better place. Angell says appealing to the extremists' logical side was "crucial" to the program's success. Of course, not all terrorists are rational--far from it. But for those who are, using the rigor of their own disciplines against them may prove a powerful new tool in the war on terror.
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/wealthofnations/archive/2010/02/26/the-link-between-engineers-and-jihad.aspx
Officials wary of agricultural terrorism Argus leader, 21 Feb 2010 (Excerpted) Veterinarians inspect animals that go through all 38 of the state's livestock markets. Animals U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson drew coming into the state must have a health attention to a new focus in the war on terror certificate, according to Oedekoven, and that hits home for South Dakotans during his slaughter animals also are inspected. keynote address this month at the South Dakota Farmers Union 95th annual state "You really can't beat eyes and ears on the convention in Huron. ground," he said. In the past decade, safeguarding food and The ramifications of terrorist acts go beyond agriculture from both foreign and domestic individual farmers and ranchers who are terrorism has become a point of emphasis for victims, Sombke said. Public perception of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food safety can affect which has dealt with food safety producers nationwide, such since its establishment in 1862. as when meat recalls because of E. coli "These are the folks who see the contamination caused suspicious signs first. We need to overnight drops in cattle make sure farmers and ranchers prices. are our first responders and understand and are aware of this Johnson agreed that an potential threat." attack on food safety and accompanying widespread fear "could have a huge Farmers and ranchers have been aware of the economic impact, even if it is a relatively potential for foreign terrorists or domestic small infected area. ones, such as animal rights activists, to disrupt South Dakota agriculture, said Doug "It is important that people are cognizant of Sombke, SDFU president. The new antithis. We don't want to scare anyone. But we terrorism safety net rests atop a firm also don't want to be complacent. We face foundation of longstanding agricultural threats we simply didn't face 20 years ago." safeguards, he pointed out. http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100221/NEWS/2210301/1001/news
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Australia’s counter terrorism whitepaper generated attacks in Western democracies, (Ed: excerpted) including Australia We have seen terrorist While the threat is persistent, the challenge planning within Australia. Since 2001, has evolved since the last counter-terrorism numerous terrorist attacks have been White Paper in 2004 in two respects. thwarted in Australia. Thirty-eight people First, while there have been counterhave been prosecuted or are being terrorism successes (most notably pressure prosecuted as a result of counter-terrorism on al‑Qa’ida’s core leadership operations and 20 people have in Afghanistan and Pakistan, been convicted of terrorism and action against terrorists in offences under the Criminal Code. South-East Asia), these Over 40 Australians have had their successes have been offset by passports revoked or applications the rise of groups affiliated denied for reasons related to with, or inspired by, terrorism. al‑Qa’ida’s message and The Government’s countermethods, with new areas such as Somalia and terrorism strategy is informed by a number of Yemen joining existing areas of concern in core judgements. We must take a South Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle East comprehensive and layered approach. Our and the Gulf. counter-terrorism measures must be A second shift apparent since 2004 has been informed by strategic judgements about the the increase in the terrorist threat from nature of the threat and Australia’s people born or raised in Australia, who have vulnerability to it. And we must conduct our become influenced by the violent jihadist activities in a manner which harnesses our message. The bombings in London on 7 July capabilities, upholds our principles and 2005, which were carried out by British mitigates the risk of attack or failure in our nationals, brought into stark relief the real response. threat of globally-inspired but locally http://www.dpmc.gov.au/publications/counter_terrorism/docs/counterterrorism_white_paper.pdf
People US: New appointments 18 Feb: Caryn Wagner has finally been confirmed as Department of Homeland Security as Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis (I&A). “Effective intelligence collection and analysis and robust information-sharing are essential to our mission of securing the nation,” said DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. “Caryn’s extensive experience in the intelligence community will enhance our capability to collaborate with federal, state
Editor: Dalene Duvenage
and local partners to assess and protect against homeland security threats.” As Under Secretary for I&A, Wagner will oversee DHS intelligence operations— leading a number of critical initiatives involving information sharing, engagement with state and local fusion centers and management of classified information systems security—while serving as DHS’ primary point of contact for the intelligence community.
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http://www.executivegov.com/2010/02/caryn-wagner-confirmed-as-under-secretary-forintelligence-and-analysis-at-dhs/ 23 Feb 2010: Paula J. Roberts has been named the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's associate director of national intelligence / chief human capital officer (HCO) for the U.S. Intelligence Community. Roberts currently serves as the director of the Human Development Directorate at the National GeospatialIntelligence Agency, where she has worked since 1978.
The chief HCO for the Intelligence Community leads the design, development and execution of human resource strategies and policies in support of all U.S. intelligence organizations, and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the personnel provisions of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.
http://www.gsnmagazine.com/article/20188/dni_names_new_human_chief_capital_office Feb. 22, 2010 – Letitia Long, deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, will serve as the next director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced today. Long will assume the NGA leadership later this year, replacing Navy Vice Adm. Robert Murrett who is serving his fourth year at the agency.
Gates cited Long’s unique qualifications for the new post, including more than 30 years of engineering and intelligence experience. She served as deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, deputy director of naval intelligence, and as coordinator of intelligence community activities for the director of central intelligence, he noted. Long will become the first woman to lead a major intelligence agency, Gates noted. http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/news/2010/intell-100222-afps01.htm
Saudi Arabia: New deputy chief of intelligence ARAB NEWS: Feb 27, 2010 RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has appointed Prince Abdul Aziz bin Bandar as deputy chief of the General Intelligence at the rank of minister, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. Prince Abdul Aziz, who joined the General Intelligence in 1982, completed his B.A. at King Saud University and M.A. in combating crime at Naif University for Security Sciences. http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article23070.ece
He has attended a number of courses on intelligence, diplomatic matters and advance data analysis, and received several medals. He has also served in many ministerial and consultative committees and supervised the information technology conference held in Riyadh as chairman of its executive committee.
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Algeria police chief shot dead at force headquarters 25 February 2010 The chief of Algeria's national police force, Ali Tounsi, has been shot dead in the capital, Algiers, officials say. He was killed by a colleague during a regular morning meeting in the police headquarters in front of several witnesses, the interior ministry said. The alleged killer was seized with what the ministry called an attack of madness and shot Col Tounsi before turning the gun on himself. He was now in hospital with severe injuries, the ministry said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8536908.stm
A judicial inquiry into the circumstances of the shooting has been opened. There has been no indication of a link to Islamist militants, who have periodically attacked government targets. Col Tounsi was one of Algeria's most powerful security officials and was closely involved in the country's fight against militants, analysts say.
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