Pride for U.S. Coast Guard Actions in Haiti
The recent earthquake in Haiti has been tragic, with the numbers of those dead and missing constantly rising. Many countries have answered the call for aid, the U.S. second to none. As a former U.S. Coast Guard officer, this...
DetailsFear-mongering at its Worst – A Threat to Water?
The January 12, 2010 headline of The Washington Examiner was irresponsible, reckless, and salacious. Splashed across the front page read: Terror threat to city water.” As a water security guy, I was sucked in. After reading...
DetailsDo We Have Your Attention Now? – Google’s Roar to Exit China
Do We Have Your Attention Now? – Google’s Roar to Exit China
DetailsDropping the Ball: Federalizing a National Moment
As the country’s various homeland and intelligence agencies begin to implement the post-Delta Flight 253 changes ordered by the President, it is becoming painfully obvious that we are falling into the same post-9/11 reaction – we are federalizing a...
Details88, Count ‘Em: A Continuing Embarrassment on the Hill
Last Friday, the editorial board of the New York Times added its considerable weight to the growing list of thought leaders advocating the completion of the 9-11 Commission recommendations – namely, the consolidation of congressional oversight of the Department...
DetailsThe Year in Washington
2009 almost went out with a “bang” and it is that failed attempt by a young Nigerian radical that has dominated the political scene for the last week of the year. But in many respects the almost immediate partisan...
DetailsErroll Southers in the Washington Post: When the Headline Doesn’t Match the Story
Amidst all of the layoffs, reorganizations and personnel moves at the Washington Post, one can only hope someone there has left a dictionary for the reporters and editorial staff to consult. That’s what I thought after I read the...
DetailsInterview with Chertoff in 2009 Year in Homeland Security
Rich Cooper, Security Debrief contributor and Principal with Catalyst Partners, recently published an interview with former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in the 2009 The Year in Homeland Security. Below are some highlights from the Chertoff interview....
DetailsRapid Notification – When You Really Have to Know
Last week in Portland, officials conducting routine reservoir testing found something unexpected: E. Coli. Officials reached out to the community via print, television, and radio news outlets, health networks, and their utility Web site. Unfortunately, many in...
DetailsHere We Go Again – Spending On Infrastructure Without a Plan
On the drive home last night, I heard the WTOP/CBS news reporters talk about how the President was once again considering the building and re-building of portions of our nation’s infrastructure as a means to put the millions of...
Details