Keeping Security in Shape

Aviation Security

Apparently people are being rubbed the wrong way when confronted with airport security. The TSA is turning into such a behemoth of under trained government employees, we might have better luck with the Keystone Cops. Unfortunately the chances that a government operated aviation security entity will execute their mission with the highest degree of competence is slim and none. Though much as been talked about the possibility of replicating Israel's success, it will be impossible to implement in the US. Here's three short reasons why:

1. Selection process for screeners: Serve in the military or a police unit, pass a background test, pass a psychometric test, pass multiple interviews, speak multiple languages, demonstrate a capability to identify suspcious behaviors, and the training process and probationary period. Imagine if the TSA screeners had to meet such criteria.

2. Armed security - must previously have served in a field combat/police unit, command experience in military or police unit, background test, interview process, psychometric test, fitness test, plus depending on the particular security unit, an intensive training and weapons course and probationary period. Though US police and federal authorities are the only armed security at US Airports, their mission is reactive not pro-active.

3. For the TSA to hire such individuals that possess the intelligence, social, cultural, and physical skill sets required for either of the jobs, they will have to pay such high salaries so that potential candidates won't apply their skills in other careers.

Israel has the advantage of getting veterans of the IDF at 21 or 22 years of age. Your general security screener or protective agent, will work for a few years while pursuing a college degree. Then focus on a career of their choosing, few continue on within the security administration. There are always fresh highly trained candidates available.

Since hiring thousands of individuals with the ability to identify suspicious behaviors will be too expensive, the TSA instructs its minions to look for explosives only. The TSA selection process leaves a lot to be desired.

US State Department's Office of the Coordinator for Counter Terrorism

A lot goes on at the US State Department from consular operations to terrorism investigations. The Office of the Coordinator of Counter Terrorism aggregates all sorts of data on top of forging diplomatic relations with US allies in the fight against terrorism. From their website:

Led by Ambassador-at-Large Daniel Benjamin, the primary mission of the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT) is to forge partnerships with non-state actors, multilateral organizations, and foreign governments to advance the counterterrorism objectives and national security of the United States.  Working with our U.S. Government counterterrorism team, S/CT takes a leading role in developing coordinated strategies to defeat terrorists abroad and in securing the cooperation of international partners.

Like with any government agency, there are always agendas of politicians that can skew a true assessment of the threat of terrorism.

The Dubai Assassination - A False Flag Operation?

Dear Friends,
 The recent fall out over the assassination of Mahmoud al- Mabhouh has much of the world looking at the Israeli government as being behind this action. Though a dead al-Mabhouh would impede Hamas' ability at acquiring arms via Iran and other countries, a positive development for Israel, there were too many logistical and tactical errors committed by the "assassination unit" that defies the belief that the Mossad is responsible.

1. Tradecraft (clandestine operational techniques).
A. Identities ,if the Israeli government were going to assassinate al-Mabhouh, the identities used would be from people with no connection to Israel in the first place. Why risk any discovery and having the identities of real people on fake passports go back to Israel?

B. Passports, history has dictated that using passports from countries like Canada or New Zealand in covert operations are safer because if an operation is exposed, there is no major political fallout from these two countries. England, France, and Germany are the most powerful countries in the European Union. To use these European passports is not good tradecraft but does show chutzpah if Israel was in fact behind the operation.

C. Tactical Operation Plan, Though the assassination was a success for lack of a better word, the attention to detail in terms of being compromised by video surveillance was lacking. Based on the CCTV footage released, a number of  "operatives" look in to the cameras directly. Why be so obvious, except if to draw attention to one's self? If I am a government agency planning to covertly kill or capture a wanted individual in a hotel, I would first need to know everything that could compromise my operation including how many security officers are deployed by the hotel and by my target, the presence of hotel staff, and the specific elements of the security technology deployed. It is not just enough knowing the number and locations of surveillance cameras, but it is key to know the make and manufacturer of the video, identity, and access control systems used, so the full capability of the security measures at the hotel are made aware to the operatives. 

D. Place of Assassination, though there was a benefit to killing al-Mabhouh in a hotel - his body was concealed for several hours, why perpetrate this act in an environment covered by dozens of surveillance cameras? The most successful assassination attempts in the past have occurred while the victim is in transit - either walking or driving. But even if the "hit" were to be perpetrated outside, Dubai is not Beirut, much money was invested in the infrastructure including hundreds of exterior security cameras. Dubai is an international destination of the United Arab Emirates, ironically one of the few Arab countries that have a more open relationship with Israel, why risk killing al-Mabhouh in Dubai and not elsewhere?
 

2. The Assassination Squad The participants in the assassination, may have assumed that they were working for Israeli intelligence, but their controllers could have been from Fatah, hence a false flag operation. By using the names of real Israeli citizens on fake passports, any investigation into al-Mabhouh's death would lead to Israel as well as much condemnation from Europe. If the members of the hit team were or will be captured, and it is is a false flag operation; the operatives would say that they were working for Israel. The Israeli intelligence services deploys some of the most sophisticated means of technical surveillance in the world plus has dozens of human assets of Arab descent who are trained to infiltrate and operate in Arab countries and territories, why fly in so many Europeans? The recent arrest of former Fatah officials may bring to light the full scope of the operation.

3. Dubai's Security Technology The advancements in information systems have made it more challenging for individuals to falsify their identities and conceal their international travel records. Definitely a challenge to those launching covert operations for both governments and terrorist groups. What I find highly ironic about the statements by the U.A.E. is the focus on their use of video analytics and biometric technology. The cause of the irony is that both of these technologies have been pioneered and developed in Israel. Many facial recognition and video analytic software applications that are developed in Israel get sold to larger manufacturers who embed the technology within their own video surveillance products. It would not surprise me if some of this cutting edge technology that was conceptualized and developed in Israel; is used in service in Dubai, a territory that is known to purchase state of the art technology. If the Israeli government was responsible for this operation, it is then quite embarrassing that agents were exposed by Israeli designed technologies.

4. Fallout Who would benefit the most from al-Mabhouh dead and with the blame focused on Israel?
 
Answer: Fatah/Palestinian Authority (Formerly the PLO). A less powerful Hamas, will help Fatah in regaining its foothold in Gaza and in the "Arab" street in general.  Fatah has the ability to steal ID's from Israeli citizens due to so many Palestinians having access to Israel plus homegrown proficiencies in cyber warfare. Fatah also has over 45 years experience in launching international terrorist operations which include recruiting (terrorists, surveillance, and support teams). Fatah has worked in the past (mostly in the 70's and 80's with well known European terrorist groups like the IRA (Northern Ireland) and the Baader Meinhoff Gang (Germany) and may still have relationships with former Intelligence officers from former Soviet and East Bloc countries. There is no reason to doubt that Fatah could have received help from outside intelligence professionals in putting the whole operation together. What other entity gets mileage out of al-Mabhouh dead and blame on Israel - only Fatah.

Israel On some level al-Mabhouh's death is a welcome development but it could have been potentially beneficial if al-Mabhouh was kept alive. If the Israeli intelligence services were able to track al'Mabhouh's movements and communications, it would make sense to keep al-Mabhouh spending Hamas' money and resources on weapons and then Israel could capture weapon shipments at sea or present proof to the UN or other authorities that Iran or other groups are sending arms to Hamas. Given that there is a high degree of compartmentalization within any intelligence service, (meaning information and resources are not shared and kept secure between members of the same agency) in the immediate aftermath of al-Mabhouh's death, it is conceivable that many Israeli intelligence and special operation figures may have believed that Israel was involved in the operation. However, with the CCTV video footage, and poor tradecraft demonstrated, I am sure many security and intelligence professionals within Israel may arrive to the hypothesis that a false flag operation occurred. In the meantime, Israel's enemies may start to think twice about how secure their organizations are (if Israel was responsible that is), so why should the Israeli government say anything to the contrary. But conversely, the European countries are quite mad at Israel right now. Another possible reason for the Israeli government's silence is the drop in confidence of the government, by Israeli citizens that would occur if news came to light that Fatah was indeed able to steal Israeli identities.

The above is just my interpretation of what could be the back story in Dubai based on the circumstantial evidence released by the U.A.E. and my own professional experiences and knowledge about tactical intelligence operations.

How Many Signs of Terrorism Activity Can There Be?

Recently the DHS, in cooperation with the Colorado Office of Homeland Security, has released an instructional video about the 8 signs of Terrrorism, with the purpose of instructing viewers on what to look for when an act of terrorism is being planned. Just a few years ago, the DHS in cooperation with the Illinois Office of Homeland Security released an instructional video about the 7 signs of terrorism planning.

I am waiting for the folks from Illinois to up the ante and say in fact that there are 9 signs of terrorsm planning and that Colorado is behind the times.

 

 

In all seriousness, dedicated terorist organization learn to adapt to out maneuver anti-terrorist methods. Knowing that terrorist groups will eventually expoit a weakness, the goal of anti-terrorism should be to delay the time it takes for terrorists to find a solution to our defenses.

Keeping You Safe

The Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) has been around since 1980. The first JTTF unit was made up of agents and officers from the FBI and the New York Police Department. Since then JTTF has developed into a quasi agency of its own spread out through the United States and now incorporating other local, state, and federal law enforcement and security agencies.

The JTTF is more investigatory in scope than protective. The JTTF is an intelligence gathering entity and does well to disseminate key information to the appropriate enforcement agencies. It remains to be seen if the Department of Homeland Security with its Regional Terrorism Threat Assessment Centers will be a duplication in efforts or not. My take is that the JTTF will continue to run intelligence operations while RTTACs will provide an analysis of terrorism threats to local and regional entities.