Marketed with harmless-sounding names such as Ivory Wave, Tranquility, and Blue Silk (among others), bath salts have become the newest trendy street drug. Comparable to methamphetamine, cocaine, and PCP, snorting bath salts can induce violent and aggressive behavior, which make users very dangerous to themselves and law enforcement. Authorities are caught in a rush to combat this dangerous trend, as bath salts are legal in most states. Bath salts are essentially drugs that are being labeled “bath salts.” Although they are marketed “not for human consumption,” they are being purchased with the intent to be snorted, injected, or smoked by abusers, sometimes causing extreme reactions such as hallucinations, paranoia, suicidal thoughts, agitation, and increased heart rate. Users have also experienced hypothermia, seizures, and delusions. None of the chemicals found in these salts are contained in legitimate bath salts sold by a reputable company.
Author Archive for Public Intelligence
Archistrategos.
U.S. Navy
(U//FOUO) U.S. Navy Strategic Studies Group: Convergence of Sea Power and Cyber Power
This plan outlines the Chief of Naval Operations’ (CNO) Strategic Studies Group (SSG) XXVIFs approach to addressing the challenges of operating at the convergence of Sea Power and Cyber Power as presented in the CNO’s Theme. In addition to providing a framework for the approach, this plan presents SSG XXVIFs initial overarching concept and Concept Team (CT) areas of focus.
U.S. Army
(U//FOUO) U.S. Army Study on Establishing Digital Literacy for Soldiers and Leaders
A study directed by the Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), “Study to Establish Levels of Digital Literacy for Soldiers and Leaders in the U.S. Army” from February 28, 2011.
California
Oakland Police Officers’ Association Open Letter to the Citizens of Oakland
A letter published on the website of the Oakland Police Officers’ Association in response to public outrage over the violent police action that took police on October 25, 2011 attempting to suppress a march in support of the Occupy Oakland protest.
Georgia
Samuel Crump Elderly Georgia Militia Ricin Attack Affadavit
Affadavit filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Virginia in support of a search warrant for the home of Samuel J. Crump. Crump and several other men ranging in age from 65 to 73 were allegedly plotting to conduct a series of attacks using homemade ricin.
Department of Homeland Security
(U//FOUO) DHS Warning: Terrorists Making Explosives With Commercial Products
Recent plots and attacks in the Homeland and overseas demonstrate a continuing terrorist focus on acquiring commercially available materials and components that can be used in constructing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Heightened public and state and local official awareness, as well as tightened legal controls, have made it more difficult to purchase certain products that contain explosive precursors in bulk quantities or concentrated forms. Operatives are now more likely to use surreptitious, though legal, methods—such as multiple purchases in smaller quantities—to acquire sufficient amounts to create explosives.
Georgia, Intelligence Fusion Centers
(U//FOUO) Georgia Fusion Center: Suspicious Incident at Haralson County Water Treatment Facility
The Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center (GISAC) is releasing this informational bulletin to enhance the situational awareness of law enforcement and security personnel with regard to a highly suspicious break-in incident that occurred on 24 October 2011 at the Haralson County Water Treatment Facility. During this incident, a subject broke in to the facility and was recorded (via security camera) taking pictures of the facility’s chlorination system, including the chlorine tank. In light of this highly suspicious incident, GISAC is urging facilities to be vigilant in their security measures and report any suspicious activity regarding water treatment facilities, or other critical infrastructure as soon as possible.
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Russia
FBI “Ghost Stories” Russian Spies Surveillance Videos
Ten surveillance videos released by the FBI regarding the investigation into the so-called “Illegals Program”, a network of accused Russian spies operating unofficially in the U.S. from the late 1990s to 2010.
Department of Justice
(U//LES) National Drug Intelligence Center: Mexican Drug Cartels Operating Within U.S. Cities
The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) assesses with high confidence that in 2009, Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) were operating in the United States in at least 1,286 cities spanning all nine Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) regions, based on law enforcement reporting. Moreover, NDIC assesses with high confidence that Mexican DTOs in at least 143 of these U.S. cities were linked to a specific Mexican Cartel or DTO based in Mexico—the Sinaloa Cartel (at least 75 cities), the Gulf Cartel/Los Zetas (at least 37 cities), the Juárez Cartel (at least 33 cities), the Beltrán-Leyva DTO (at least 30 cities), La Familia Michoacán (at least 27 cities), or the Tijuana Cartel (at least 21 cities). NDIC assesses with high confidence that Mexican DTOs will further expand their drug trafficking operations in the United States in the near term, particularly in the New England, New York/New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic, and Florida/Caribbean Regions. NDIC also believes that Mexican DTOs will maintain the present high level of availability for heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine because the conditions in Mexico and in the United States that enabled and motivated the DTOs to increase production and availability of those drugs have not significantly changed.
Transportation Security Administration
(U//FOUO) TSA Possible Suicide Bomber Indicators Poster
TSA poster reminding you to “Be Vigilant” and providing a list of indicators that an individual may be a suicide bomber.
News
Oakland Police Suppress Protesters With the Same Technology as Dictators
Photos from Tuesday evening’s violent police response to a march supporting the Occupy Oakland protest encampment indicate that the Oakland Police Department is using the same crowd suppression technologies that are used by foreign dictators. One photo by Reuters photographer Stephen Lam shows a broken canister from a “Han-Ball” rubber ball smoke grenade. The non-lethal munition is made by Defense Technology Corporation of America (Federal Laboratories), a company based in Casper, Wyoming and owned by BAE Systems, one of the largest defense contractors in the world. The use of non-lethal munitions manufactured by this company has been reported in recent popular protests in Yemen and Bahrain. Several Palestinian protesters were injured in early 2011 and one was killed after being struck by tear gas grenades made by several U.S. companies, including Defense Technology Corporation of America.
California
Oakland Police Department Crowd Management/Crowd Control Policy
Oakland Police Department Crowd Management/Crowd Control Policy revised October 28, 2005.
Headline
Anonymous Guy Fawkes Mask Global Protest Photos
The following photos taken in October 2011 demonstrate the global distribution of support for the ideas of the hacktivist group known as Anonymous. Protesters wearing Anonymous’ trademark Guy Fawkes mask are pictured in Rome, Vienna, Lisbon, Toronto, Ljubljana, Berlin, Los…
Department of Homeland Security, United States
Urban Area Security Initiative Effectiveness Report August 2011
Created in 2003 in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) is the only federal homeland security grant program that requires regional governance, strategic planning and investing involving all disciplines – law enforcement, fire service, public health and medical, public works, critical infrastructure owners and operators, and emergency management – in order to acquire the necessary plans, equipment, training and exercises to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from threats and acts of terrorism and other major hazards. From FY 2003 to FY 2011, approximately $6.5 billion has been appropriated for this program.
Vatican
Vatican International Financial Global Public Authority Paper Full Text
An English translation of the Vatican Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace paper “Towards Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems in the Context of Global Public Authority” released October 24, 2011.
Department of Homeland Security
(U//FOUO) DHS Terrorist Backpressure Contamination of Water Systems
Backpressure, the reverse flow of contaminated water into a potable water distribution system, has the potential to affect the public health of a community by using residential, commercial, or industrial connections in water distribution systems as a pathway for contamination. A water contamination incident using an effective contaminant and delivery method would cause immediate public health effects, require costly cleanup, and cause lasting economic and psychological impact. The amount of toxicity depends on many factors, including the type of contaminant, dilution and solubility of the contaminant, and the proximity of the consumer to the point of entry.
Afghanistan, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(U//FOUO) NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A) Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) Status Update
An October 18, 2011 update prepared by NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A) to COMISAF regarding the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) current status and way-ahead as the Afghans prepare to take the lead.
Afghanistan, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(U//FOUO) NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A) Afghan National Police (ANP) Status Update
An October 18, 2011 update prepared by NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A) to COMISAF regarding the Afghan National Police (ANP) current status and way-ahead as the Afghans prepare to take the lead.
News
Think Like the Enemy: The U.S. Military’s Terrorist Training Exercise
A U.S. military training program designed to enhance soldiers’ abilities to operate in irregular conflicts includes exercises which encourage soldiers to think like terrorists in order to examine opposing ideologies. The exercises are part of a course designed to help trainees with practical decision-making skills in “irregular conflicts” and counterinsurgency called Combat Observation and Decision-making in Irregular and Ambiguous Conflicts (CODIAC). The course was initially created in 2010 as a way of enhancing the “ability of individuals and small teams to address irregular challenges by training enhanced observation, battlefield sensemaking, human terrain pattern recognition, and environmental analysis (including knowledge of combat tracking).” The CODIAC course incorporates curriculum from a number of other military programs, including the U.S. Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter program, and it is designed to primarily for military personnel as well as “interagency paramilitary personnel, such as Border Patrol or Police Officers, as well as multinational allies.” The course focuses on a number of core subject areas related to decision making, intelligence and observation, physical tracking and “human terrain” analysis.
U.S. Army
(U//FOUO) U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Handbook
Being a drill sergeant may be the most challenging and rewarding assignment a noncommissioned officer will ever experience during his military career. While training initial entry Soldiers to fight and win in today’s Global War on Terrorism, drill sergeants must embody and reflect the Army’s values and standards. This handbook is designed to help new drill sergeants conquer the many challenges of their assignment and succeed in their mission of training Soldiers.
Afghanistan, U.S. Army
(U//FOUO) U.S. Army Afghanistan Route Clearance Handbook
Route clearance (RC) operations for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan are much different from RC operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom in terms of the terrain, seasonal weather, level of infrastructure, volume of insurgent threats, sources of improvised explosive device (IED) components, and motivation for IED emplacement. The purpose of this supplement is to focus on RC in Afghanistan.
Pennsylvania
(U//FOUO) Pittsburgh Office of Emergency Management “Occupy Pittsburgh” Threat Assessment
This product was created in response to a request for information (RFI) concerning impacts to the Pittsburgh area from the planned Occupy Pittsburgh set for October 15, 2011. This product is intended to provide the private sector and first responders information on the event and appropriate prevention and response measures. Information in this report was collected through open source materials only. Open sources used in this product may include bias and misleading information. This product is an update to a previous assessment disseminated on October 6, 2011.
Corporate, New York
Zuccotti Park Owner’s Letter to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly on Occupy Wall Street
As you know, for over three weeks, Zuccotti Park (the “Park”) has been used by “Occupy Wall Street” and other protesters as their home base. The Park is owned by a Brookfield affiliate and was recently renovated at Brookfield’s considerable expense as an amenity for the general public. It is intended to be a relaxing tree-filled oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Lower Manhattan. We fully support the rights of free speech and assembly, but the manner in which the protesters are occupying the Park violates the law, violates the rules of the Park, deprives the community of its rights of quiet enjoyment to the Park, and creates health and public safety issues that need to be addressed immediately. Within the Park, the protesters have set up living spaces with tarpaulins, mattresses, sleeping bags, tables, bookshelves, gasoline-powered generators and other items that arc inconsistent with the rules and normal public use of the Park. At all hours of the day and night, protesters arc sleeping on benches and walkways, blocking normal pedestrian access to the general public and preventing cleaning and maintenance workers from performing necessary upkeep. When not blocked by protesters, the walkways throughout the Park are blocked by the various items and equipment brought to the Park by the protesters.
Headline
The Occupiers Photo Series
The following photos are from a fascinating series by Eddie McShane called The Occupiers. A description of the series was provided by McShane: “I live in New York City and until yesterday had not gone to Zucotti Park to see…
United Nations
UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey October 2011
The total area under opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan in 2011 was estimated at 131,000 hectares (ha), a 7% increase compared to 2010. 95% of total cultivation took place in nine provinces in the Southern and Western regions, which include the most insecure provinces in the country. This confirms the link between insecurity and opium cultivation observed since 2007. The number of poppy-free provinces decreased from 20 in 2010 to 17 in 2011 as Baghlan and Faryab provinces in the Northern region and Kapisa province in the Eastern region lost their poppy-free status. Potential opium production in 2011 was estimated at 5,800 mt, a 61% increase compared to 2010, when opium yields were much reduced due to plant diseases.