Intelligence
GSN's reporting on intelligence matters includes espionage techniques used by the CIA and its overseas adversaries, identity theft in the U.S., GPS and mapping technologies promoted by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and other government organizations and privacy issues surrounding innovative forms of surveillance.
CBP arrests subject of "America's Most Wanted" TV show at border crossing
February 16th, 2009
A 23-year-old man who was wanted by the FBI for alleged homicide, kidnapping, battery and escape – and is featured on the Web site of the TV show "America's Most Wanted" – was apprehended by Customs and Border Protection as he walked through the port of entry in San Ysidro, CA, on Feb. 14 at about 10:15 PM.
DNI Blair spotlights 'emerging' security threats
February 12th, 2009
In his Feb. 12 public testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the new Director of National Intelligence, retired Admiral Dennis Blair, spotlighted "significant" security threats facing the nation that included at least one area -- global climate change -- that was, until recently, dismissed and disparaged by the former administration.
In addition to global climate change, Blair's list of "emerging areas of concern" included the global economic crisis and its "destabilizing impact on allies and adversaries"; the need for access to natural resources, such as food, water and "clean global energy resources" in a world where the population is expected to increase by a staggering one billion persons by 2025; and "cyber security and threats to the U.S. information infrastructure posed by both state and
non-state actors."
Chicago cousins plead guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists
January 16th, 2009
Zubair Ahmed, 29, and Khaleel Ahmed, 28, cousins who are Chicago residents, have pled guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.
The cousins were charged with providing material support and resources, including themselves as personnel.
The plea, made this week in the Northern District of Ohio, acknowledged their efforts to travel abroad in order to murder or maim U.S. military forces in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to a Department of Justice statement.
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The lessons of Mumbai
January 9th, 2009
How did the Federal Bureau of Investigation react to the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks, in which six U.S. citizens were killed? And what are the lessons of the attack for Americans?
Those were the questions addressed by FBI Chief Intelligence Officer Donald Van Duyn in his Jan. 8 statement before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Three days after the Mumbai attacks began, the Bureau's Los Angeles Rapid Deployment Team and several "critical personnel" from FBI headquarters arrived in Mumbai. The team's mandate was to "assist the Indian government with its investigation, determine who was responsible for the deaths of Americans in the attacks, uncover any possible U.S. nexus to the attacks and any other related threats to U.S. citizens or interests abroad, and share intelligence and other lessons learned with rest of the U.S. intelligence and law enforcement communities."
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Newest Air Force One aircraft to arrive in 2017
January 8th, 2009
The U.S. Air Force is beginning to look for contractors capable of building the next generation of Air Force One which, unfortunately for President-elect Barack Obama, will not be put into service until at least 2017.
Maryland man pleads guilty to conspiracy to act as an Iraqi agent
January 8th, 2009
A 67-year-old Iraqi national living in Maryland, Saubhe Jassim Al-Dellemy, has pled guilty to charges that he conspired to act as an agent of Iraq under the Saddam Hussein regime.
The guilty plea was announced recently by Patrick Rowan, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod Rosenstein.
“Since coalition forces invaded Iraq in 2003, the Justice Department has charged at least a dozen people who served in the United States as illegal agents for the former Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein or its feared intelligence service, the Mukhabbarat," Rowan said in a statement.
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U.S. Marshals Service to procure 1,000 surveillance kits
January 6th, 2009
The U.S. Marshals Service plans to purchase 1,000 Kevlar reinforced professional grade 2-wire surveillance kits for its Investigative Services Division in Springfield, VA.
Coast Guard ignores one commenter's warning on Obama inaugural
December 17th, 2008
The U.S. Coast Guard received only one anonymous comment to its published proposal to establish a maritime security zone on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers from Jan. 14 through Jan. 25 to enhance security during Barack Obama's upcoming Jan. 20 inauguration, but it disagreed with the lone writer's concerns.
