EXTRA! EXTRA! “Bin Laden Documents Published and Available Online” May 3, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Industry News, terrorism.Tags: abbottabad, al qaeda, bin laden, Chris Mark, Combating Terrorism Center, mark consulting group, SEALS, terrorism, West Point
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The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point has published a number of declassified documents taken from the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden. You can access the documents here.
CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen had access to some of the materials while researching his new book, “Manhunt: The Ten Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad.”
“The documents paint a portrait of a man who was simultaneously an inveterate micromanager, but was also someone almost delusional in his belief that his organization could still force a change in American foreign policies in the Muslim world if only he could get another big attack” in the United States, Bergen said on CNN.com this week.
Porn, Steganography & Al Qaeda = Bad News May 2, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in InfoSec & Privacy, Risk & Risk Management, terrorism.Tags: al qaeda, Chris Mark, cybersecurity, data security, InfoSec, mark consulting group, steganography, terrorism
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“Believe half of what you see and nothing that you hear”…Benjamin Franklin
Recently it was disclosed that German cryptographers had managed to decipher plans taken from an Al Qaeda operator who had a memory card confiscated. According to the story: “On May 16 last year, a 22-year-old Austrian named Maqsood Lodin was being questioned by police in Berlin. He had recently returned from Pakistan via Budapest, Hungary, and then traveled overland to Germany. His interrogators were surprised to find that hidden in his underpants were a digital storage device and memory cards. Buried inside them was a pornographic video called “Kick Ass” — and a file marked “Sexy Tanja.” “ As stated on Gary Kessler’s website: (more…)
Random Thoughts On Piracy Summit (I have to talk about guns a little ;) May 1, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Industry News, Piracy & Maritime Security, Risk & Risk Management.Tags: Anti Piracy, armed security, Chris Mark, combating piracy week, Maritime Security, markconsultinggroup.com, Scout Sniper, security, weapons
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In reflecting upon the Piracy Europe even in Hamburg that I attended last week, I was struck by a few things that were said and proposed. The speakers were generally very good although the material is getting a bit old at this point. With piracy at near 2007 levels, security vendors are scrambling to convince shipping companies that they are still needed. Selling on Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) seems to be the new way of business development.
With regard to the security vendors, there appeared to be two distinct perspectives on how to stop pirates. Neither seemed appropriate. One company had a rep get up and show a picture of himself with a Barrett .50 cal SASR (special application scoped rifle) (shown in the pic above with the very skilled, handsome and smart USMC Sniper..yeah its me). The intimation was that if you have larger guns, you have more ‘firepower’ and thus better security. This is a very simplistic way of thinking about security and demonstrates one of the challenges of maritime security. Security is not about technology…it is about people, strategies, and tactics. Tools (such as weapons) are useful but only if employed correctly. You can read the whitepaper “weapons and tactics in the prevention of piracy” here. This “goons with guns” approach was not well received and quite frankly, I felt it perpetuated what the attendees think of American security…knuckle-dragging, goons with guns. Blackwater is alive and well in the minds of most of those who attended the event. (more…)
SAMI Accredidation?…Check before you believe… April 30, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Industry News, Laws and Leglslation, Piracy & Maritime Security.Tags: Accredidation, Chris Mark, Maritime Security, membership, Piracy Europe, SAMI
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I am recently back from speaking an an anti-piracy event in Hamburg, Germany. Overall, it was a good conference but I was struck by one particular company that was strongly advertising that they were SAMI Accredited. I thought this claim merited some investigation and it would allow me to understand what, exactly, it means to be SAMI Accredited. First…here is the list of accredited PSMCs through SAMI. The Security Administration for the Maritime Industry or SAMI is a: “a global organisation representing companies working in maritime security and related industries. SAMI has introduced a level of compliance and scrutiny to ensure that the maritime industry can easily identify reputable private maritime security companies. SAMI provides reassurance, guidance, and minimum quality and standards in the delivery of maritime security where none has existed before. The SAMI Standard has been established as the international benchmark for standards within the industry. The Association is an international non -governmental organisation (NGO), which exists to facilitate clear dialogue and a common standards framework in the delivery of maritime security products to the shipping community.” As a membership organization anyone that is a signatory on the ICOC can join SAMI as a ‘member’. This does not mean you are accredited. After joining SAMI a company may then volunteer to participate in the 3 step SAMI Accreditation Programme. According to the SAMI website: (more…)
UPDATE: “Fast & Furious”; Remember Brian Terry – Killed December 15, 2010 April 27, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Industry News.Tags: ATF, BORTAC, Brian Terry, Chris Mark, fast and furious, RememberBrianTerry.com, security, USMC
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UPDATE: Fox news is reporting that “House GOP leaders said Friday they are pursuing a plan to hold Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. and the Justice Department in contempt for “stonewalling” them over information regarding the administration’s failed Fast and Furious gun-tracking program.”
Brian Terry and I served together in the US Marines in the early 1990’s. He was a good friend, a good Marine and a good person. After the Marines Brian went on to be a police officer and Border Patrol Agent and member of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC). On December 15th, 2010 he was killed by border bandits armed with AK 47s. Brian was armed only with ‘less than lethal’ weapons. The weapons used to kill Agent Terry were later confirmed to be part of the ATF Fast & Furious program in which weapons were allowed by the ATF to be purchased and smuggled into Mexico. This program was endorsed by current Atty General Eric Holder. This is not a political post. Please remember Agent Brian Terry and, if possible, purchase a bumper sticker or t-shirt in remembrance of him. www.RememberBrianTerry.com
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