The Domestic Operational Law (DOPLAW) Handbook for Judge Advocates is a product of the Center for Law and Military Operations (CLAMO). First published in April of 2001, it was the first of its kind. Designed as a resource for operational lawyers involved in domestic support operations, its publication was indeed timely. After the events of September 11, 2001, and more recently, Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Ike in 2008, the Handbook continued to meet a growing need for an understanding of the legal issues inherent in such operations. As with the original publication of the Handbook, this update would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of countless active, reserve, and National Guard judge advocates who participate in these unique operations on an ongoing basis.
Author Archive for Public Intelligence
Archistrategos.
White House
White House WikiLeaks Memo “Mishandling of Classified Information”
Our national defense requires that sensitive information be maintained in confidence to protect our citizens, our democratic institutions, and our homeland. Protecting information critical to our nation’s security is the responsibility of each individual who is granted access to classified information. Any unauthorized disclosure of classified information is a violation of our law and compromises our national security. The recent irresponsible disclosure by WikiLeaks has resulted in significant damage to our national security. Any failure by agencies to safeguard classified information pursuant to relevant laws, including but not limited to Executive Order 13526, Classified National Security Information (December 29, 2009), is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation
(U//FOUO) DHS Mubtakar Improvised Cyanide Gas Device Warning
(U//FOUO) Terrorists have shown considerable interest in an improvised chemical device called the mubtakar, which is designed to release lethal quantities of hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, and chlorine gases. One or more devices could be used in attacks in enclosed spaces, such as restaurants, theaters, or train cars. The mubtakar is small and could be transported in a bag or box, or assembled at the attack site. DHS and FBI encourage recipients of this document to report information about suspicious devices and the acquisition or possession of mubtakar precursor chemicals or components (see figures for details) to the nearest state and local fusion center and to the local FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Headline
U.S.-South Korea Naval Exercise Photos
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/
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.”
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.
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.
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
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).
Transportation Security Administration
(U//FOUO) TSA Female Suicide Bombers History Overview
(U//FOUO) TSA Female Suicide Bombers History Overview, October 2006.
Headline
G20 2010 Seoul Summit Photos
viewO – http://www.flickr.com/photos/fottav/ Bas Verbeek – http://www.flickr.com/photos/basverbeek/ Yohan Park – http://www.flickr.com/photos/ggamdungi/ Chiew Ping Hoo – http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiewping/
Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration
(SSI) DHS-CBP-TSA Terrorist Watchlist Screening Implementation User’s Guide
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) merges the capability to anticipate, preempt, and deter threats to the homeland whenever possible through its component agencies. Under the guidance of its Screening Coordination Office, DHS directed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to combine the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) Pre-Departure and Secure Flight concepts and systems to provide “One DHS Solution” to the commercial aviation industry consistent with applicable authorities and statutes.
Transportation Security Administration
(U//FOUO) TSA Security Technology Challenges Brief
(U//FOUO) TSA Security Technology Challenges Brief, June 11, 2010.
White House
Presidential Report on Effects of Ionizing Radiation From Human Scanning Systems July 2003
This Presidential Report from the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) has been prepared at the request of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA has the responsibility for regulating the manufacture of electronic products that emit ionizing and nonionizing radiation and is working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which has the responsibility of providing security measures for transportation activities. The FDA asked the NCRP for advice on radiation protection issues concerning exposure to ionizing radiation from radiation-producing devices used for non-medical security purposes. These devices, particularly x-ray scanning systems, are being evaluated by various agencies (e.g., U.S. Customs Service and TSA) for use in security screening of humans. The use of such scanning devices involves a broad societal decision that needs to be made through appropriate procedures by the authorities utilizing the x-ray producing electronic products (and other types of ionizing radiation producing systems) as a security device for screening humans. This report provides an evaluation of radiation levels, radiation risk, and radiation protection measures that should be taken into consideration by implementing authorities. However, the NCRP cannot render an opinion of the net benefit of using these devices based on the ionizing radiation aspects alone.
News
UN-NATO Documents Detail Violence and Voter Supression in Afghan Elections
According to a series of classified reports from NATO and the UN recently published by this site, the recent elections in Afghanistan were marred by “unprecedented” levels of violence including voter intimidation, kidnapping of election workers and candidates, as well as attacks on polling stations and ballot distribution systems. A confidential United Nations “Joint Security Analysis” covering the week of the elections states that the country experienced a “massive increase” in violence “due to an unprecedented peak of security incidents recorded on Election Day 18 September.” In fact, there was such a significant and “unprecedented” increase in violence leading up to the elections that this created a significant decrease in subsequent attacks because insurgent forces were literally running out of ammunition.
Headline
European Anti-Nuclear Protest Photos November 2010
Threats and Takedown Notices
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Requests Removal of Document from Public Intelligence
A message received from the Project Controls Analyst for the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) on November 3, 2010 requests the removal of a For Official Use Only FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate Nuclear/Radiological Outreach Briefing which was presented at an event held in September 2010 regarding Test and Research Reactor facilities.