Author Archive for Public Intelligence

Archistrategos.

(U//FOUO) DHS Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) Homemade Explosive Warning

(U//FOUO) Terrorists could use the explosive Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), also referred to as acetone peroxide, in an attack against the United States. In December 2001, British shoe-bomber Richard Reid tried to detonate an explosive device with TATP as the initiator while aboard a flight from Paris to Miami. TATP can be made from hydrogen peroxide, acetone, and sulfuric acid. These ingredients are commonly available from drug stores, hardware stores, and car batteries. TATP is extremely sensitive to impact, friction, static/sparks, and heat, and may react violently to drug field testing.

FM 31-27 Pack Animals in Support of Special Operations Forces

This manual provides guidance for training Army special operations forces (ARSOF) personnel in the techniques of animal pack transport and for organizing and operating pack animal units. It captures some of the expertise and techniques that have been lost in the United States (U.S.) Army over the last 50 years. The chapters on care, feeding, and veterinary medicine compose a considerable portion of the manual; however, this material is not intended as a substitute for veterinary expertise nor will it make a veterinarian out of the reader. ARSOF personnel must have a rudimentary knowledge of anatomy and physiology, common injuries, diseases (particularly of the feet), feeding, and watering to properly care for the animals and to avoid abusing them from overloading or overworking.

(U//FOUO) New Jersey ROIC 2009 Threat Information

(U//FOUO) The NJ ROIC Analysis Element has no information regarding any specific, credible threat to New Jersey or the U.S. Homeland at this time. Due to an active, federal counterterror investigation, the NJ ROIC Analysis Element produced this overview of potential targets of terrorist activity and the tactics, techniques, and procedures that extremists may use. It was produced with information from FBI and DHS, based on analysis of police investigations, thwarted plots, and past terrorist attacks.

Human Terrain System Afghan Saffron Report

Saffron, referred to by some as “red gold,” has been in demand for centuries. The Latin name for the plant which bears the delicate spice is Crocus sativus L. Saffron growing has been promoted in Afghanistan in recent years in response to a call from the Afghan government to investigate economically viable licit alternatives to poppy. Due to the significant labor costs inherent to saffron production, saffron is the world’s most expensive spice. Not only are saffron profits competitive with opium, in relation to other licit crops, but saffron needs little water during growth, requires minimal refinement, and has a low volume and weight, making it easily transportable.

Human Terrain System Report: Salafist and Wahhabist Influence in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is in many ways an unlikely home for radical Islamic ideologies. Afghan religious life until the 1950s was, and in many places still is, traditional, conservative, rural, and mystical. Just as Afghanistan was politically and ethnically highly fragmented, religious life has also varied tremendously depending on region, ethno-linguistic group, and degree of urbanization.

(U//FOUO) DHS Independence Day 2010 Awareness Note

(U//FOUO) The Homeland Infrastructure Threat and Risk Analysis Center (HITRAC) produces Infrastructure Protection Notes to provide information on risks impacting the critical infrastructure community including terrorist threats, natural hazards, and other events. This IP Note is a joint publication of the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) Homeland Counterterrorism Division and the Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP), and is designed to
promote security awareness and to identify actions that the critical infrastructure community can take to mitigate risks to the Nation’s critical infrastructure. As an update to the 26 May 2010 IP Note: Preparing for an Evolving Terrorist Threat, this IP Note serves as a reminder for the critical infrastructure community to remain vigilant during the 4 July 2010 Independence Day holiday.

DHS National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) Overview

DHS and DOJ officials have announced a new partnership to provide leadership for enhanced development of the Global Justice XML Data Model as a base for the deployment of the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM). NIEM will provide enhanced capabilities for organizations to share data across federal, state, local and tribal lines. This paper gives an overview of the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM). It outlines the background, concepts, objectives and the development strategy for implementing NIEM.

(U//FOUO) Louisiana Fusion Center Fake Anti-Virus Malware Warning

Over the past few days, there has been an increase in computers infected with Fake spyware and anti-virus malware. These infestations produce a popup stating that your machine is infected with viruses and offer a way to remove them. The object of this software is to trick you into believing you have viruses that need to be removed. A scan will launch after you “click” anywhere on the message and will request payment for removal of the “viruses”.

UN Occupied Palestinian Territory Food Security Report

The main driver of Palestinian food insecurity is of a political nature, as key elements of vulnerability are rooted in the military and administrative measures imposed by the Israeli occupation – closure regime, permits, destruction of assets – as well as settlement expansion and derived infrastructure multiplication – access to land and water, bypass roads, etc. Soaring food prices, falling incomes and growing unemployment are jeopardizing the livelihoods of Palestinians, leading to heavy debt and changes in family eating habits. Previously self-reliant families are progressively falling into the poverty trap and are unable to escape from their situation in the absence of job opportunities. Furthermore those with work are facing increasing difficulties to manage due to unadjusted salaries, a degrading economic environment and high dependency ratios.

Canadian Forces Crowd Confrontation Operations Manual

This manual is based on the precept that crowd confrontation situations could occur on any CF operation. The doctrine has been
designed to facilitate the use of CCO as a unique operation, which may be a subset of any other CF operation. Where peace support operations (PSO), domestic operations, or armed conflict examples are used, the concepts presented are intended to cover all operations. The manual stresses that the CCO hierarchy can be applied during any operation to assist in the decisions of what equipment to acquire or deploy and what training is to be based on.

Maurice R. Greenberg

Maurice Raymond “Hank” Greenberg was born May 4, 1925 in New York City, the son of a Jewish candy store owner Jacob Greenberg. His father died when he was seven and his mother, Ada Rheingold, married a dairy farmer who lived in the Catskill mountains. Greenberg lied about his age in 1942, claiming he was seventeen, so that he could enlist in the Army. He later became an Army Ranger, landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day and participating in the liberation of Dachau in 1945. After the war, Mr. Greenberg received his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami Florida in 1948 and earned his L.L.B. from New York Law School in 1950.

U.S. DHS/CBP Female Suicide Bomber Threat Assessment

(U/FOUO) In the aftermath of the Christmas Day suicide bombing attempt over Detroit, it has become apparent that terrorist organizations continue to scrutinize and attempt to circumvent border security procedures by using a variety of methods. One such method that has not been fully analyzed is the possible use of female operatives. The media has recently reported information suggesting that al-Qa’ida will expand the scope of the female suicide bomber outside of Iraq to include western airliners.