TSA Take 3: The Pistole Nomination
There’s lots you can say about the nomination of John Pistole to be the next TSA Administrator. The first thing is “vetted.” You don’t get to be the number two guy in charge of the FBI without being...
DetailsRevising the Stafford Act: Cries for Common Sense
Legendary singer-song writer Jim Croce had a classic song, "Don’t Mess with Jim." Its refrain goes:You don't tug on superman's capeYou don't spit into the windYou don't pull the mask off that old lone rangerAnd you don't mess...
DetailsAnother Mexico Victim: Mission Trips
With summer quickly approaching, many church groups are making plans for the various mission trips that they sponsor for adults and youth. For the people who participate in these annual trips, they are more than a chance to get...
DetailsHeat and Feedback on “The System Worked”
Since posting my blog, “The System Worked,” on Security Debrief and several other social media sites commending the work of law enforcement, intelligence and others in the capture of the failed Times Square bomber, I’ve received lots of feedback....
DetailsThe System Worked: Faisal Shahzad’s Failed Bomb in Times Square
For what seemed an endless series of weeks, DHS Secretary Napolitano was mercilessly mocked and derided for uttering three words following the failed Christmas Day bombing of Northwest Flight 253 – she stated, “The system worked.” As debatable...
DetailsImmigration in Arizona vs North Korea: Where do you want to live?
I recently received a rather bizarre e-mail pointing out that countries such as North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Cuba have robust border security and don’t tolerate people crossing their borders illegally. The e-mail went on to point out...
DetailsOversight, Grocery Lists and Mortar Boards… Oh My
If you wanted an example of Congressional oversight gone amuck, all you had to do was watch the April 27 hearing of DHS Secretary Napolitano in front of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. When I saw the hearing title, "Oversight...
DetailsNurturing our Roots: K-12 Education and Homeland Security
Nurturing our Roots – K-12 Education & Homeland SecuritySecretary Napolitano has spent considerable time of late getting in front of higher education leaders and students. From her speech at Harvard’s Kennedy School on resilience to meeting with nearly ten...
DetailsImmigration Reform – An Unavoidable Collision Course
A couple of weeks ago, right after the final Health Care Bill vote, I was asked by some friends and business colleagues what I thought the chances were for Congress to tackle immigration reform this year. I looked at...
DetailsThe Cost and Consequence of an NSSE
For the next couple of days, downtown Washington is the literal capital of the world. With over forty heads of state in town for President Obama’s Nuclear Summit, discussing ways to enhance the planet’s overall nuclear security interests, more...
Details