Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - June 2006

[nwctwx]

Al-Qaeda's Long March to War
(Full Story)

In recent weeks, media reports from both Iraq and Afghanistan have suggested the appearance of a slow evolution of the Islamist insurgents' tactics in the direction of the battlefield deployment of larger mujahideen units that attack "harder" facilities.

These attacks are not replacing small-unit attacks, ambushes, kidnappings, assassinations and suicide bombings in either country, but rather seem to be initial and tentative forays toward another stage of fighting.

	Karzai Condemns U.S. Troops Using Gunfire
	Taliban Kill, Kidnap Dozens of Afghan Police
	US Sends More Troops into Iraq
	Where does Karzai go from here?
	Kabul Comes Undone

Thread Thirty-Seven

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[nwctwx]

World Powers Strike Iran Accord
(Full Story)

"We have also agreed that if Iran decides not to engage in negotiation, further steps would have to be taken in the Security Council ... We urge Iran to take the positive path and to consider seriously our substantive proposals which would bring significant benefits."

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett

Bush Issues U.N. Threat To Iran

"Iran ready to transfer its experiences to Iraq"

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[nwctwx]

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[nwctwx]

Ping to TM #37 (June 2006)

[nwctwx]

Ping to TM #37 (June 2006)

[Rushmore Rocks]

Thanks, Ian.

I'm sure that I am not alone when I tell you how very proud of you we all are.

Great job, as usual.

[Admin Moderator]

Thanks, locked and linked.

[StillProud2BeFree]

Wow! I am speechless - and those of you who know me know that is rare!

Thank you SO much.

[jer33 3]

Ian,

Your work is done with excellence. Thank you!

[nwctwx]

Thank you. :)

[nwctwx]

I owe a lot to you all here... :-)

I have a bunch of notes from the Michael Chertoff speech today at work, I might try to type some out later. Transcripts should be along tomorrow morning at some point (I will post links here). It was quite an interesting event.

---

DHS Chief Justifies Funding Cuts To NYC, Washington

He didn’t have to be asked.

Unprompted, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff commenced to explain how the $125 million his agency is giving New York City is not really a cut from the $207 million the city received last year in homeland security funding.

“We look at it cumulatively,” Chertoff offered June 1, a day after his agency announced grants to dozens of U.S. cities.

Over the past four years, New York has received a half billion dollars to bolster its ability to prevent, and if necessary, respond to terrorist attacks. That’s five times more than the second-most funded city, Los Angeles, Chertoff said in address to the Brookings Institution in Washington.

And since 2003, New York’s share of the total in grants handed out has been about 18 percent — the same as the city’s share of the total this year, he said.

The secretary arrived for his talk armed with arguments and statistics amid uproar from states and localities that felt shortchanged May 31 when they were told their share of $1.7 billion given in grants to localities and states.

The loudest outcry came from New York, whose politicians interpreted the $125 million as a 40 percent slash in homeland security support.

“A knife in the back of New York,” cried Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who vowed in the New York Times to “make them very sorry they made this decision.”

Unhappiness reigned in Washington, too, where a $46 million grant was decried as a $31 million cut from last year’s sum.

Chertoff called the allotments “fair to New York” and to other localities.

He said his agency has been trying to improve security in New York and other vulnerable cities for several years, and now it is time to invest in localities that have received little or no assistance so far.

New York is still considered the No. 1 target for terrorists by the Department of Homeland Security, Chertoff said. Los Angeles is No. 2. But so much money has already been granted to those cities that giving them more this year would lead to only marginal improvements, he said. The same money given to other cities that have been less well-funded would yield major security improvements, he said.

“We’re trying to make sure we’re not neglecting cities” that have received little so far, Chertoff said.

Louisville, Omaha, Charlotte, Newark and Jersey City each received substantial percentage increases. Although at $8.5 million for the first three and $34 million in a combined grant for the two New Jersey cities, all still fell far short of New York City in actual dollars.

Louisville, Omaha, Charlotte, Newark and Jersey City each received substantial percentage increases. Although at $8.5 million for the first three and $34 million in a combined grant for the two New Jersey cities, all still fell far short of New York City in actual dollars.

Louisville, Omaha, Charlotte, Newark and Jersey City each received substantial percentage increases. Although at $8.5 million for the first three and $34 million in a combined grant for the two New Jersey cities, all still fell far short of New York City in actual dollars.

[Cindy]

THANK YOU nw.

[nwctwx]

screwed that up, lol.

[nwctwx]

Your work deserves all the credit it can get, glad to help.

[bitt]

verrrrrryyyyyyyyyy impressive........

[null and void]

Thanks.

[Cindy]

RECAP: Adding 3 links to your post no. 10:

DHS.gov - Press Release: "DHS ANNOUNCES $1.7 BILLION IN HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS" (May 31, 2006)

"www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/grants_st-local_fy06.pdf"

"www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/states.htm"

[Rushmore Rocks]

Would love to hear all about it. You have an exciting job.

South Dakota really doesn't need much from Homeland Security. All we have here is Mt. Rushmore and a whole bunch of conservatives. Since we have so few, dark swarthy types really stand out and would immediately become targets of interest. We look out for each other around here and seldom depend on government "help".

[nwctwx]

US Homeland Security Chief: Protecting New York Remains Priority

The mayors of New York and Washington have denounced the new grant levels, announced Wednesday, that cut federal security assistance to their cities by 40 percent from the previous year. New York, which received a $207 million grant in 2005, will see funding drop to $124 million this year.

Washington's security grant falls to $46 million, down from $77 million. Such funds have been used to boost vigilance of landmarks and high-risk targets, purchase equipment, and improve the training and capabilities of emergency responders in the event of a terrorist attack or a similar catastrophe.

Responding to criticism over the funding levels, Secretary Chertoff says New York's 2006 grant is roughly equivalent to the average funding the city has received in recent years. Speaking at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based public policy organization, Chertoff said it is misleading to compare this year's funding with 2005, when the grant more than quadrupled from the previous year.

"We have consistently ranked New York as the number-one risk locality in the country," said Mr. Chertoff. "And for that reason, over the past four years of just this single program, we have awarded more than $500 million to New York. That is more than twice the money given to the next-highest ranked city, which is Los Angeles."

Chertoff also noted that, in an interconnected nation, boosting security in one area can have a positive impact elsewhere. He said, for instance, it is in New York's interest to protect power plants outside the city that feed the power grid on which the city relies.

Nevertheless, Chertoff did acknowledge that the overall 2006 budget for federal security grants is lower than it was last year. He said the Department of Homeland Security has tough choices to make in deciding how to allocate limited resources.

"We cannot protect every single person at every moment at every place against every threat," he explained. "What we have to do is manage the risk. And that means we have to evaluate consequence, vulnerability and threat in order to determine what is the most cost-effective way of maximizing security. And that means that there are going to be some elements of security that will not necessarily get full coverage."

Chertoff said much work remains to be done in protecting the United States from terrorists and other threats. For example, he said his department aims to boost port and railroad security in an unobtrusive way that does not impede the economy.

He also noted that June 1 marked the official beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season. Chertoff said, at present, the United States is better prepared to deal with natural disasters than it was last year, when the initial federal response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans was almost-universally criticized as lacking.

[nwctwx]

I've definitely enjoyed it thus far... it's almost like still being in school (with less homework!).

Looking out for each other is important, as is being prepared.

Chertoff pointed out (paraphrasing) that:

Preparedness is uneven, we must recognize that state and local government are the first responders in all but the most extreme consequences. Local and state government know the population/geography and can help citizens better than the federal government (short term). A big requirement in any disaster or emergency is individual contribution. People should be prepared for 48-72+ hours "on their own." Family planning is crucial, and people should listen to evacuation orders (especially important with Hurricane season back upon us). If able bodied people do not plan, they are hurting the chances of everyone (especially those who really need assistance) when it comes to response from the government.

[SlowBoat407]

Thanks, Ian. Lurking but vigilant here.