International Security Updates

Two U.S. ICE Agents Shot in Mexico

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:03:31 -0500

Two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents assigned to the ICE Attache office in Mexico City were shot in the line of duty while driving between Mexico City and Monterrey by unknown assailants on Tuesday (2/15). One of the agents died from his wounds, while the other was in stable condition, according to a joint statement made last night by ICE and DHS.

Solar Flares Could Disrupt Satellites, Radios, Power Grids

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:02:34 -0500

The sun on Monday night (U.S. East Coast time) unleashed its strongest solar flare in four years. It was one of three powerful flares in a three-day period. Now the waves of charged particles from these flares are expected to reach Earth’s atmosphere over the next few days, and scientists are warning that radio and satellite communications could be disrupted, and perhaps more alarmingly power grids could be affected and even damaged.

South Pacific Cyclone Season Alert from U.S. State Department

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:49:43 -0500

The U.S. State Department on December 23 issued a Travel Alert warning about the ongoing threat of cyclones originating in the South Pacific region during the active December - April timeframe. The alert covers travel to Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, as well as the territories of French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna islands.
The State Department warns about possible post storm security threats and dangerous conditions, and urges U.S. citizens in the region to monitor local weather reports and take other appropriate action as needed.

INDIAN OCEAN DECLARED A WAR ZONE

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:39:27 -0500

The entire Indian Ocean has been declared a war zone effective December 16, 2010 by the Joint War Committee (JWC)!

JWC cites the ever increasing piracy activities across the Indian Ocean, beyond the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Eden, which the influential body had earlier declared a war zone in their latest advisory.

Following the declaration, ship owners have raised freight premiums by more than 100%. Freight premiums now stand at an average of 30 USD per tonne of cargo up from the previous average of 15 USD per tonne. Marine insurance premiums have also gone up.

This declaration means that the cost of shipping all goods including petroleum products across the Indian Ocean will increase further as ship owners incur additional costs related to the significant voyage deviation off the East African coastline as well as hiring of private armed protection.

Further, ship owners who have in the past been reluctant to send their vessels on assignments across the piracy prone Indian Ocean waters are expressing even more reluctance now.

All these sequence of events makes the cost of doing business extremely expensive.

For the insurance companies, the risks are much higher and the increase in premiums is justified.

Polio Emergency in Central Africa

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 11:34:17 -0500

Republic of the Congo — Beginning Friday, Nov 12, an emergency polio vaccination program beings in the Republic of Congo, and parts of neighboring Angola and DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). According to what Congo health officials have reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) as of Nov 9 there were at least 185 confirmed cases of polio and 85 deaths in the last six weeks.

Travel Alert - Haiti

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:56:27 -0400

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens there is a high probability that Tropical Storm Tomas may bring tropical storm force winds and heavy rains to Haiti later this week. While the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has downgraded Tomas from a category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm, NHC reports Tomas could regain strength as it moves west. The NHC tracking model shows Tomas turning north toward Haiti by the end of this week; Haiti could begin to feel effects of the storm, such as powerful winds and heavy rain, by November 4. A Travel Warning issued by the U.S. Department of State on June 24, 2010 is still in effect and advises U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Haiti due to limited infrastructure and access to basic services. Even storms that do not reach hurricane strength have caused widespread damage and loss of life in Haiti in recent years. U.S. citizens who nevertheless plan travel to Haiti should defer travel until Tropical Storm Tomas has passed. This Travel Alert expires on November 10, 2010.

Pirates Anchor Hijacked Tanker Off Somali Coast

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:54:13 -0400

Somalia — The recently hijacked Panama-flagged MV POLAR is now anchored off the coast of Somalia in the vicinity of the town of Hobyo, according to the EU anti-piracy force in the region. Somali pirates seized the Liberian-owned tanker on October 30 while it was about 580 nautical miles east of Socotra island. The ship is carrying a crew of 24.

Pirates Hijack Liberian Tanker Ship

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:53:00 -0400

Somalia — The EU anti-piracy force (EUNAVFOR) operating in the Somali basin confirms that overnight last night pirates seized the Liberian-owned MV POLAR about 500 nautical miles east of the island of Socotra. It isn’t clear what if anything the Panama-flagged tanker is carrying. It has a crew of 24.

U.S. and UK Warn of Terror Threat in Philippines

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:50:33 -0400

Philippines — The U.S. State Department on Tuesday (11/2) issued a new Travel Warning for Philippines to alert U.S. citizens of the risks of terrorist activity there, particularly in the southern Philippine islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, as well as the capital of Manila.
The Department’s warning cites possible terrorist targets as public gathering places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers, airports, shopping malls, conference centers and other public venues.
The British Foreign Office has also updated the Terrorism section of its Philippines Travel Advice to cite the ongoing threat from terrorists and insurgents, and says there is a “high” threat from terrorism throughout the Philippines.

Al Qaeda Terror Threat Raised as Spies Warn of Attacks on Tourist Hotspots Mirror (UK) (10/04/10) Parry, Ryan

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 08:12:00 -0400

British intelligence officers have warned that al-Qaida is planning an attack against tourist spots in Europe based on the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, India, that left 174 people dead. Reports indicate that the al-Qaida operatives have selected targets in London, Paris, or Berlin. They are also thought to have completed their surveillance and are awaiting orders in an attack allegedly masterminded by Osama bin Laden. Potential targets have been identified as the Tower of London and a mainline station in the U.K., the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame in Paris, and the Central Station, the Alexander-platz TV tower, and the Adlon hotel in Berlin. The U.S. State Department has issued warnings for all Americans traveling or living abroad to be aware of the increased threat risk. In order to prepare for a potential attack, police and military in England have completed training exercises in Dover. Despite this preparation, there are concerns about how to respond to an attack in central London.

POLITICAL UNREST IN ECUADOR

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 15:58:51 -0400

At approximately 8:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, September 30, protests by public sector workers and police forces erupted in Quito and gradually spread to other cities within Ecuador. Open source reports are indicating that police detachments in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Loja, Riobamba, and Manta have seized several unidentified buildings and an estimated 150 members of the security forces have taken control of the Quito airport. OSAC constituents have informed us that the airport is currently closed and all flights into and out of Mariscal Sucre International Airport have been suspended.

Pastor, Despite Protests, Still Plans Quran Burning Wall Street Journal (09/09/10) Bauerlein, Valerie; Fassihi, Farnaz

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:02:00 -0400

The pastor of a small Florida church who intends to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11 said Sept. 8 he would continue with his plans, despite protestations from the Obama administration, U.S. military leaders, the Vatican, and religious leaders from other countries. “As of right now, we are not convinced that backing down is the right thing,” said Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center, a 50-member congregation in Gainesville, Fla. The church’s actions have been denounced by Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military official in Afghanistan, and other military leaders who say they fear images of the Quran being set on fire could be used to incite anger toward the United States and could place U.S. troops in greater danger. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the church’s plans “disgraceful” in a Sept. 8 speech before the Council on Foreign Relations. Meanwhile, Muslim media from Eastern Europe to the Middle East cautioned that burning the sacred book of Islam could exacerbate hatred of the West.

My 2 cents on this situation:

This is just plain wrong! No matter how much I disagree with the whole Muslim extremist jihad thing. Most Muslims are peace loving individuals who only want to worship in their own way. Show them the same respect that you would want them to show you or your family. We wouldn’t want them running around and burning our Bible, so don’t disrespect them by burning the Quran. This guy claims to be a preacher, but he sure doesn’t epitomize the biblical teachings of forgiveness and loving your neighbor as yourself. Sounds like he needs to go back to seminary.

Businesses Grapple With Mexico Security Risks Dallas Morning News (TX) (08/29/10) Villagran, Lauren

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:52:39 -0400

Ryder Systems Inc. is one of a number of Texas firms beefing up security as they try to deflect threats to their operations, supply chains, and employees. Ryder, for example, uses GPS to track the location of each of its trucks moving goods north through Mexico to the border. Private security guards accompany especially sensitive loads. At Ryder’s facilities near the border, drug dogs and inspectors examine every container before it enters Texas — the company oversees roughly 3,000 border crossings every week — or elsewhere. And if a load does not arrive on time, alarms go off and the dogs do their inspections three times instead of just once. “My primary security concern in the cross-border operation is the smuggling,” said Gustavo Passa, Ryder’s senior security manager for Latin America. “We’re talking about drugs and we’re talking about people.” With the increasing threat of smuggling attempts by criminal gangs in Mexico, foreign firms are simply doing more, investing more and in the process passing the costs on to customers to ensure security in a country where murders, kidnappings, and extortions have become almost routine.

U.S. Fears Terror War from Mexico Cartels Bloomberg (09/09/10) P. A15 Krause-Jackson, Flavia; Gould, Jens

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:49:00 -0400

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton compares escalating violence due to Mexican drug cartels to the war on terror that was waged on the Colombian government that occurred twenty years ago. She says that, like the situation in Columbia two decades ago, traffickers are controlling parts of the country in Mexico now. In a short two week period, two mayors have been murdered, 72 migrants were killed in a mass murder, and a car bomb exploded next to a television station. Violence that is associated with the drug trade has resulted in the deaths of more than 28,000 people since President Felipe Calderon came to power in December 2006 and began the fight on drug gangs. While U.S. officials have avoided suggesting the Mexico has lost control over it’s own land, they have conveyed their concern about the amount of violence that is involved with the Mexican drug cartels. At the Council of Foreign Relations, Clinton commended Calderon for his work in battling the kingpins of the narcotic industry, noting it is “a very tough challenge.”

U.S. Consulate Ciudad Juarez, Mexico Closed (July 30)

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:42:52 -0400

The U.S. Consulate Ciudad Juarez released the following Warden Message on July 29, 2010:

The U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez is closed on July 30, 2010, to review its security posture. American citizens are advised avoid the area around the Consulate General until it reopens. Authorities are investigating the situation.

The Consulate General has cancelled all scheduled appointments and services for Friday, July 30. As soon as we can reopen we will inform the public by a warden notice and posting on our web page.

American citizens with appointments for passport or other services may make a new appointment via the Consulate website below. For non-immigrant visa applicants, our call center will call or e-mail applicants to reschedule appointments. Alternatively, applicants may re-schedule non-immigrant visa appointments without being charged by calling 01-800-719-2525. Immigrant visa applicants should be advised that the medical clinics where they will receive their medical exams may also close on short notice. Immigrant visa applicants will be rescheduled for their interviews at a later date.

Nicaragua, Possible Disruptions Related to Festival of Santo Domingo

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:40:36 -0400

American citizens should be aware of possible disruptions related to the celebration of the Festival of Santo Domingo, a Catholic tradition celebrating the patron Saint of Managua, which takes place August 1 – 10 in Managua. The principal activities during this ten-day event will be a procession and horse parade on the first and last day of the festival: August 1 and 10.

The U.S. Embassy has encouraged its employees to avoid using the streets of Managua’s Santo Domingo neighborhood from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM on August 1 and 10. In previous years, large crowds have remained in the Santo Domingo neighborhood, particularly in the vicinity of the Iglesia Las Sierritas , throughout the night of these events, continuing their activities into the early morning. Heavy alcohol consumption is expected. Traffic jams and other disturbances around Managua can also be expected. American citizens should be aware of the possible presence of youth gangs who specialize in pick-pocketing and other crimes of opportunity.

Relocating to the West/Central Florida area, need help.

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:26:38 -0400

To provide medical care for a daughter with special needs my family and I have decided to relocate to the West/Central Florida area. That being said, I am looking for a new company in that area to call home. I don’t mind starting out at the bottom as long as it is a permanent position and offers the opportunity for advancement. I am well qualified in the security and investigative fields with over 30 years total experience. For more information please take a look at my LinkedIn profile (http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=49503330&locale=en_US&trk=tab_pro). Any help or information anyone can provide would be very much appreciated.

suitep: Outbound in the Houston Ship Channel on the tanker...

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:58:43 -0400

suitep:

Outbound in the Houston Ship Channel on the tanker Oklahoma. Galveston lights are on the right. (by OneEighteen)

WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST HUMAN MEMORY?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:55:46 -0400

My little brother setting the back porch on fire. He was playing with matches.

Protesting Brazilian Tribesmen Take Dam Workers Hostage

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:53:37 -0400

Brazil — About 300 indigenous people from a number of different tribes took somewhere between 100 and 300 workers hostage on Sunday at a hydroelectric dam under construction on Brazil’s Aripuana River. The protesters want compensation from the government for the dam, which is being built on land they consider sacred. Citing Brazilian state media, CNN reports the workers were released Monday (7/26) morning after authorities agreed to meet with the Indians over their demands.