SubscribeDomestic Access to Spy Imagery Expands
February 13, 2008
“A plan to use U.S. spy satellites for domestic security and law-enforcement missions is moving forward after being delayed for months because of privacy and civil liberties concerns.
The charter and legal framework for an office within the Homeland Security Department that would use overhead and mapping imagery from existing satellites is in the final stage of completion, according to a department official who requested anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly about it.” (AP)
US lawmakers defy Bush on wiretap bill
February 13, 2008
“US lawmakers defied a warning from US President George W. Bush Wednesday to reach a quick decision and agreed to debate a controversial wiretapping law for three more weeks.
With the current legislation set to expire on Friday, Bush had pushed for the House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s example and pass a new text this week authorizing the tapping of foreign telephone calls and emails.” (AFP)
Employers flock to E-Verify
February 12, 2008
“The Homeland Security Department announced today that more than 52,000 employers have voluntarily adopted Citizenship and Immigration Services’ E-Verify employment eligibility system.
About 1,000 new employers have joined the program each week since last October, CIS said in a press announcement. The online E-Verify system allows employers to verify the employment eligibility of newly hired workers.” (Government Computer News)
Lockheed wins $1B biometrics deal
February 12, 2008
“The FBI on Tuesday selected Lockheed Martin for a $1 billion contract to build a database for fingerprints and other biometric information.
Lockheed Martin Corp., which built and maintains the FBI’s current 10-fingerprint database, was the expected winner among analysts. Making good on its incumbent status, the nation’s largest defense contractor will keep its hands on the Next Generation Identification system contract.” (Forbes)
Female Suicide Bombers Prompt U.S. Warning
February 12, 2008
“The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have issued a joint assessment, warning security officials and local police about the possibility of women suicide bombers being used as an attack method by terrorists.
According to a Homeland Security official, there is no current threat or intelligence information to indicate plans to use female suicide bombers inside the United States.” (ABC News)
DHS directorate elusive, CRS report states
February 12, 2008
“Industry executives find it difficult to work with the Homeland Security Department’s Science and Technology Directorate because of the agency’s lack of responsiveness, according to a new report from the Congressional Research Service.” (Federal Computer Week)
U.S. Charges 6 With Key Roles in 9/11 Attacks
February 11, 2008
“Six Guantánamo detainees who are accused of central roles in the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, will be shown all the evidence against them and will be afforded the same rights as American soldiers accused of crimes, the Pentagon said Monday as it announced the charges against them.
Military prosecutors will seek the death penalty for the six Guantánamo detainees on charges including conspiracy and murder “in violation of the law of war,” attacking civilians and civilian targets, terrorism and support of terrorism, Brig. Gen. Thomas Hartmann of the Air Force, legal adviser to the Defense Department’s Office of Military Commissions, said at a Pentagon news briefing.” (NYT)
Spain sees growing terrorist threat
February 11, 2008
“As the terrorism suspects congregated in the largely Pakistani neighborhood here over the past few months, they were joined by a young man who called himself Asim. He had come from the Pakistani borderlands where Al Qaeda’s leadership is said to have regrouped.
The suspects, he later told Spanish investigators, envisioned a wave of spectacular attacks: Coordinated suicide bombings would start in Barcelona’s vast subway system and then sweep through Portugal, Germany, France, and Britain if certain demands were not met.” (Boston Globe)
Ex-Boeing engineer charged in China spying case
February 11, 2008
“A former Boeing engineer was arrested on Monday on charges of stealing trade secrets for China about several aerospace programs, including the Space Shuttle, the U.S. Justice Department said.
It also announced a separate case in which a U.S. Defense Department official and two others from New Orleans were arrested on Monday on espionage charges involving the passing of classified U.S. government documents to China.” (Reuters)
Biometrics registry proposed
February 11, 2008
“An interagency technology council has released a draft of a registry of biometric standards that could improve sharing of data between agencies.” (Government Computer News)
