Posted on 04/03/2009 4:50:13 AM PDT by Cindy
SNIPPET: "FrontPage Interview’s guest today is Ben R. Furman, the FBI's Former Counterterrorism Chief."
SNIPPET: "FP: Aren’t we giving the terrorists ideas by talking about this?
Furman: Initially I wondered if talking openly about this danger was a good idea. Wouldn’t it be a “heads up” for terrorists? No. A thorough library check and Internet and blog searches revealed the technology wafted out of the genie’s bottle some time ago, and even with technology that advances in quantum leaps, someone is keeping pace and reporting or commenting about it real-time. Chat rooms, YouTube and FaceBook are heavily peppered with “how to” information about building and flying improvised UAVs and MAVs. If you have a question about building a bot, ask it and instantly a dozen answers appear on your computer screen.
Before my FBI partner and I entered dark and scary places he always reminded me to, “Put your head on a swivel like an owl.” He wanted me totally focused and aware of my surroundings; great advice that kept us safe. So, if you hear what sounds like an angry lawn mower flying overhead, you might want to check it out, or the spider that went off like a sparkler when you squashed it underfoot might be worth a closer look.
Let’s not forget: Security is everyone’s job, and as my partner wisely said, put your head on a swivel and always be mindful of your surroundings.
FP: Ben R. Furman, thank you for joining us."
(Excerpt) Read more at frontpagemag.com ...
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), an anti-government terrorist group, was discovered in possession of nine remote-controlled unmanned aircraft when a Colombian army unit overran one of their remote camps in August 2002. (Source: EFE News Service, August 28, 2002.)
The Vremya Novostei newspaper reported the plans for Israel’s newest developmental reconnaissance UAV model were stolen from a building plant in Israel. The UAV weighs 14 kg and has a wingspan of 1.5 m. There were fears about the possible use of the model by terrorists. (Source: Vremya Novostey, November 11, 2003.)
Hamas said six of their senior activists were killed in March, 2004 when an ICCD they had planned to launch against Israel blew up prematurely in central Gaza as it was being prepared for flight. Authorities surmised the ICCD drone was packed with explosives. (Source: Jane's Missiles and Rockets, December 1, 2004.)
On 04/20/05 the Defense Industry Daily reported: For the second time in five months, Hezbollah militants operating an Iranian-made drone, the Mirsad-1 UAV, penetrated Israel’s air defenses and flew unmolested for nearly nine minutes over Western Galilee cities and settlements before returning safely to southern Lebanon. The UAV was not initially picked up by Israel’s elaborate, overlapping sensor-fused early warning network.
According to the story, Israel’s current air defenses are not designed to detect and recognize small, low-flying, slow-moving objects like small UAVs. Their flight profiles on radar and even through electro-optical and other sensors, is obscured by ground clutter, glare and other environmental conditions. “It’s like catching a mosquito with a net,” said Brigadier General Ruth Yaron, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief spokeswoman.
International intelligence analysts have expressed concerns that future UAV incursions could be equipped with more deadly payloads like biological or chemical agents. The Mirsad-1 can carry 50 kilograms of explosives.
Tree top-hugging, radar-resistant improvised UAVs operating close to an intended target, perhaps line-of-sight close, are major problems. Our response contingency planning to address this kind of threat has to be “spot on.” There won’t be much time to react to improvised UAVs even if they’re only flying at 35 mph – 45 mph. The authority to act will be critical, and those manning the turrets must be the decision-makers. There won’t be time to run the situation up the chain-of-command and back."
Yes, that’s a good summary. We’ve been following this activity and interest on The Threat Matrix on FreeRepublic.com over the years.
Have you ever flown one of those? I keep thinking of getting a kit and building one.
There are domestic applications that could be utilized that would terrorize certain US citizens with the same fear that WWII buzz bombs created in London.
Bad boy calling them “terrorists!” They’re just misunderstood defenders of a peaceful religion.
< / sarcasm?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.