A Shocking Place for Private Sector Engagement – FEMA
Brace yourself. I’m going to say something that many people will find astounding, if not shocking. Are you ready? OK… here goes.The center of gravity for private sector engagement at DHS is at FEMA.Five years ago, if you...
DetailsThe End of the Other Gulf Disaster: Administration Lifts Moratorium on Deepwater Drilling
If you’ve spent any time on the Gulf Coast over the past few months, it should come as no surprise the people are upset over the BP oil spill. They have every reason to be. Their shorelines, marshlands, waters...
DetailsThe Message was Loud and Clear: Senate Hears Terrorist Threat in U.S. is Growing
While I did not have the fortune of being able to watch Wednesday’s full hearing of the Senate Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee with DHS Sec. Janet Napolitano, FBI Director Robert Mueller and NCTC Director Michael Leiter, I’ve...
DetailsResults are in (kind of): I'll Buy Olive's Lunch
As luck would have it, the question of all questions about TSA would not be the first questioned asked. It instead would be the last. As regular readers of Security Debrief know, my friend and fellow Catalyst...
DetailsLunch is Riding on Bennie Thompson’s First Question for Pistole
Like any office space, there is plenty of banter back and forth between my colleagues and me at Catalyst Partners where our corporate motto is, “if you walk into our office with an ego, you will leave without it.”...
DetailsTom Ridge on DHS Congressional Oversight (again), His Suggestion Deserves Support
Thanks to CQ’s Rob Margetta, we have a good report of former DHS Secretary Tom Ridge’s latest comments yesterday about when streamlining congressional oversight of DHS might occur. This is not the first time Secretary Ridge has weighed in...
DetailsWhat I Hope Kevin Costner Says Before the House
It’s not at all unusual for a Hollywood celebrity to make an appearance on Capitol Hill. Whether they are advocating for a particular cause or issue, their public visibility has the ability to shine a greater light on a...
DetailsKeep DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier
Back in 1983, the era of Reagan and when MTV actually played music videos from artists who didn’t wear meat, there was a made for TV movie called, “The Day After.” The film was about life in America...
DetailsFlynn Warns Against Congressional "Spasmatic Reactions"
At this morning’s House Homeland Security Committee hearing, “The Evolving Nature of Terrorism - Nine Years after the 9/11 Attacks” (a hearing worth listening to more than once), Steve Flynn committed a characteristic act of candor when he said...
DetailsIt May Be Cool, But is it Smart? Further Questions about the Use of the Predator for Border Enforcement
Following my recent posting concerning questions that ought to be asked about the cost-effectiveness of using the Predator for border enforcement purposes, I have heard from several people, and there have been a couple news stories focused on the...
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