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If the Cargo is not Screened, It Does Not Fly

Friday, July 30th, 2010

By Adam Salerno

Businesses Reengineering the Supply Chain for 100 Percent Screening

When Congress passed the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the law mandated 100 Percent Screening of cargo onboard passenger aircraft “commensurate with checked baggage.”  The deadline for that mandate is this weekend, August 1, 2010.  The law seeks to ensure that all 20 million lbs. of cargo is screened in advance of flights for explosive detection prior to transport.  As Douglas Brittin, the Director of Cargo Security at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says, “On August 1, if the cargo is not screened, it does not fly”.

In today’s economy, a vibrant supply chain can ensure that companies have instant access to overnight delivery to nearly 85 percent of the world’s population.  While a changing world dictates new necessities to secure the supply chain, the need for expedited trade is an important priority that must be maintained.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recognizes this fact, which is why we support a multi layered risk based approach to security which maximizes effectiveness and minimizes impact on businesses.

As with any unfunded mandate, the private sector was tasked with financing this effort and working with TSA to ensure this goal is accomplished. The cost has been dramatic.  Most air carriers estimate their costs to be in the tens of millions of dollars range. That figure does not include delays or increasing lead time in the supply chain. To add complexity to the issue, the mandate also included all incoming cargo from around the globe be screened. In short, the law forced companies to completely reengineer their supply chain.

To push the mandate out of the confines of the airport, TSA developed the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP).  CCSP allows other trusted shippers in the supply chain to participate in the screening process, by securing their facilities, and the chain of custody from manufacturing to the belly of the aircraft.  This too proved extremely costly for industry, but something that businesses in all modes of transportation have stepped up for.

Once the domestic deadline is hit, the focus will shift to international inbound flights. TSA needs to step forward at this point and begin to recognize foreign screening methods.  Again, because of the nature of the unfunded mandate, it is clear that TSA has not had the resources to pursue this goal yet.  However, programs like the German Aviation Security Program or the newly released European Union Framework 300, Rule 185 are comprehensive programs that mirror the basic fundamentals of the TSA program domestically.  Working with the international community to ensure that our programs are mutually accepted is essential to ensure that businesses are not duplicating an already burdensome process.

It has been a long and costly road for industry, but with the August 1, 2010 deadline just days away, many are feeling cautiously optimistic that the deadline will be met. Thanks to the ingenuity of the freight forwarders, the airlines, and participants in CCSP, because without their time, effort, and serious investment, a dramatic halt of trade would have become reality. Their investment in security ensured that commerce will continue to move forward at the speed businesses rely on in the air environment.

Adam Salerno is a Senior Manager in the National Security and Emergency Preparedness Department at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He also manages the Chamber’s Global Supply Chain Security Working Group.

This piece was originally posted on The ChamberPost, the blog for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Congress, Politics & PR, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, Homeland State & Local, International, Management & Administration, Science & Technology, Supply Chain Security, WMD, Chemical & Biological, counterterrorism | Comments

Building a 21st-Century Strategy to Counter Piracy and al Shabaab

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

The piracy question and how to deal with it is huge and is about to become a much larger question in the global supply-chain management continuum. I, like other folks, would like nothing more then to send in the Marines and clean out the nest of pirates. But alas, the days of gunboat diplomacy are of a bygone era.

We now engage our adversaries with not only guns and bullets, but also batteries to run our high-tech systems. Increasingly more important is the new adage, “bring lawyers, guns and money.” Nation building will take a great deal of finesse and understanding, as well as forceful measures.

One of these first opening salvos has been fired by the White House, though it seems to have been ignored by the business community with an interest in these matters. The Presidential Executive Order (EO), issued in April 2010, prevents U.S. citizens/entities from making payments to certain named individuals. It also has the potential to prevent any payments to individuals or groups involved in or supporting piracy in Somalia.

The regulatory guidelines for implementing this EO are yet to be promulgated, but given the recent Shabaab attack in Kampala, Uganda, in which at least one U.S. citizen was killed (a crime being investigated by the FBI), one can reasonably expect the enforcement issue of the EO to be forthcoming.

Shabaab is known to have sworn allegiance to bin Laden and Qaeda, and this Shabaab attack will clearly articulate the connections between piracy ransoms, Shabaab and the broader global war on terror. The probable outcome, in my opinion, will be the Lloyds, Joint Hull & Joint War Committees declaring that they will no longer underwrite insurance for kidnap and ransom in this arena. And now the lawyers and money come to the forefront.

In order to operate the critical sea lanes in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali environs, government resources from concerned nations will need to be deployed. The United States may not be the principal user of these lanes, but we are likely one of the principal end-users of the output from the associated supply chain. For this reason, it is important that we gain understanding and proactively look for how we engage the piracy issue. At least 85 percent of our critical infrastructure is privately held, and therein lays the bulk of the responsibility for defending those nodes. Building coalitions across industry and national borders, sharing information and supporting combined military action when needed will be a key effort to meeting the threat.

In one of his first acts of president, Thomas Jefferson met the challenge of pirates. Now, 200 years later, we face a similar situation, which will indeed need lawyers, guns and money. It will also take intelligence, technology and collaboration.

Posted in International, Law Enforcement, Management & Administration, Maritime & Seaport Security, Supply Chain Security, counterterrorism | Comments

GAO says TSA May Miss Air Cargo Screening Mandate

Friday, July 16th, 2010

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released its review of the Transportation Security Administration’s Air Cargo Screening program. The report, requested by several members of Congress, audits the TSA’s program for achieving the Congressional mandate to screen 100 percent of all cargo carried on passenger aircraft by August 2010. For anyone in the business or closely following the issue, the report offers no surprises. (For those unfamiliar with this security challenge, check out the roundtable discussion on air cargo screening that I moderated in May.) If anything, the report illuminates the major hurdles TSA continues to face in achieving the 100 percent screening threshold.

What the report doesn’t do – what it wasn’t intended to do – is determine whether TSA’s program to screen all air cargo improves security. Assuming that the directive to screen every single piece of cargo improves aviation security may be a misplaced assumption.

What the report doesn’t conclude may be more illustrative of the problem with our government’s attitude towards homeland security. A more instructive use of the time and resources that went into generating this report would have been for the GAO to audit the quality of the nation’s air cargo screening program.

One way to accomplish this would be to start with a risk assessment – threat, vulnerability and consequence. Indentifying the weaknesses in the existing process for sending freight by air on passenger aircraft would instruct TSA where to focus its resources. It would also ensure that any weaknesses could be strengthened. And it could also help to develop objective metrics to test the security measures’ effectiveness.

Of course, the law is the law, and GAO’s audit merely considered whether TSA would meet the mandate. Not surprisingly, TSA most likely will not meet the mandate. And even if it does, there are still problems with key areas of the program, like the certification of screening technology, the authenticity of the methodology for calculating the percentage of cargo screened, and the screening of cargo coming from outside the United States.

The report found that TSA’s voluntary Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) has failed to attract most of the shippers that would benefit from participation. The CCSP isn’t well populated and participation levels aren’t what they should be to inoculate the industry against more invasive and harmful regulations. A strong showing by shippers over the next several months will be needed to provide evidence that the industry is serious about achieving the mandate.

The report certainly hits on all the areas where TSA needs to make improvements to satisfy the law. Overall, this is instructive for complying with the law. Whether each of these efforts reduces the risk of passenger’s being harmed is uncertain.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Congress, Politics & PR, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, International, Management & Administration, Supply Chain Security, Transportation Security, counterterrorism | Comments

The Value of Aspen

Friday, July 9th, 2010

As we continue to swelter in the ongoing summer heat wave, it is easy for me to reminisce about my recent visit to Aspen, Colo. Tucked amongst the Rockies with its clean air, fervent green and majestic views, a town known primarily for its skiing with the rich and famous was home to what was, simply put, the best conference program I have ever attended.

The first annual Aspen Security Forum put forward a program that I can only describe as pleasant, informational waterboarding. By the time each of the presenters and panelists were done, my hand was dead from writing so much and my head hurt from being given the firehouse treatment of a candor and content  overload.

With a venerable “who’s who” of notable names in the national security arena attending the two and a half day program, attendees had the opportunity to hear first-hand from the men and women who have served or continue to serve in some of the most demanding positions in the world. It was literally very hard to turn around and not see a face that you did not recognize from some recent event or news program, sharing insights on our country’s national and homeland security challenges.

While the presented content was outstanding, the best part about the entire program was that the overwhelming majority of notable speakers and presenters made themselves available to engage with the attendees. All too often, speakers rush in, deliver their canned pitch, say thanks to the crowd and are whisked away by their aides to get back to the office, leaving actual human contact an afterthought. To have the many distinguished speakers stick around and engage in that lost art-form of “CONVERSATION” was an absolute pleasure.

Hosted by Clark Ervin and the Aspen Institute, this was the first time they had put on a program with this particular focus. You can call it beginner’s luck if you want, but they put together a top notch effort that literally became a “must attend” for anyone who is interested in national and homeland security issues. Fortunately, for those who weren’t able to attend the program, it was taped for later broadcast by C-Span, hopefully sometime this summer. I have to tell you, there is a significant portion of C-Span’s programming that can cure insomnia, but when they broadcast the presenters and panels from the Aspen Security Forum, it will be as NBC used to call it, “Must See TV!”

To understand why I write that, here’s a rundown of some sessions (with video hyperlinks):

Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

When your opening speaker travels all the way from Kabul to Tel Aviv to Aspen to take part in the program, it’s a pretty good indicator that the organizers are up to something big. That was especially true with Adm. Mullen. Coming off a week where Gen. McChrystal was taken out by a large Rolling Stone and replaced by Gen. Petraeus, and then traveling to Afghanistan and Israel to assuage any fears and concerns they may have about the big changes, Mullen made news by essentially not making news. While his comments about the state of the nation’s counter insurgency policy dovetailed those of the White House’s, the plainspoken manner in which they were delivered conveyed the gravity of the situation our military forces are faced with in Afghanistan. His comments about Iran’s nuclear ambitions – “They’ve given us no reason to trust them” – also spoke volumes about what few measures the Administration has left at its disposal in dealing with them.

Aviation Security Panel

There is probably no other facet of the post-9/11 world that Americans gripe about more than dealing with aviation security, but as the CEO of the Air Transport Association (ATA), Jim May, said, “What’s your alternative?” Joined by Erroll Southers of USC’s CREATE Program (and the first Obama Administration nominee to lead TSA) and Christopher Bidwell of the Airport Council International, this panel laid on the table the very real threats and frustrations that accompany this portion of the security environment. One of the most interesting things discussed was the use of full-body imaging devices by airports to screen passengers. While recognizing the civil rights and privacy concerns that people have about them, Jim May of ATA shared that he thought they should be mandatory. When it came to addressing the Government Accountability Office’s recently issued criticisms of TSA’s Behavioral Detection efforts, May and the other panelists pointed out that this program was part of many layers of security, and there was no one-size-fits-all solution or silver bullet that would reduce the aviation risks faced today.

Fran Townsend, former Homeland Security Advisor to President Bush

There are many things that have been written and said about Fran Townsend, the former Homeland Security Advisor to President Bush (43), but the word “shy” is not one that would be used to describe her. The only thing that could possibly surpass the candor of her public comments when she was working as a government employee was her candor in being a former government employee. With no holds barred, Townsend explained that, “We have a reason to expect we can connect the dots this time” given all of the post 9/11 work that has been done.

In a more than hour-long conversation with Walter Isaccson, the CEO of the Aspen Institute, and the Security Forum audience, Townsend pounded on the fact that much still needs to be done to improve information sharing amongst intelligence and law enforcement agencies across the board. Her declaration that there still needed to be a senior level official or “Cabinet Agency,” but “not a czar,” to “pound these government agencies into submission to do information sharing.” Her proposal that an NGO, public-private partnership, rather than a solely government-led approach to address the growing cyber security risks, was also interesting.

Bill Bratton, former Chief, Los Angeles Police Department

Dubbed by many media outlets as “America’s Top Cop” for having led the police departments of Boston, New York City and Los Angeles, I think Bill Bratton surprised everyone at the program when he explained how the terror attacks in Mumbai, India caused him to change the entire structure of the LAPD. His interview with CNN’s Jeanne Meserve detailed how 60 days after those attacks, he was able to transform his police department with new training, exercises and more. The relatively simply trained Mumbai terrorists were not interested in holding hostages; in fact, they were using so-called negotiations to buy time to kill more people. This showed Bratton that he had to change how his department was positioned to respond to a similar event, should it occur in Los Angeles.

Michael Leiter, Director of the National Counter Terrorism Center

For a man that much of Washington thought would have his head handed to him following the failed information sharing efforts surrounding the failed Christmas Day attack, Michael Leiter, the Director of the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), displayed all of the skill and confidence that make him one of a few Bush Administration appointees to successfully transition into the Obama Administration. His description of his job, his work with the President to report on the range of threats to the country and how he thinks information sharing needs to work made this particular presentation one of the most revealing and compelling of the entire program.  Interviewed by Michael Isikoff, a former Newsweek reporter and now Chief Investigative Correspondent for NBC News, ended up producing some great back and forth between the two men that was as revealing as it was humorous. This session again explained more about Leiter’s job and the mission of the NCTC than any government report or Congressional hearing to date.

Border Security Panel

Despite the countless GAO and IG reports and the many hearings before the U.S. House and Senate, there was no better overview of America’s border security than a panel made up of:

  • Bob Mocny, Director of DHS’ US VISIT Program;
  • Mark Borkowski, Director of CBP’s Secure Border Initiative (SBI); and
  • Steve Oswald, Vice President of Boeing.

These three gentlemen described what worked, what didn’t, what could be better and what the future may look like on programs that have regularly been making news for years. In presenting the details of these newsworthy programs, they did so with none of the drama or hysterics that are so often associated with the Congressional hearings that have exhaustively covered the respective programs. What each of them said frankly offered more substantive insight than any of the previous Congressional hearings have produced to date. That was an observation made not just by the conference attendees but also by the first-tier media, congressional staff and others who have observed each of these respective programs closely. Truth be told, if you want to know what is really happening with US VISIT and the Secure Border Initiative (minus the belligerent questions and political posturing), spending 90 minutes watching this panel when it is aired on C-Span will be time well spent.

Attending News Media

As I mentioned, the conference was a literal “who’s who” of notable current and former national and homeland security leaders, and the same could be said for the attending members of the media.  With CNN’s Jeanne Meserve, Fox News’ Catherine Herridge, the Washington Post’s Spencer Hsu, Newsweek’s/NBC News’ Michael Isikoff, and more, it seemed as if there was a representative from every major news outlet, print and broadcast media in attendance. While many of them were there to serve as session/panel moderators for the various parts of the program, the entire forum was a reservoir of information for them on today’s security concerns and a background on the actions of the past. It was also a treasure trove for journalists in developing future sources for national and homeland security news stories.

Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security

After consecutive 12-hour days of literally (albeit pleasantly) waterboarding attendees with tons of substantive content, it’s hard to figure out how to end a program such as that in Aspen, but they picked a great closer in former DHS Secretary Chertoff. Whether it was the fact that he’s been out of office for almost a year and half and doesn’t have to worry about a 2 AM phone call from National Operations Center about someone doing something vile to the homeland, Chertoff’s candor and demeanor crystallized for everyone the seriousness of the threats we face while also assuring we should continue to go about our regular lives. As one of the very few “senior statesmen” on homeland issues that we have in this country, his conversation with Fox News’ Catherine Herridge conveyed the balance that we need to have when planning for and operating against the range of risks we face.

A wondering disappointment

I can say without doubt that I loved every moment at the Aspen Institute, but I can’t sign off without discussing the one disappointment that I and many others had in the presentation by DHS Deputy Secretary, Jane Holl Lute. Whether it was her discomfort at the conversational interview format led by CNN’s Jeanne Meserve, her fear in the week after the McChrystal debacle, not wanting to say anything to cause problems for herself or the Administration, or the fact that maybe she was having a bad day, her presentation left the overwhelming majority of attendees scratching their heads in wonder as to the real story at the Department.

All of the questions that were asked by Meserve were fair and nothing was out of the ordinary, but Lute’s responses were defensive, sometimes evasive and could have been dramatically better.  Time and time again in her hour long session there were questions to which she could have responded with hard and fast examples of the Department’s accomplishments. Instead, she offered simplistic, almost apple-pie like anecdotal responses that left the audience wondering why she wouldn’t answer the most basic of questions.

When she stated, “the [U.S.] border has never been more secure,” and offered no facts to prove that statement, portions of the audience looked around at one another in shock while others openly chortled at the declaration.

When it came time for Q&A with the audience, the tenor of her responses seemed to be even more defensive. When Michael Isikoff asked her about her statement on the border’s security and her metrics to prove that it had never been more secure, Lute seemed to bristle at the question. She firmly retorted, “The Secretary has been very clear on what those metrics are,” and effectively cut him off.

Lute’s response referred to the speech Secretary Napolitano delivered at CSIS the week before, when she declared, “the U.S. border has never been more secure…but there is more work to be done” and that “no one is satisfied with the status quo.”

In that speech, Secretary Napolitano detailed a series of metrics to back up her statement, but none of those were shared by Lute with Isikoff or the observing audience. In speaking with Isikoff and some of the other attendees after her remarks, none of them were aware of the CSIS speech and the metrics behind the powerful declaration. To the credit of the Department, Bob Mocny and Mark Borkowski did an exceptional job during their joint appearance on the Border Security panel explaining why DHS leadership is stating things have improved on the border.

It is certainly a debatable point to make a declaration like the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary have made in recent forums about border security. When you back it up with information and facts, it provides some measure of credibility and fosters informed debate. When you state it and don’t want to defend it with facts, it leaves people wondering why you would state something like that and not be able to prove it. After her appearance in Aspen, a lot of people were left wondering about the Deputy Secretary, and after viewing her session either on-line or on C-Span, I expect there will be a lot more.

Final thoughts

All of our time is valuable, and God knows we don’t have enough of it, but if you can set your DVRs to record the Aspen Security Forum or go to the Aspen Institute webpage and download panels for your Ipod/MP3 player – DO IT. Think of each of the respective sessions as graduate level courses shared by esteemed faculty who have the real life scar tissue and experiences to tell you what happened and what we can all do better.  If you do, I’m confident you will walk away from each session with a lot more knowledge and a bit of a mild headache too. That’s what pleasant informational waterboarding will do to you, but I have to say, it is much more enjoyable amongst the mountains and beautiful vistas of Aspen.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Border Security, Congress, Politics & PR, Critical Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Homeland Security & the Internet; Gov't 2.0, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, Ideology & Public Diplomacy, Immigration & Visa Policy, Intelligence, International, Law Enforcement, Management & Administration, Military & Homeland Defense, Private and Physical Security, Science & Technology, Supply Chain Security, Terror Finance, Terror Strategic Analysis, Transportation Security, WMD, Chemical & Biological, counterterrorism | Comments

Finally, a TSA Administrator – Pistole is IN!

Friday, June 25th, 2010

This morning by voice vote, the US Senate confirmed the nomination of John Pistole to be the next Administrator of DHS’ Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In what has been a grueling odyssey for everyone involved, from former nominees and their families, the White House Office of Personnel, US Senate Members and staff, the people of TSA, and many more, permanent leadership is now in place at TSA.

While there have to be sighs of relief in Secretary Napolitano’s Office over Pistole’s confirmation, probably no one will be happier than Gale Rossides who has been serving as the Acting Administrator for more than a year and a half. Between the collapsed nominations of Southers and Harding; the Christmas Day underwear bomber and the day-to-day grind in one of the toughest jobs in the country, she has been at the helm. Her service has frankly been underappreciated and under-acknowledged by the Administration, Congress, the media and many others.

For too long, the charge that TSA has been leaderless has gone unanswered and been very inaccurate. The truth is TSA was never without leadership. It had Gail and many other senior career persons taking care of business day in and day out around the country. Amidst the celebration of having a distinguished public servant like John Pistole to be the Agency’s new Administrator, I hope someone will take the time to recognize her for all that she has done during this strenuous time. I also hope she gets to pop open a tall, cold one this weekend. She’s earned it.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Congress, Politics & PR, Law Enforcement, Management & Administration, Supply Chain Security, Transportation Security, counterterrorism | Comments

An Air Cargo Screening Roundtable – Not too little, hopefully not too late

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

A couple weeks ago, air cargo industry representatives came together in Washington, DC, to hold an informational roundtable on the upcoming Congressional deadline mandating that 100 percent of all cargo carried on passenger aircraft be screened for explosives. The roundtable was broadcast live from the Newseum and the recorded version is available for viewing on UStream.

When I served at the Transportation Security Administration as Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley’s principal adviser for congressional relations and legislative strategy, I worked closely with the “9/11 Commission Recommendations Act,” which is where the air cargo mandate originated. That is one of the reasons I agreed to serve as moderator for the roundtable, because I understand the potentially severe ramifications of the mandate. And I am not alone. Talking with the aviation security leaders who participated in the roundtable, we delivered the message that time is of the essence, and over 10,000 people logged on to view the webcast. This is both good and bad.

It is bad because thousands of shippers have not prepared for the impending deadline on August 3, 2010. It is good because since the webcast, hundreds have responded by signing up for the Transportation Security Administration’s Certified Cargo Shipper Program (CCSP). This voluntary program offers the only efficient plan to guarantee that cargo will be shipped without overly intrusive and sometimes harmful screening measures.

At this point, TSA confirms that 75 percent of all cargo shipped on passenger airliners is screened. This includes cargo shipped via CCSP. The last 25 percent of the cargo that must be screened before August 3, however, represents the most challenging segment of the mandate. This includes shipments that are banded or shrink-wrapped on pallets. These palleted shipments, if not shipped by CCSP certified shippers, must be disassembled or opened to be screened.

One of the problems for those late to the party may lie with the misunderstanding of the invitation. Sure, the government sets deadlines all the time, but when the regulatory or enforcement agency finally realizes the onerous effects of their regulation, it builds an escape clause for those unwittingly caught unaware; so the conventional thinking goes. However, this deadline is set by statute without a provision for an extension. TSA possesses no authority to extend the deadline or soften its affects. Reality bites when shippers realize that by not being CCSP certified, their products must be screened at the airport. And if that product can’t be screened because the air carrier doesn’t possess screening equipment or the packaging can’t be opened, the product is not shipped.

TSA continues its outreach plan with town hall meetings and other informational products. Realizing that this isn’t an exam they can cram for (the CCSP process takes several weeks), many shippers are starting to take notice. TSA has seen applications for CCSP quadruple over the last month, and industry participation will determine the viability of the voluntary CCSP.

If industry fails or refuses to participate, it can expect a boot on its throat in the not too distant future. In less threatening verbiage, this means that shipping cargo on passenger aircraft may soon find its place in a corner of the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Congress, Politics & PR, Critical Infrastructure, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, Law Enforcement, Management & Administration, Science & Technology, Supply Chain Security, Transportation Security, counterterrorism | Comments

The Air Cargo Screening Mandate for Inbound Cargo

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Beginning this August, 100 percent of cargo bound for passenger planes must be screened before it is loaded. While this looming security deadline is reasonably well known to domestic air cargo companies (and somewhat less well known by thousands of shippers who may be affected), it is hardly known at all outside the United States. That is a problem, because the air cargo screening mandate applies not only to passenger flights within and from the United States, but also to foreign-originating flights to the United States.

Regarding the inbound flights, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that it may take years to ensure that systems are in place to screen all cargo in foreign locations before loading onto US-bound passenger flights. Until that time, unscreened cargo will not be barred from entering the country. But the Department has repeatedly stated that it will fulfill the screening mandate for inbound flights, even if it takes several years past the deadline, and DHS has taken initial steps toward enforcing the mandate for inbound cargo: at the beginning of May, the Department began to insist that a portion of inbound passenger flight cargo must be screened.

DHS has begun working with a few foreign governments, airports, and airlines to establish or confirm the existence of satisfactory government screening systems for inbound passenger flight cargo. And DHS intends to formalize resultant arrangements in government-to-government agreements. These agreements may remove the need for airline-specific screening requirements that are embedded in each airline’s security program.

The Department is also considering whether and how an air cargo risk rating system – in which risk is assessed from data about the shipper, the contents, the recipient and other factors – might help satisfy the screening mandate. Such a risk rating system might obviate the need for more intrusive screening.

Options for foreign aircraft operators, airports and governments include:

  1. Developing cargo screening procedures to satisfy TSA’s airline-specific requirements;
  2. Working with DHS to facilitate government-to-government arrangements that remove the need for airline-specific requirements; and
  3. Working with DHS to develop a cargo risk rating system that may obviate the need for more intrusive screening.

Sooner (better than later), foreign parties should consider which of these approaches to take.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Critical Infrastructure, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, International, Management & Administration, Supply Chain Security, counterterrorism | Comments

Shippers Meet Goal for Passenger Flight Cargo Exams

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Shippers Meet Goal for Passenger Flight Cargo Exams – Business Week

U.S. shippers met a goal to inspect 75 percent of cargo such as fish and flowers traveling with checked bags on passenger flights after air-freight companies added gear to meet rules for examining all shipments.

The Transportation Security Administration said today U.S. airlines satisfied the May 1 deadline for expanding inspections and now have three months to prepare for screening every piece of cargo flown in the bellies of passenger aircraft.

“This will not be an easy task but nor will it be impossible,” said Brandon Fried, executive director of the Washington-based Airforwarders Association. “The combined resources of the forwarders, airlines, their ground handlers and product-sensitive shippers will make it happen.”

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Border Security, Critical Infrastructure, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, International, Management & Administration, Supply Chain Security | Comments

The TSA Deadline No One is Talking About

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

It is a curious thing that the mainstream media seems largely unaware of – or perhaps uninterested in – a major new benchmark in the air cargo security realm that is two weeks away. As of May 1, passenger airlines must screen 75 percent of all air cargo before it can be boarded.

This benchmark is meant to wake the industry up to the approaching congressionally mandated requirement that 100 percent of all air cargo transported on passenger planes be screened. Yes, that’s right, every single piece of cargo must be screened or it will be left behind.

You know what that is? That’s money being left behind. Every piece of cargo that doesn’t get put on a plane becomes an hourglass of money draining downward. In supply chain, efficiency and timeliness is everything.

And what about cargo that is perishable? Fresh produce and seafood, for example, really can’t afford to be left behind. It’s one thing for a shipment of widgets to be delayed; that costs money, but eventually it will reach its destination. Spoiled food may as well be tossed in the dumpster.

The airlines met the deadline to screen 50 percent of all air cargo transported on passenger planes last year with little trouble. So why is the new 75 percent requirement a big deal?

Under the 50 percent deadline, airlines were able to screen the low-hanging fruit; for the most part, individual packages being loaded on narrow-body aircraft. To ratchet it up to 75 percent, however, airlines will now have to start screening the large pallets of cargo – pallets filled with individual pieces of cargo, stacked carefully and wrapped. In the past, these shipments would be quickly loaded onto the plane. That’s over.

Here’s the challenge: Congress mandated not only that all cargo be screened but that it be screened at the piece level.

That means the airlines will have to break down each pallet, screen every individual piece of cargo and then re-build the pallet before it can be put on the plane. This is not an easy task, and it certainly is not a quick one.

You’re also going to see a rise on “false positives” with the increase in cargo volume. False positives are simply false alarms. These false alarms, however, must be investigated, which means a lot more cargo is going to be opened up and checked out.

Certain industries should be concerned. The pharmaceutical industry, which ships very expensive products that absolutely cannot be opened and tampered with, should be and is concerned. A shipment that is tampered with is, by FDA regulations, no good. That’s a pricey mistake.

The technology industry should be concerned. Tech companies ship highly expensive and delicate products. Do they really want third parties rummaging through their shipment and handling microchips, for example?

Give credit where credit is due: The TSA has worked hard to coordinate with the private sector to come up with a program that will meet the screening requirements mandated by Congress without creating bottlenecks and damaged goods at the airports.

It’s called the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP). CCSP allows shippers to apply to TSA and gain certification to independently screen their products at their own facilities. The advantage is that when the shipment arrives at the airport, it can skip the queue of cargo waiting to be screened by understaffed airline employees and go straight to the front of the line.

To apply, shippers simply need to contact the TSA, which will audit the shipper’s facility and operational processes to ensure that it meets certain security standards. With those standards met, the shippers are given the stamp of approval and are officially pat of the program.

There is a surprising lack of awareness in the shipping community about the new screening requirements. Among those industries that are aware, there is an even more surprising sense that TSA will not really follow through with the screening requirements. This is surprising because it is not TSA’s prerogative to enforce or not enforce the screening mandate; it’s the law, passed by Congress in 2007.

Congressional committees have held various hearings inquiring about the progress of the screening mandate. It’s not going away.

The airlines are ramping up their resources, but they can’t possibly meet that kind of volume. Not in a timely fashion. Which means that if a company shipping products hasn’t joined the CCSP program, there is a significant chance its product will be delayed.

TSA has made it clear: If the cargo isn’t screened, it doesn’t go on the plane. Period.

And the airlines have made it clear: They won’t be delaying their flight schedules to accommodate cargo that is unscreened. They have a commitment to their passengers to maintain their flight schedules.

So this upcoming 75 percent deadline will be an early test to see how the screening mandate will impact the industry. Chances are that – between those companies that are signing on to the CCSP program and the ramped up resources in which the airlines are investing – the air cargo industry will get by. They’ll get by with some bumps and frustrations, but they’ll likely get by.

What will be interesting to watch is how well they get by. Meeting the 75 percent mandate will be nothing like meeting the 100 percent mandate. With the economy bouncing back, and cargo volumes spiking, trying to screen an additional 25 percent will be a real test. And some shippers are not going to be happy about what they experience.

Which is why, of course, they should be calling TSA today to inquire about CCSP. Waiting until August will prove a costly mistake.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Congress, Politics & PR, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, International, Law Enforcement, Management & Administration, Supply Chain Security, counterterrorism | Comments

US Cargo Screening Deadline Looms For Airlines

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

US Cargo Screening Deadline Looms For Airlines – www.capital.gr

An imminent deadline for screening of all domestic U.S. cargo on passenger jets appears likely to trigger some bottlenecks and higher shipping costs, though freight-sector players are hopeful the disruptions will be minimal.

“There’s not going to be a meltdown in the supply chain” once the federal mandate takes effect Aug. 1, said Dave Brooks, president of the cargo division at AMR Corp.’s (AMR) American Airlines unit.

But Brooks said there may be “a few headaches” initially, and unprepared shippers could face delays.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, Supply Chain Security | Comments

Napolitano Resigns? Pelosi Raids ICE Headquarters? Really?

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Think you’ve heard it all? We beg to differ. For this special April Fools edition, we’ve collected recent news reports that the rest of the media somehow missed.

Napolitano Resigns: Favors Federal Penitentiary Over Congressional Hearings

Janet Napolitano resigned this morning as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. In a letter to President Obama, Napolitano cited on-going fatigue and frustration with managing one of the most complex government operations in the world. In her letter, an obviously agitated Napolitano scolded the President admonishing him, “Where’s the help you promised me?  Have you seen my workplace accommodations? What the hell!?”

As shocking as her unanticipated resignation is, it does not compare with the selection of her replacement. In an unprecedented leadership exchange facilitated by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Napolitano will be replaced by former NYPD Commissioner and one-time DHS Secretary nominee, Bernie Kerik. Napolitano in turn will serve the 4-year prison sentence that the recently convicted former police commissioner was due to start serving on May 17.

Security Debrief has learned that the highly unusual leadership swap was Napolitano’s idea. In a classified memo to her senior staff, obtained exclusively by Security Debrief, the former Arizona governor felt it would be more punishing to submit Kerik to her relentless schedule, appearing before more than eighty different Congressional committees, than for him to spend his time lifting weights in the prison gym yard.

In agreeing to switch places with Kerik in a federal penitentiary, Napolitano stated that “four years in prison would be a vacation compared to going to one more committee hearing answering the same stupid questions from every single member of Congress claiming jurisdiction over my department.”

No comment was immediately available from the Justice Department, the White House or Bernie Kerik on these breaking developments.

Upon her selection by President Obama in late 2008, Napolitano was heralded as a homeland security innovator familiar with security operations and border and immigration issues. Of late though, the pressure of one of the most demanding jobs in America became too much for her as she recently injured her foot kicking a junior member of DHS’ Legislative Affairs staff through a wall. The staffer had come to her office to deliver another binder of congressional hearing prep materials.

A press conference by DHS is anticipated some time later today.

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FEMA’s Fugate on Leave, Joins Reality TV Cast

In a shocking news conference at his downtown Washington headquarters, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate announced he was taking a three-month leave of absence to join the cast of the legendary reality show Survivor. Effective June 1, the start of Hurricane Season, Fugate will depart Washington for a coral reef island off the coast of Australia to compete for a $1,000,000 prize and subsequent invites to participate in lesser-known dance contest reality shows.

Joining him will be Edgar, an Eskimo spear fisherman; Sarah, an OMB Examiner; Stan, a garbage man from Milwaukee; Jimmy, a guy from somewhere in Arkansas; a butcher, baker and a candlestick maker to be named later and a guy name McGyver.

Before a shocked workforce, Fugate thundered, “It’s time to show the world how preparedness is really done. No more whiners and excuse-mongers who say they can’t do it because I’m going to show you how!”

Mark Burnett, Creator and Executive Producer of the hit CBS reality show, attended Fugate’s announcement and told reporters afterwards that the FEMA Administrator and his Survivor competitors would be taken from an airstrip in Guam in early June, joined together by one fastening belt and parachute and dropped out of the plane at 10,000 feet over the coral reef island.

In agreeing to join the cast, Fugate required that his appearance contract provide for 72 hours worth of water, food and batteries (with his name written in permanent marker on each item), as well as the entire ABBA and .38 Special music catalogue, all waiting for him when he parachutes in.

“Our audience has never seen anything like what Craig is going to give them this upcoming season,” offered Burnett before leaving for the airport.

In granting him permission for this unprecedented leave, DHS Secretary Napolitano advised Fugate: “Keep your clothes on.”

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Boeing Mystified over SBInet – Turns out, Not an Actual Net

On Wednesday, Boeing executives and engineers gathered in southern Arizona along the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss why one of the world’s largest aerospace companies was unable to achieve a high-tech answer to America’s border woes, despite billions of dollars in funding. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s recent redirection of funding for SBInet – the project to build a technology-based detection line along the southern U.S. border – left Boeing leaders wondering, “Where did we go wrong?”

After the Secretary’s decision, Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, demanded a personal demonstration of Boeing’s product. It took a team of six engineers to arrange the delicate technology. Removing a heavy tarp, the six each took hold of the advanced border solution – a giant fishing net.

“You hold one end like this,” said Walter Johnson, engineer, as he walked away from his peers. “And the others hold the other end, and you just stretch it out.”

“Seems reasonable,” said Albaugh. “But it’s a little small. Aren’t there 10,000 miles of border?”

“Yes, sir,” said Johnson. “We’re still making the net. This is only the prototype.”

During the demonstration, a family of soon-to-be-illegal-immigrants was spotted in the distance.

“Quick, quick, while the cameras are on, ” whispered Albaugh. “Napolitano doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Let’s test it!”

Engineers pulled the net as wide as they could, but despite the effort, the family changed directions and circumvented the Boeing crew by dozens of feet.

“Definitely needs to be longer,” said Albaugh.

When asked about his company’s seeming failure to achieve project goals, Boeing Chairman, President and CEO James McNerney said: “We build airplanes. What the f**k do we know about fences and cameras?”

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White House Outsources Personnel Shop to Washington Post

Earlier today, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced that effective close of business the Office of White House Personnel would be closed with all of its functions outsourced to the Washington Post.

Hailing the move as an extraordinary cost savings and efficiency measure, Gibbs related that the move would allow all of its prospective nominees and personnel selections to be better vetted than a Katie Couric broadcasted colonoscopy.

Joined at the podium by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Gibbs explained that since the Post had already torpedoed two of the administration’s nominees for TSA Administrator as well as uncovered countless embarrassing facts about other Obama personnel and previous White House officials, the move made sense from an economical and operational perspective.

Added Emanuel, “Let’s be f****** clear:  I’m sick and g******** tired of picking up the paper and reading something about some bastard we’ve nominated that I should have f****** known to begin with. What the f***!  If our d***head people can’t do this job, I figured let’s save some poor sonofab**** his job over at that miserable ‘organ‘ called the Washington Post, which is s**tcanning people left and right anyway. It’s either that, or we start sending around a lot of dead f***** fish in this town.”

Under the new personnel screening construct, prospective Obama appointees and Senate-confirmed nominees will now be forced to disclose all remotely possible embarrassing or revealing information, dating back to childhood, while new Personnel Chief, the Post’s Robert O’Harrow, goes through all of their financial holdings, school transcripts and NCAA brackets to determine fitness for office.

Known as “the Terminator” to his Post colleagues (and the “Effing Terminator” to Emanuel), for asking questions that sink nominees, O’Harrow merely made his fist into a gun and simulated firing when asked if he was excited about his new position.

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Pornographers Submit FOIA, Looking for “Best of Airport Scanners”

Pornography publishing pioneers Bob Guccione and Larry Flynt have joined legal forces and submitted a nationwide FOIA request to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) seeking access to millions of digital images taken by full body scanners at the nation’s airports.

Citing a desire to “see what undiscovered talents and assets might be out there,” Hustler publisher Flynt, once again wearing only an American flag, said it would only be natural for him to undertake such an action.

“I’ve fought my way all the way to the Supreme Court in the past to show the country what’s out there,” he said. “I’ve taken on the U.S. Congress during impeachment to show the country what really goes on behind closed doors in the halls of power. Hubba Hubba, you know? And now it’s time to see what’s going on over there at the TSA.”

In partnering with his pornography publishing rival, Penthouse’s Guccione, Flynt expressed satisfaction that despite legal protests by DHS and the Justice Department, they would prevail with their case.

Ever since the December 25 attempt to blow up a Detroit bound airliner, calls for increased passenger screening measures have grown immeasurably. In response, TSA sped up the deployment of full body scanning machines to enable Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) to see concealed weapons beneath passengers’ clothing. While enhancing the overall security operations at the country’s airports, TSOs also get to see digital images of buck-naked air travelers.

“When I heard about this technology, I just knew it was for me,” offered Guccione. “For years, I’ve looked for ways to find more attractive women for my readers to enjoy, and the fact that the government is providing it for free makes it all the better. I understand Hugh Hefner is even trying to get one for the Playboy Mansion.”

Acting TSA Administrator Gale Rossides was not amused by the FOIA submission.

“For months, I have told every Member of Congress, media outlet, reporter, civil liberties group and Kiwanis Club — anybody who would listen — that these digital images are not stored or archived in any way. They’re not even seen by the guy standing there at the machine.” said Rossides. “If I have to prove it, I’ll go through one of the machines myself on national television.”

Rossides offer was immediately rejected by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, the entire House Homeland Security Committee on a unanimous bipartisan vote, and President Obama, who threatened to issue an executive order prohibiting Rossides from going through with her threat. Flynt’s response was equally immediate: “Get the f*** out of here.”

After learning of an FOIA request from the two notorious pornography champions, Security Debrief reached out to three different TSOs who work with the body imagers at Dulles International in Virginia, Los Angeles International Airport in California, and Morgantown Regional Airport in West Virginia.

Citing confidentiality, the names of these TSOs have been changed to protect them from reprisals from their respective wives and girlfriends.

“Jimmy” who has worked at Dulles for nearly three years said, “It’s not all its cracked up to be.  You try looking at pictures of naked grandmas coming home from Vegas with fresh tattoos for six hours a day. I’m in therapy.”

Jimmy offered that he hoped to quit his job soon to become an advisor to First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign against obesity.

At LAX, “Oscar,” who has been a TSO since 2006, observed that silicone and collagen do show up separately on the images. “At first I thought these gals were trying to sneak explosive fluids onboard, but it was nothing like that. The secondary inspection though was pretty cool as I’m a pat-down type, and I do my job thoroughly.”

“Jethro” joined TSA at Morgantown Regional Airport in early 2010. Explaining that he was inspired to fight guys who light their underpants on fire and meet “hot women,” he expressed satisfaction with all he’s seen to date.

“You would not believe what people can pierce man… I mean seriously put a nail through.  It’s wicked.”

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Kings Dominion Unveils New Water Slide: “The Cheney”

Kings Dominion, the themed-amusement park located outside Richmond, Virginia, announced the opening of its newest attraction to its WaterWorks park. Called “the Cheney,” riders will be strapped to a fiberglass board with a bag over their heads, shoved backwards into a water flowing tube and propelled through 1,200 feet of winding pipe, all the while with a former CIA contractor shouting obscenities in their faces.

On hand for the announcement, the former U.S. Vice President said he was “humbled” by the unique honor.

“Presidents get libraries and monuments named after them, but this is something different,” said the former Vice President. “It’s something the whole family can enjoy and remember. I couldn’t be more pleased to have this recognition.”

Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, a prominent critic of the Bush Administration’s terrorism practices, also attended the unveiling, Noting Leahy’s presence, Cheney flashed a thumbs-up and told the senator to “go f*** yourself.”

Kings Dominion executives at the announcement offered that the Vice President’s spirited defense of waterboarding “inspired us in ways we could have never imagined.”

In a prepared statement, Kings Dominion Executive Vice President for Spastic Thrills, I. M. Hurling said, “After we got a hold of the declassified handbook on enhanced interrogation techniques, we knew we had to be on the cutting edge for our customers.”

The water ride’s designers explained that they had spent months perfecting the design and sequencing to ensure that each rider got the full “swooshing” effect without encountering any of the embarrassing swimsuit wedgies that happen with other water rides.

Hurling also retained Bush-Cheney era attorney John Yoo to draft a legal brief protecting the water park from any potential lawsuits.

“Waterboarding wasn’t torture then, and it’s not now,” noted Yoo. “For love the god, it’s entertainment.”

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Pelosi Raids Immigration Offices

Emboldened by the strong-arm tactics used to cram healthcare legislation through Congress, Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday led a gang of elderly members of Congress and youthful aides on a raid of the headquarters for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

During a perp walk of the entire ICE leadership, Pelosi held an impromptu news conference announcing, “Immigration agents will no longer terrorize our communities, arresting and deporting innocent illegal immigrants. Now we will terrorize them – bring on comprehensive immigration reform!” It is unclear why the Speaker used air quotes whenever she said “comprehensive immigration reform.”

As a frustrated Assistant Secretary John Morton passed in the perp line, he protested that Pelosi did not have the legal authority to arrest federal agents.

“She’s got all the authority she needs, you little Nazi,” shouted an adrenaline-laced Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois. “She’s the freaking Speaker of the House, and the Daily Kos loves her.”

Gutierrez is best remembered for his assertion in 2008 that the Bush Administration had put the “Gestapo agents at Homeland Security” in charge. It was never entirely clear, however, what they had been put in charge of.

The raid was executed in the early morning hours, just before daylight but right after the early political talk show circuits. Pandemonium broke out through the halls of ICE as congressmen wielding dangerously thick stacks of legislation broke into the offices of ICE agents shouting “Against the wall!” and “On your face!” – phrases taught to them by the Capitol Hill Police, according to sources who wished to remain anonymous due to a fear and loathing of Capitol Hill in general. The confusion during the raid was exacerbated by some of the more elderly House members, separated from their aides, who shouted “Get on my face” and “Let’s build a wall – it won’t cost a dime!”

Tensions nearly erupted into lethal violence in ICE’s Office of Investigations when a Mexican standoff occurred between a team of special agents hiding under their desks with ankle-strapped glocks and a threatening mob of legislative assistants pointing finely sharpened subpoenas.

In a display of calm leadership, Chief of Operations Alonzo Pena urged his agents to holster their weapons, asserting that nobody would get hurt and that there were laws protecting them from this kind of congressional over-reach. To which the legislative aides laughed and suggested that Pena contact Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and ask him about that. “And be sure to mention Reconciliation.”

Outside at her news conference, Pelosi played a repeating loop of her comments videotaped at a town hall declaring that ICE agents were un-American for enforcing the laws passed by Congress. “What kind of world would we live in if everybody took the laws we passed seriously?” she asked the crowd of reporters, most of whom nodded judiciously.

“That’s why we are going to prosecute these hatemongers s in the New York City courthouse, the exact same spot where 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed was to be prosecuted.”

Within the hour, Attorney General Eric Holder issued a statement stating that the trials of ICE agents would not be held in New York due to local concerns that such a concentrated collection of members of Congress would result in security concerns, over-regulation and massive new taxes.

As a result, the determined Speaker is currently considering legislation that would exchange ICE agents (or “un-American bullies,” as they are referred to in the language of her bill) with the terrorists in custody on Guantanamo Bay.

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EAGLE II Gets New Name, Other Changes Expected

In response to two days of less-than-complimentary comments from vendors attending EAGLE II Industry Day presentations, DHS has decided to change the name of the procurement to “JACK BAUER I” (Justifying Asinine Contracts Knowing Better And Unique Expertise Requires Intelligence)

“We were inspired by the recent re-branding of Comcast Cable to Xfinity and Blackwater to Xe,” said Soraya Correa, DHS Director of the Office of Procurement Operations. “Their reputation was almost as bad as ours, and by a simple name change Xfinity, as one example, has been able to fool most of their customers into believing they are getting something cool. Plus, we like the image 24’s Jack Bauer conveys on camera,” Correa explained.

After subjecting small business leaders and “unrestricted” large businesses to two days of obfuscation and contracting double-speak, DHS officials concluded that too many people actually understood the purpose of the EAGLE II concept, thereby necessitating a change in direction.

Kevin Boshears, DHS’ Director of Small and Disadvantaged Utilization, admitted that the Industry Day presentations had not “disadvantaged” a sufficient number of potential vendors and that a change of public perception was required.

“We decided that the name ‘EAGLE II’ was insufficiently robust, and it was easier to change the name acronym than to make substantive changes in the procurement,” Boshears said.

Citing FAR clauses that caused eyes to glaze over at an unprecedented rate, Boshears claimed that a 40 percent Small Business requirement and 6 percent Veteran Owned Small Business mandate would resolve conflicts between DHS and SBA goals in meeting statistical mandates. Audience members, including three sleep apnea-disabled individuals, sat in stunned silence while Boshears spoke.

Contacted after the Industry Day conferences, recently appointed DHS Under Secretary for Management Rafael Borras boasted that the EAGLE II name change would be indicative of the type of bold action he planned to take in his new position.

“If Comcast and Blackwater can divert public attention from their problems by coming up with a fancy new name, DHS has much to gain by changing the names of our questionable programs,” Borras said.

Although Borras would not confirm them, rumors abound throughout DHS hallways that other program name changes are being considered.

Current speculation is that SBInet will be renamed “LALA” (Look, Another Lost Alien); EINSTEIN II will be called “ALBERT” (Awfully Large Businesses Exhaust Routine Technologies); and E-VERIFY will be called “SKIPPY” (no idea what this stands for, but it sounds nice.)

Changes are still subject to OMB approval and publication in the Federal Register.

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Biden Laments, “Why is his longer?”

As the White House continues to deal with the fall-out from the recent off-color comments by Vice President Joe Biden at the signing of the Health Care legislation, it is now dealing with another embarrassing crisis from the one-time senior U.S. Senator from Delaware.

In reviewing recent video footage of a pre-Easter Egg Roll dress rehearsal, a visibly frustrated Biden is seen yelling towards his Secret Service detail, “Why is his longer? I’m a big f***ing deal!” while gesturing towards the motorcade of President Obama which had just left the White House complex for a speech at the Reagan Building.

The Vice President’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, is also seen on the video trying to console the angered Vice President, telling him that “size isn’t everything.”

In interviews with at least three different senior Administration officials, Security Debrief has learned that the Vice President has expressed his displeasure at the length of his motorcade when compared to that of the President’s. Of particular annoyance is the fact that the President has an ambulance as part of his motorcade, as well as two more black Suburbans and two buses for the press pool.

The Vice President’s displeasure increased further following the late March visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he learned that his motorcade was also given an ambulance, two additional Suburbans and a juicer.

In seeking to address the Vice President’s motorcade size concerns, Administration officials shared that the Secret Service was adding five new additional Bose sub-woofer sirens designed by Kanye West that would announce at high decibel levels in a continuous loop: “Head’s up, big effing deal coming through.”

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Border Security, Congress, Politics & PR, Critical Infrastructure, Homeland Security & the Internet; Gov't 2.0, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, Immigration & Visa Policy, Intelligence, International, Law Enforcement, Management & Administration, Maritime & Seaport Security, Science & Technology, Supply Chain Security, counterterrorism | Comments

Cyber Threat Vectors: Are we looking at them all?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

We often talk about cyber threats in different ways. Some speak of them based on who the bad guys are: hackers, terrorists, cyber criminals or nation states. Others use the bad guys’ technical approach as a means to define them: SQL injection, Memory Scrappers, DDoS Attacks, etc.

A third way, one based on distance from targets, was used by Steven Chabinsky of the FBI recently in several venues. I think it adds to the depth of our analysis, and bring to the fore some key areas that are often overlooked.

The types of threats can be listed in four categories based on their distance from intended targets. The one that gets the most attention, indeed, the one that comes to many people’s minds when you say cyber threat, is the Remote Threat. This comes from afar through internet connections. It seems the most sophisticated and the most dangerous. Perhaps, but not necessarily.

Next comes the Proximate Threat. This is a relatively new danger, or at least, new to to the broader public. So much of our cyber activity today has gone wireless that the bad guys have been given a new way to exploit us. By capturing wireless signals, our enemies can not only clone smart phones and steal laptops, but they can enter enterprise networks and systems. It is no longer such a sophisticated task to pluck data out of the air. An example of this was the use of a $39.99 program used to download live Predator Drone camera feeds in Iraq and Afghanistan. They can do it here too.

Better known, and thought to be the biggest threat (by volume anyway), is the Insider Threat. This comes in several forms. The insider could be a full scale agent planted in an organization by a hostile nation, a business competitor or a criminal organization. They can steal, spy or destroy data. The insider could be a disgruntled employee who decides to hurt their organization by deliberate sabotage or by selling insider knowledge and access. The most common insider threat comes from your best employees. It is the simple mistake, the short cut around proper procedure for the sake of speed, or lack of awareness and training. This opens up networks to all sorts of mischief.

A huge threat that is actually multi-distance, and therefore a critical one, is the supply Chain Threat. Some people think that all we need to do is stop building things outside the United States and this one will stop. This shows a complete lack of understanding of the complexity of this threat. Supply Chain threats affect hardware, software and peripherals, even innocuous products like digital picture frames. An enemy could exploit the supply chain at five different parts of the process. Clearly in design, malware and backdoors can be baked into the product. Even with a clean design, dangers can be placed in the product during manufacture, the second vulnerability. If you get through the design and manufacture phases, you have worldwide transport during which your nice safe items can be diddled and made into digital time bombs. You still have two to go! In installation, bad guys can intervene again, and if you make it all the way through these four steps, there is always maintenance that must occur, and this gives them another set of opportunities to act malevolently.

All of these actions can be highly targeted or a metaphoric shotgun blast that does not care who it hits. I am not playing Chicken Little, but before we can mitigate these threats, we must make everyone in our organizations, from the CEO to the junior work force, understand them. This is a task in which we are much better than we have been in the past, but still not nearly as good as we need to be.

Posted in Critical Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Homeland Security & the Internet; Gov't 2.0, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, Law Enforcement, Management & Administration, Science & Technology, Supply Chain Security, counterterrorism | Comments

U.K. shipper complies with “known shipper” requirements by installing Avigilon surveillance system

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

U.K. shipper complies with “known shipper” requirements by installing Avigilon surveillance system – Homeland Security Newswire

By August this year, 100 percent of cargo on U.S. passenger planes will have to be screened. Most of the screening — and the safe warehousing and delivery of the screened goods — will be handled not by the government, but by private shippers who, if they comply with government regulations, will be certified as “safe shipper” (or “known shippers,” as they are called in some countries). The goods delivered to airports by these safe shippers will be subjected to less rigorous — and, hence, speedier — security checks. Shippers around the world thus find it in their interest to undertake security measures recommended by their government.

Here is a case in point. Avigilon, a player in the high definition (HD) and megapixel video surveillance field, the other day announced that Airberg, the U.K.’s specialist food exporter, has deployed the Avigilon HD Surveillance System to comply with government-regulated security requirements. “By deploying Avigilon’s advanced, high definition surveillance system that captures even the smallest detail, we can confidently achieve ‘known shipper’ status, eliminating the inconvenience and expense of having our cargo checked every time we ship goods by air, a savings of more than £700,000 each year,” said Tony Coates, sales director and co-owner at Airberg. “With the Avigilon HD Surveillance System in place, we can also protect our facility from theft and vandalism, minimize the loss and damage of goods, and ensure the safety of our employees.”

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Critical Infrastructure, International, Management & Administration, Science & Technology, Supply Chain Security, counterterrorism | Comments

Lessons from the Napolitano Budget Hearings

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Someone needs to buy Janet Napolitano a beer.  Or at least give her a double of whatever she wants.  After two consecutive days on Capitol Hill testifying in front of four different Congressional Committees, she’s earned it. In defending the Administration’s proposed 2011 budget, she took on a whole set of bipartisan punches and barbs from an array of political players who weren’t exactly happy with what she was trying to sell them.

While affording her the professional respect that she and her office deserves, expressing their thanks for her appearance before the respective Committees, and for her service to the nation, Congressional Members gave her a range of wagging fingers, raised voices, sneers, wide-eyed stairs, sighs and other behaviors that moms and grade school teachers would be annoyed at. This is of course the expected norm for any budget hearing, or for that matter, any other Congressional hearing for a government official. Congress is supposed to ask tough questions. The Members of the 111th Congress lived up to that charge, but their questions and often-rambling soliloquies leading up to the actual questions revealed a lot. Here’s what we learned:

From a bipartisan perspective:

  • Proposed personnel cuts to the U.S. Coast Guard and Border Patrol (since amended by the Administration) were met with universal disdain;
  • The elimination and consolidation of a number of existing grant programs was an absolute non-starter for almost all of them; and,
  • The Administration’s proposal for $200M in the DHS budget to pay for terror trials in the United States is a “no way in hell” option.

From a Majority perspective:

  • There was incredible frustration expressed by the Majority Democrats that the Administration was not taking the legislated 100 percent Cargo Screening Mandate more seriously. In fact, you might even go as far to say that they felt Sec. Napolitano was blowing it off in favor of her own prescribed remedies.
  • Almost equally as frustrated were senior Democrats (Rep. Nita Lowey [D-NY] and Rep. Bennie Thompson [D-MS] who the Administration had not moved forward on implementing collective bargaining for screeners at TSA. I thought the admonition by House Homeland Chairman Thompson to Sec. Napolitano that “you know we voted on this? Don’t you?!” was very telling. Probably more telling was the lack of a definitive answer by the Secretary in responding to him on whether the Administration would allow collective bargaining to actually go forward. [I bet the unions are going nuts on that one.]
  • They also weren’t particularly thrilled to see that contractors outnumbered civil servants at DHS either. [Why this fact is considered shocking is beyond me.  It’s been that way for years.]

From a Minority perspective:

  • The Republicans stressed their objections about real (or perceived) cuts to border patrol and U.S. Coast Guard operations or any other measure they felt could leave their own Districts (or the nation) vulnerable to attack or disaster.
  • They also weren’t too happy to see the proposed numbers for personnel number increases to DHS’ headquarters operations either. While the Obama Administration is seeking to improve the number of people working in its management operations to improve its procurement and other operations, the GOP members saw an easy target to blast at the expense of proposed cuts to the Department’s operational elements.

Final Observation

While the subject of redundant, excessive and rampant Congressional oversight of DHS has been long raised in individual speeches by some members of Congress, Sec. Napolitano (her predecessors), 9/11 Commissioners, reporters, bloggers and others, these four hearings started to show the bubbling frustration that this issue is presenting.

While Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, upbraided Sec. Napolitano for the poor turnaround that DHS had given to reports that Congress wanted, she admirably defended her Department by sharing the eye-popping numbers they were asking for.

Later in the same afternoon, another Republican, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), asked her to give the issue of consolidating homeland security oversight by Congress a “political lift” and encouraged her to speak to House Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid about the subject.  The Secretary responded that the Administration had raised the issue before and would continue to do so. Rep. Rogers then pressed if she had spoken to the President about the subject. She shared that she had but went no further than acknowledging the conversation.

This is the first I can recall that the Secretary has mentioned this subject and the President’s name in the same sentence. We can only hope that at some point, he will back up Sec. Napolitano and deliver on completing all of the 9/11 Commission recommendations.

Until then, I hope someone buys her a beer.  She earned it this week.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Border Security, Congress, Politics & PR, Critical Infrastructure, Emergency Preparedness & Response, Management & Administration, Science & Technology, Supply Chain Security, counterterrorism | Comments

Napolitano Takes Bipartisan Hits on Border Budget Proposals

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Napolitano Takes Bipartisan Hits on Border Budget Proposals – CQ Homeland Security

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano defended the border security aspects of President Obama’s fiscal 2011 budget request against criticism from the right and left Thursday.

Democrats at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing concentrated on efforts to prevent dangerous materials from entering the county, while Republicans tended to focus on keeping out dangerous people.

Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., raised concerns about the inability of the department to implement provisions of the Sept. 11 commission recommendations (PL 110-53) that mandated the screening of all maritime cargo entering the country.

Like her predecessor, former Secretary Michael Chertoff, Napolitano has said the department cannot meet the statutory deadline of 2012 for screening 100 percent of the shipping containers. Thompson said that belief appeared to be reflected in a greater than 40 percent decrease in maritime cargo-screening operations funding the fiscal 2011 budget request.

Napolitano said the administration’s thinking had evolved on the issue.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Border Security, Congress, Politics & PR, Management & Administration, Maritime & Seaport Security, Supply Chain Security, counterterrorism | Comments

Smiths Detection, Lufthansa Cargo & Covenant Team up to Provide All-in-One Air Cargo Solution

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Smiths Detection, Lufthansa Cargo & Covenant Team up to Provide All-in-One Air Cargo Solution – Benzinga

Smiths Detection, Lufthansa Cargo and Covenant Aviation Security, LLC, will provide an all-in-one TSA-approved security solution for the freight forwarding, air cargo shipping and logistics industry in the United States. This was announced today prior to the second Lufthansa Cargo Security Conference in East Meadow, N.Y.

With more than 4,000 employees combined and facilities strategically located throughout the U.S., the partnership will provide both large and small freight forwarders and shippers with an array of air cargo solutions. These services, which include ground handling, security screening and equipment, warehousing, training and transportation, will enable shippers and forwarders to meet TSA screening mandates with this one-stop supply chain and air cargo security offering.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, Law Enforcement, Supply Chain Security | Comments

Getting Smart about the Smart Grid

Monday, January 18th, 2010

By Justin Hienz
Adfero Group

Perhaps America’s most critical infrastructure is its national electrical grid. It has served us well to this point, supporting all our grandiose and astounding technological innovations. But the grid is getting old, and it doesn’t keep up with our innovations (and electronic appetites) as well as it should. So, we’re upgrading – to a Smart Grid.

Smart Grid, you say? Smart indeed, and we need it. While the national power system ages, we continue to charge into the technological future – and this requires power – lots of it. Our increasing power needs must be delivered when and where we want it with the flip of a switch. Moreover, we need our power intake to be consistent, resilient and less vulnerable to interruptions, be they natural or human-caused.

Here’s why. When the power goes out, we lose billions with a B – specifically, even with the power system 99.97 percent reliable, power outages cost $150 billion a year. What’s worse, if the power is out, we’re less able to protect our infrastructure and population, particularly as we become more reliant on computer systems and surveillance technologies. And if even one person has to miss the Real Housewives of Orange County, by God that’s an infringement on our liberty! Whatever we want, whenever we want it. That’s capitalism to a T.

The Smart Grid will help make this possible. It decentralizes power generation, increases transmission and allows the grid to interact with “smart” appliances based on consumer desires – smart, because advanced computer systems will better distribute power based on pre-determined and perceived needs. This makes it cheaper, more efficient and less likely to go on the fritz.

The grid also incorporates alternative fuel sources, such as wind and solar energy. Ah, green. Mother Nature will be pleased. Terrorists will not be, as decentralized production and distribution makes it much harder for attacks to create any significant or lasting impact.

And so the other shoe drops: What does the Smart Grid have to do with homeland security?

Everything.

I don’t claim to be an expert on the Smart Grid, but after reading much of what information is openly available, it is clear that the Grid touches on every aspect of homeland security. That’s intuitive because technology has become a central aspect of our national security. Yet, despite this, there is not the kind of widespread discussion on how to improve Smart Grid security – the kind we need if we’re going to keep the Grid safe.

We must be constantly aware that the United States without power is like a battleship without fuel. The guns might work, but for the most part, we’re dead in the water. Aviation and maritime security are important but impossible without constant, secure power – no screening technologies, no lights, no alarms. Supply chain security is essential to our continued prosperity – but once again, no power, no chain. Cyber security and electronic surveillance technology is a no-brainer, but what about waste management, clean water, heating and air conditioning, and food refrigeration? Homeland security isn’t only about a war on terror. There are many elements to our critical infrastructure that rely on a constant supply of power, and if the Smart Grid isn’t tough enough to withstand all threats, we’re in for a world of hurt.

The time to improve Smart Grid security is now, while we are developing it. The information is readily available (some would say too available, as al Qaeda and other American enemies use open-source information to do us harm). So before the doors of information close, and only those with clearance can keep up with the rapid developments, let’s focus our collective efforts on digesting the wealth of information available. Let’s make Smart Grid debates and improvements as key an element of our homeland security analysis as any other (e.g., aviation security). To be sure, there are expert voices sounding off, but in my opinion, given the importance of the Smart Grid, there are not nearly enough.

This isn’t some future plan getting dusty in the back room. It’s happening right now. Parts of the grid have already been built and are operating in California. President Obama pushed the development full-steam ahead with $4.5 billion from the 2009 economic stimulus money dedicated specifically to fast track Smart Grid technology development. Piece by piece, the Smart Grid is coming together. It deserves more expert attention. Otherwise, lights out.

Justin Hienz is a Senior Account Executive at Adfero Group, working with the firm’s Homeland Security practice. He is also assistant editor of Security Debrief.

Posted in Critical Infrastructure, Homeland Security Industry & Private Sector, Management & Administration, Maritime & Seaport Security, Private and Physical Security, Science & Technology, Supply Chain Security | Comments

Freight forwarders urge TSA to create security standards for air cargo

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Freight forwarders urge TSA to create security standards | Homeland Security News Wire

A recent DHS inspector general report highlighted weaknesses in TSA’s inspection of air cargo, and mad six recommendation for improvement; professional forwarders agree, but also say that the inspection process should be made more transparent and that inspectors should communicate with forwarders more openly

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Science & Technology, Supply Chain Security | Comments

Three-month extension in pipeline for FAA

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Three-month extension in pipeline for FAA – Things With Wings

I’m hearing some very strong rumors that the Senate is proposing another three-month extension to FAA’s operating authority. This is significant for a number of reasons, particularly because it’s the clearest signal yet that a full reauthorization bill is not going to happen this year – despite several lawmakers and industry groups saying recently that passage before yearend was vital.

The current extension expires Dec. 31, so a further one would take us through the end of March. This would be the eighth extension to FAA’s operating authority since the last one expired about two years ago. And this may not even be the last – somebody pointed out to me that the first part of 2010 will be busy for Congress and the administration, so its very likely that we’ll need another extension at least into the summer.

Posted in Aviation and airport security, Management & Administration, Supply Chain Security | Comments

New bridge opens between New Brunswick, U.S.

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

New bridge opens between New Brunswick, U.S. – CBC News

A new border bridge opened between St. Stephen, N.B., and Calais, Maine, on Monday, with assurances from border officials that it will end long lineups.

The crossing, which was built mainly to speed up truck crossings over the St. Croix River, sprawls across almost 22 hectares of eastern Maine countryside.

There are three lanes to process commercial trucks with drive-through cargo-scanning technology, as well as six bays, allowing cargo to be unloaded, examined and reloaded quickly.

Posted in Border Security, Critical Infrastructure, International, Law Enforcement, Management & Administration, Science & Technology, Smuggling, Supply Chain Security | Comments

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