SaddleBrooke Republican Club » terrorism

The Reality of Maritime Cargo Security: 100 Percent Scanning Not the Answer

Jessica Zuckerman — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:03:06 +0000

It sounds like a scene from 24: A terrorist group gets a hold of a nuclear bomb, places it in a cargo container, watches it being loaded on a tanker vessel, and waits for it to make the journey across the Atlantic to the U.S. It may arrive in any number of U.S. ports—say New York, New Orleans, or Baltimore. When it reaches its destination, someone gives the signal. Bam!—the U.S. is sent into a state of panic. It may sound a bit far-fetched, probably because it is. Why would … More

Alliance at Work: Philippine Military Kills Southeast Asia Terrorist Leader

Robert Warshaw — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:08:17 +0000

According to Associated Press reports today, the Philippine military has killed Southeast Asia’s most-wanted terrorist on Thursday. With U.S. support, two OV-10 aircraft bombed a terrorist stronghold, comprising militants from the al-Qaeda-affiliated groups Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). When the dust settled, Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, known by his nom-de-guerre “Marwan,” was among the rubble, along with two senior leaders of Abu Sayyaf and JI. This is a big victory for the Philippine military and its U.S. trainers. In 2002, the U.S. military deployed 600 non-combat counterinsurgency specialists … More

Latest Intelligence Assessment: Iran Poised to Target U.S. Homeland

Ray Walser — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:58:11 +0000

Appearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on January 31, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James R. Clapper warned that the “2011 plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. shows that some Iranian officials—probably including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—have changed their calculus and are now more willing to conduct an attack in the U.S. in response to real or perceived U.S. actions that threaten the regime.” In October, U.S. officials accused Iran of plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington with hired assassins from a Mexican … More

A Scary Thought: Do We Really Need “If You See Something, Say Something?”

John Mueller — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:40:19 +0000

By John Mueller

At the National Sheriffs’ Association Conference in Washington last week, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano noted that riders on the DC Metro system can hear her voice repeatedly promoting her department’s “If You See Something, Say Something” terrorism hotline campaign. “That’s a scary thought,” she suggested. Even scarier to me is the campaign itself. It [...]

A Scary Thought: Do We Really Need “If You See Something, Say Something?” is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

Preventing Terrorism Requires Collaborative Relationship Between Federal and Local Resources

Scott Erickson — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:00:21 +0000

Earlier this month, Sami Osmakac, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in the former Yugoslavia, was arrested near Tampa, Florida, after federal officials uncovered his plan to unleash terrorism upon the United States. After receiving an anonymous tip, undercover FBI agents met with Osmakac and learned the details of his terror plot. Osmakac described his intentions of setting off car bombs in crowded areas throughout Tampa, following such explosions with high-powered assault weapons attacks against the public. “I want to do something terrifying, like one day, one night, something’s going to … More

Scribecast: Rep. Frank Wolf Discusses Political and Religious Rights

Lachlan Markay — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:32:24 +0000

With economic issues dominating the domestic political agenda and much of our foreign policy focused on combating terrorism, systematic violations of political and religious rights by some of the world’s most tyrannical regimes receive less attention than perhaps they should. Rep. Frank Wolf, a Republican representing Virginia’s 5th District, is out to rectify that shortcoming. His new book, “Prisoner of Conscience: One Man’s Crusade for Global Human and Religious Rights,” discusses his work to champion human rights across the world, and expose the gross violations he has come across in … More

Morning Bell: Guantanamo Ten Years Later

Mike Brownfield — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:47:22 +0000

His plan was to rip apart nightclubs with explosives, unleash a wave of destruction on bridges, and open fire on police officers–all in sunny Florida. This was the murderous intent of Sami Osmakac, 25, an American citizen from the former Yugoslavia who was determined to spill blood, foment destruction, and bring terror to the United States all in the name of Allah. Fortunately, undercover FBI agents thwarted his efforts, making this the 44th foiled terrorist plot against America. Osmakac’s plot is a not-so-subtle reminder that terrorists lurk not only in … More

Mueller Right; Terror Experts Wrong

Jim Harper — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:08:21 +0000

By Jim Harper

John Mueller was right and everyone else was wrong. (Well, not everyone else…) That’s Cato senior fellow John Mueller. He noted on the National Interest blog last week that 79 per cent of top terrorism experts queried in 2006 thought it was likely or certain that there would be another major terrorist attack in the [...]

Mueller Right; Terror Experts Wrong is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

Libyan Islamists Gaining Strength

James Phillips — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:25:11 +0000

Although Libya has rid itself of the Muammar Qadhafi regime, it faces an uncertain future endangered by radical Islamist factions, warring militia commanders, tribal rivalries, a lack of democratic traditions, and a civil society ravaged by decades of authoritarian rule. Last week, two militias clashed violently in a turf war in Tripoli, the Libyan capital. Catherine Herridge, the chief intelligence correspondent for Fox News, noted the rise of Libyan Islamists in an article earlier last week. She cited a recent report by Kronos, LLC, that assessed the prominent role in … More

Obama’s New Defense Strategy: Less of the Same

Mackenzie Eaglen — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:17:14 +0000

The President traveled across the river to the Pentagon today to preview a new defense strategy to chase down falling defense budgets. Obama was quick to declare that the “tide of war” is receding for the United States and our military. But what he left out is that it is not always up to us when we engage in conflict or respond to terrorism here at home or prevent hostilities from getting worse in key oil shipping lanes, for example. Just because Washington announces truth does not mean that it … More