A U.S. Responder’s View of Israeli Security & Preparedness
Glen Rudner
March 31, 2010
This first-person report by a homeland-security professional compares the U.S. civil-aviation
security system with its Israeli counterpart and declares Israel a clear winner – for two reasons: (1)
The virtually unanimous Israeli mindset is focused primarily on national survival; and (2) Israeli
security sidesteps politics by profiling all passengers through a combination of advanced technology and
consideration of the “human factors” that are frequently more important.
FINAL REPORT: The Chemical Threat & The State of Chemical Preparedness
Stephen Reeves and John F. Morton
March 30, 2010
The DP40 and DomPrep readers where asked to voice their opinions on how prepared the United States
is for a chemical attack and what it might mean for local emergency managers if a chemical warfare agent
or TIC/TIM (toxic industrial chemical/toxic industrial material) event occurred.
‘By Far the Greatest Threat to U.S. Civil Aviation’
Neil C. Livingstone
March 24, 2010
Umar Farouk Abdulmutullab was walking, almost literally, in the footsteps of Richard Reid when he tried to detonate an “underwear” bomb aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day 2009. Additional jihadist attacks are inevitable – unless and until the United States changes its supposedly egalitarian screening process in favor of a more common-sense approach.
Surgically Implanted Death: Human IEDs vs. Full-Body Scanning
Joseph W. Trindal
March 24, 2010
Terrorist patterns of adaptation continue to present challenges for the emergency services community worldwide. In the 1980s the number of terrorist suicide/homicide bombings was rapidly increasing and spreading. Terrorist tactics
Department of Defense Focuses on IT Innovation
Thomas Payne
March 24, 2010
The same revolution in information technology that has given the U.S. armed services communications, cybersecurity, research, and other advanced capabilities previously deemed impossible can be used by other government agencies, and by the civilian sector, to improve and perfect their own products and services on a continuing basis.
The Need for Situational Awareness in a CBRNE Attack
Jordan Nelms
March 24, 2010
The handling of mass-casualty incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear,
and/or explosive materials requires special training and purpose-built systems and equipment, but the
greatest need on-site is continuing awareness by emergency responders of the horrendous threat they, and
the innocent victims they are helping, are facing.
The Short- & Long-Term Changes Needed at DHS, TSA
Neil C. Livingstone
March 23, 2010
Contrary to Secretary Napolitano’s rather politicized assertion that “the [U.S. aviation security] system worked,” it definitely did NOT work. But it could be made immensely more effective – less costly as well – if certain common-sense, albeit politically difficult, changes were made. Beginning immediately, and starting at the top.
Partners in Preparedness: Close to 2000 Attendees at Public Health Preparedness Summit
Jack Herrmann
March 17, 2010
Those who were fortunate and farsighted enough to attend last month’s Public Health Preparedness Summit in Atlanta not only heard many of the nation’s senior healthcare officials report on recent innovations and achievements but also, of greater importance, were able to network with their peers and colleagues from every state in the union to discuss the even more daunting challenges likely to be faced in the very near future.
Responding to CBRNE Attacks: A Quick Primer
Jennifer Smither
March 17, 2010
The dangers posed by IEDs, chemical and biological weapons & devices, and other WMDs has grown
exponentially in recent years – to the point that many analysts now use the term “when, not if” in
answering questions about the possibility of additional terrorist attacks against the United States. The
time to prepare is now, and the best way to prepare is by using the lessons learned from previous
mistakes, miscalculations, and misunderstandings.
Critical Infrastructure Protection: Another Role for NIMS Plus ICS
Stephen Grainer
March 10, 2010
The numerous presidential directives and policy documents issued since the 9/11 terrorist attacks have focused on various specialized areas of homeland-security and counterterrorism operations and activities. Many of those “specialized areas” are closely interrelated in their separate but complementary goals and objectives, though, and when used in combination can achieve some synergistically beneficial results.
