(U//FOUO) Terrorists continue to express broad interest in toxins and poisons that could be used to contaminate food or water supplies, or spread through skin contact. Widely circulated terrorist manuals contain instructions for mixing toxins and poisons with skin penetrating enhancers such as oils, lotions, and other ointments. Other possible methods of delivery include adding toxins or poisons to beverages, fruits, vegetables, or other foods. Most toxins and poisons mentioned in terrorist manuals are more suitable for assassinations and small-scale attacks than for mass casualty attacks, but terrorists might calculate that a coordinated series of simultaneous small attacks could produce comparable casualties and widespread public fear, as well as erode consumer confidence.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan IEC 2010 Parliamentary Election Complete Polling Center Assessment Summary
Complete provincial assessments of the security and accessibility of polling centers used in the recent parliamentary elections in Afghanistan in September 2010.
Sudan, United Nations
Restricted UN Sudan Military De-Mining Platoon Requirements
The military-strategic intent is to assist the parties in CPA implementation by effectively monitoring and verifying the ceasefire and security arrangements, and by contributing to maintaining a stable and secure environment. The UNMIS military component will deploy its forces in a dynamic manner in its Area of Responsibility (AOR) comprising the ceasefire zone (CFZ), conduct robust mobile operations to monitor and verify redeployment of forces as per the ceasefire arrangements, and maintain visible UN presence in areas of potential conflict.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NATO Naval Arctic Manual
Naval operations in high latitudes provide unique challenges to planning, seamanship, ingenuity, endurance, and foresight. The elements, always dangerous, become hostile. Mountainous seas, stormforce winds and near-zero visibility for days on end put tremendous strain on men and material. The Arctic has been defined in a variety of ways. For naval considerations, it is considered to be the area surrounding the geographic North Pole consisting of a deep central basin; the peripheral shallow seas (Bering, Chukchi, East Siberian, Laptev, Kara, Barents, and Norwegian); ice-covered portions of the Greenland and Norwegian Seas; Baffin Bay, Canadian Archipelago, Seas of Japan and Okhotsk; the continental margins of Canada and Alaska; and the Beaufort Sea.
Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania Regional Mass Fatality Response System
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania Regional Catastrophic Planning Team Regional Mass Fatality Response System Planning Brief, September 21st, 2010.
Headline
London Student Protest Photos November 24, 2010
chrisjohnbeckett – http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisjohnbeckett/ Phil Coomes – http://www.flickr.com/photos/blinkofaneye/ Jymography – http://www.flickr.com/photos/jymography/ suburbanslice – http://www.flickr.com/photos/suburbanslice/
Florida, Intelligence Fusion Centers
(U//FOUO) Florida Fusion Center K2/Spice Warning
K2 or Spice, marketed as “synthetic marijuana,” is an herbal substance being sold legally in the United States as incense labeled “not for human consumption.” The products contain one or more synthetic compounds which interact with the body similarly to the primary psychoactive constituent of delta-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, in marijuana. Therefore, the corrupt term of “synthetic marijuana” has been attached to these substances when in fact the correct term should be “synthetic cannabinoids.” A series of synthetic compounds were created in 1995, by Dr. John W. Huffman of Clemson University. One of the more popular compounds created by Dr. Huffman was the JWH series specifically; JWH-018.
News
Does Anyone Take These Al-Qaeda Magazines Seriously?
With the release of their November 2010 Special Issue of Inspire magazine, a group claiming to be Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has again succeeded in getting the entire global news media to uncritically relate their message. Every few months since the first release of the magazine in July 2010, the public is now subjected to a mass of uncritical stories that propagate predefined talking-points which are taken almost verbatim from one of two “monitoring groups” which actually profit from the sale of terrorist propaganda materials. One of those groups, the SITE Intelligence Group, was founded by the daughter of an executed Israeli spy. Joel Meares of The Columbia Journalism Review writes that when “Reading the latest terror reports it seems that any questions about the validity of Inspire have disappeared. The magazine once greeted with skepticism and perspective—to what extent one publication can speak for as disparate and fractured a community as the jihadists is always a question—is now being treated as the unquestioned and official spokes-journal of Al-Qaeda. And some close watchers of Al-Qaeda caution against the approach.”
Department of Defense
DoD Manual for Civil Emergencies
This Manual assigns responsibilities, prescribes procedures, and provides guidance by which the Department of Defense responds to ALL HAZARDS in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 5121, et seq., as amended (hereafter referred to as the Stafford Act, reference (f)). Under the authority of the Civil Defense Act of 1950, 50 U.S.C. App. 2251, et seq., (reference (a)) and National Security Directive 66 (dated March 16, 1992) (reference (m)) this Manual supports the National civil defense policy and Federal and State civil defense programs in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
U.S. Northern Command
(U//FOUO) U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and CONPLAN 3500 CBRNE Response Overview
(U//FOUO) U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and CONPLAN 3500 CBRNE Response Overview, March 3, 2009.
White House
(U//FOUO) Unified Command Plan 2008
The National Security Act of 1947 and title 10 of the United States Code (U.S.C.) provide the basis for the establishment of combatant commands. The Unified Command Plan (UCP) establishes the missions, responsibilities, and geographic areas of responsibility (AORs) for commanders of combatant commands (“combatant commanders”). A “geographic combatant commander” is a commander of a combatant command that includes a geographic AOR. A “functional combatant commander” is a commander of a combatant command with transregional responsibilities. Command of combatant commands will be exercised as provided for herein and as otherwise directed by the Secretary of Defense (the “Secretary”).
National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST Rapiscan Secure 1000 Redacted Radiological Safety Report
The system tested was the Secure 1000 manufactured by Rapiscan Security Products, Inc., Hawthorne, CA. The system was received by CDRH for testing on 3/29106 and had the following identification markings “Serial No.: S701201213”, “Date: May 2001 “. The label also included the following statement: “Each scan cycle from this system produces 3 microRem of x-ray radiation emission. This value is comparable to the radiation exposure all persons receive each five minutes from naturally occurring radioactive materials in the air and soil.” The system tested included a back plate and floor panel. The back plate was measured to be 153 cm wide by 242 cm high. When positioned against the floor panel the back plate surface was at approximately 89 cm from the front surface of the Secure 1000 cabinet.
U.S. Army
(U//FOUO) U.S. Army Zero-Point Energy Assessment
(U) Zero-point energy (a very general term) is the lowest energy that a given quantum mechanical system can have (i.e., the ground state of the system). In quantum field theory, it refers to the energy of the vacuum (i.e., a space devoid of matter [the energy of “nothing”]). In this paper, we will use the abbreviation ZPE (as is commonly used by those in the field) to refer to the vacuum energy for use in applications.
Headline
Afghan Landscapes
Transportation Security Administration
(SSI) TSA Aviation Security Directive Airport-Issued Identifcation Threat Reporting
The threat to U.S. civil aviation remains significant. Current credible intelligence indicates Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups continue to develop plans for multiple attacks against targets in the United States, including airports and civil aviation. These terrorist groups continue to pursue a range of targets, tactics, and capabilities to accomplish this objective, including employment in the aviation sector to gain knowledge of aviation operations. Terrorist operatives view attacks on the United States as a priority because of their potentially Significant economic and psychological impacts.
Transportation Security Administration
TSA Security Screening Equipment 2007 Body Scanners Briefing
TSA security screening equipment briefing including whole-body imaging equipment, June 27, 2007.
Federal Reserve
Federal Reserve Board of Governors New York Ave. Building, Washington D.C.
Aerial photos and blueprints of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors building at 1709 New York Ave. in Washington D.C.
Federal Reserve
Federal Reserve Board of Governors New York Avenue Building Renovation Blueprints
Federal Reserve Board of Governors New York Ave., Washington D.C. Building Blueprints, September 15, 2010.
Department of Homeland Security
(U//FOUO) DHS Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-8 Draft Implementation Concept
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8/HSPD-8 establishes policies to strengthen the preparedness of the United States to prevent and respond to threatened or actual domestic terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies by requiring a national domestic preparedness goal; establishing mechanisms for improved delivery of Federal preparedness assistance to State and local governments; and outlining actions to strengthen preparedness capabilities of Federal, State, and local entities. This paper describes a concept for rapid and systematic implementation of the provisions of HSPD-8 to improve preparedness doctrine and practice and reorient preparedness programs and activities that converged within homeland security under a unified national all-hazards preparedness strategy.
Congressional Research Service
Hezbollah: Background and Issues for Congress
Lebanon’s Hezbollah is a Shiite Islamist militia, political party, social welfare organization, and U.S. State Department-designated terrorist organization. Its armed element receives support from Iran and Syria and possesses significant paramilitary and unconventional warfare capabilities. In the wake of the summer 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and an armed domestic confrontation between Hezbollah and rival Lebanese groups in May 2008, Lebanon’s political process is now intensely focused on Hezbollah’s future role in the country. Lebanese factions are working to define Hezbollah’s role through a series of “National Dialogue” discussions.
Transportation Security Administration
(U//FOUO) TSA Transportation Suspicious Incident Report (TSIR) October 2010
(U//FOUO) The Transportation Suspicious Incident Report (TSIR) provides a weekly comprehensive review of suspicious incident reporting related to transportation. The TSIR includes incident reporting, analyses, images, and graphics on specific incidents. In addition, selected articles focus on security technologies, terrorism, and the persistent challenges of securing the nation’s transportation modes. This product is derived from unclassified incident and law enforcement reporting and does not represent fully evaluated intelligence.
Transportation Security Administration
TSA Passenger Screening Body Scanner Stimulus Package Report
Approximately $266 million in ARRA funds will be used to deploy state-of-the-art checkpoint screening equipment including Advanced Technology (AT) X-ray, Bottled Liquid Scanners (BLS), Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), Chemical Analysis Devices (CADs), and Next-Generation Explosive Trace Detectors (ETD).
U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy NATOPS Air Traffic Control Manual
This manual contains information on administrative and operational procedures for all Navy and Marine Corps units providing air traffic control services and applies on a worldwide basis. Marine forces tactical air traffic control is provided by Marine Air Traffic Control Detachments (MATCD). Each MATCD is organized and equipped to provide continuous all-weather air traffic control services to an independent and geographically separated main air base or air facility and/or remote air sites or points. These services include airport traffic control, low approach and landing, and terminal area control services. To the extent possible and consistent with the ATC requirements of the area to which deployed, the functions, training, qualification, and certification for Marine forces tactical ATC units shall be as prescribed in this manual.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Federal Reserve Bank of New York Shadow Banking System Research Report
The rapid growth of the market-based financial system since the mid-1980s changed the nature of financial intermediation in the United States profoundly. Within the market-based financial system, “shadow banks” are particularly important institutions. Shadow banks are financial intermediaries that conduct maturity, credit, and liquidity transformation without access to central bank liquidity or public sector credit guarantees. Examples of shadow banks include finance companies, asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) conduits, limited-purpose finance companies, structured investment vehicles, credit hedge funds, money market mutual funds, securities lenders, and government-sponsored enterprises. Shadow banks are interconnected along a vertically integrated, long intermediation chain, which intermediates credit through a wide range of securitization and secured funding techniques such as ABCP, asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, and repo. This intermediation chain binds shadow banks into a network, which is the shadow banking system. The shadow banking system rivals the traditional banking system in the intermediation of credit to households and businesses. Over the past decade, the shadow banking system provided sources of inexpensive funding for credit by converting opaque, risky, long-term assets into money-like and seemingly riskless short-term liabilities. Maturity and credit transformation in the shadow banking system thus contributed significantly to asset bubbles in residential and commercial real estate markets prior to the financial crisis.
Transportation Security Administration
(U//FOUO) TSA Female Suicide Bombers History Overview
(U//FOUO) TSA Female Suicide Bombers History Overview, October 2006.