DHS and faith- and community-based groups to create intelligence network

“Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced two days ago a cooperative effort with faith- and community-based groups to better meet the security demands of many recent immigrant populations. Their goal is to create an efficient information-sharing network among themselves. Napolitano’s announcement followed a meeting with leaders from the Muslim, Sikh, South Asian, and Arab communities.

To explain the rational behind their joint decision, Secretary Napolitano said, ‘In times of crisis, leaders of faith-based communities and other grassroots organizations often play a critical role in the broad and timely dissemination of accurate information.’ She continued, ‘Strengthening our partnerships with faith- and community-based groups will allow improved information sharing and better coordination in preparing for, assessing and responding to threats.’”

(Source: DHS and faith- and community-based groups to create intelligence network)

What’s the next U.S. terror threat?

“The past decade was defined by terrorism, starting with the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 that led to two wars and big changes in the way Americans travel and live.

What could the next decade hold?

To find out, USA TODAY reporters sat down with some of the nation’s top officials who deal with terrorism and intelligence issues day-to-day, including the White House national security adviser, the Homeland Security secretary and the FBI’s top intelligence adviser. Others interviewed: the New York City police commissioner, the Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman and the only person who has led both the top-secret National Security Agency and Central Intelligence Agency. “

(What’s the next U.S. terror threat? – USATODAY.com)

Senator: NYC to get security funding

“Sen. Charles Schumer says the Department of Homeland Security has approved funding for a program to protect New York City against a ‘dirty bomb’ or nuclear attack.

Schumer says the New York Police Department will receive $18.5 million out of a possible $20 million made available nationwide.”

(Source: Senator: NYC to get security funding – WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-.)

FBI illegally collected phone records by claiming terrorism emergencies: report

“The FBI illegally collected more than 2,000 telephone records between 2002 and 2006 by claiming the phone calls being made related to possible terrorism emergencies, according to a Washington Post report [text] Tuesday. According to the article, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) [official website] will soon release a report that is expected to build on an OIG report issued in 2007, which showed the FBI had improperly obtained phone records. The FBI released a statement [text] responding to the article saying the practice was discontinued in 2006, and:

the Bureau did not have in place adequate internal controls to ensure that the appropriate process was used and that appropriate records were kept to document the basis of any request to the phone companies that did not require legal process. Steps were taken as early as 2006 to ensure similar situations do not occur in the future.
“

(JURIST – Paper Chase: FBI illegally collected phone records by claiming terrorism emergencies: report)

Al-Qaeda has a new strategy. Obama needs one, too.

“In the wake of the failed Christmas Day airplane bombing and the killing a few days later of seven CIA operatives in Afghanistan, Washington is, as it was after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, obsessed with ‘dots’ — and our inability to connect them. ‘The U.S. government had sufficient information to have uncovered this plot and potentially disrupt the Christmas Day attack, but our intelligence community failed to connect those dots,’ the president said Tuesday. “

(Source: Al-Qaeda has a new strategy. Obama needs one, too. – washingtonpost.com)

Fears of Terrorism Could Worsen Already-Shaky Economy, Analysts Say

“With the U.S. economy showing signs of continued weakness and with the country still reeling in the wake of the Fort Hood massacre and the botched Christmas Day airline attack, economists are raising concerns that a ‘third strike’ — another terror attack in the U.S. — could deal a crippling blow to the nation’s economic recovery.

Political analysts and economists say President Obama’s announcement on Thursday that the government will strengthen a flawed national security system was of vital importance for Americans who wanted reassurance that protecting the nation is a top priority for his administration.”

(Source: FOXNews.com – Fears of Terrorism Could Worsen Already-Shaky Economy, Analysts Say)

U.S., Britain close embassies in Yemen

“Threats by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula against targets in Yemen prompted the closure of the U.S. and British embassies there Sunday, officials said.

‘There are indications that al Qaeda is planning to carry out an attack against a target inside of Sanaa, possibly our embassy,’ John Brennan, the assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ on Sunday. ‘And what we do is to take every measure possible to ensure the safety of our diplomats and citizens abroad, so the decision was made to close the embassy.’

The United States is working closely with the Yemeni government on the proper security precautions, he said.”

(Source: U.S., Britain close embassies in Yemen – CNN.com)