Archive for July, 2012

Consequences of the Fall of the Syrian Regime

From STRATFOR:

By George Friedman

We have entered the endgame in Syria. That doesn’t mean that we have reached the end by any means, but it does mean that the precondition has been met for the fall of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. We have argued that so long as the military and security apparatus remain intact and effective, the regime could endure. Although they continue to function, neither appears intact any longer; their control of key areas such as Damascus and Aleppo is in doubt, and the reliability of their personnel, given defections, is no longer certain. We had thought that there was a reasonable chance of the al Assad regime surviving completely. That is no longer the case. At a certain point — in our view, after the defection of a Syrian pilot June 21 and then the defection of the Tlass clan — key members of the regime began to recalculate the probability of survival and their interests. The regime has not unraveled, but it is unraveling.

The speculation over al Assad’s whereabouts and heavy fighting in Damascus is simply part of the regime’s problems. Rumors, whether true or not, create uncertainty that the regime cannot afford right now. The outcome is unclear. On the one hand, a new regime might emerge that could exercise control. On the other hand, Syria could collapse into a Lebanon situation in which it disintegrates into regions held by various factions, with no effective central government. Read the rest of this entry »

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Springfield Armory’s M1A

American Rifleman has an informative article on the history of the civilian M1A and how Springfield Armory took advantage of an opportunity.

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FBI WMD Training Workshop in New Orleans

WMD Training Workshop Tests Massive Response

 

WMD disaster scenario illustrates the need to train with fellow first responders. Details

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TSA Screeners Plead Guilty to Smuggling Drugs

If the DHS and TSA put as much effort in to policing their own employees as they do into looking for fingernail clippers and harassing flyers maybe I wouldn’t mind going through the  “security theater”.

Who Watches The Watchmen?

Two TSA Screeners Agree to Plead Guilty to Conspiracy Charges in Scheme to Smuggle Narcotics Through Security Checkpoints at LAX

July 24, 2012
– Los Angeles

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Turning Cruise Missiles into Decoys

Raytheon is doing just that according to Defense Industry Daily.

With its range and loiter time, however, MALD lends itself to other uses as well. One obvious use is to install radar jamming equipment, instead of radar reflecting equipment. The resulting system can add realism to an incoming wave of MALD decoys while neutralizing specific threats, or fly ahead on a mission of its own. The “MALD-J” electronics will have to be powerful enough to be useful, however, while remaining small and light enough to fit into a 300 pound MALD decoy.

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UAV Based On A Maple Seed

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Bank Robberies

Robbery of TCF Bank Branch in Elmhurst

July 23, 2012
– Chicago

Robbery of Wells Fargo Bank Branch in Sunrise

July 23, 2012
– Miami

Robbery of Midland State Bank Branch in Joliet

July 24, 2012
– Chicago

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Meteor Missile Seeks Customer in U.S. Airforce

The Meteor is a European made ramjet missile that is looking to be exported. From Defense Industry Daily:

Latest generation, highly maneuverable aircraft have the ability to outrun or outmaneuver conventional missiles at the extremes of their range, where their energy state is weakest. In contrast, the Meteor’s Bayern-Chemie solid propellant, throttleable, ducted-ramjet motor gives it sustained Mach 4 speed in order to chase and destroy targets even at the outer edges of the missile’s 100+ km/ 60+ mile range.

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AK-47 Bandit

‘AK-47 Bandit’ Serial Robber Strikes Again

 

Public assistance is requested in the search for a man suspected of robbing banks in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and the Seattle area while brandishing an assault rifle. Details

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Marines To Turn Tankers into Gunships

According to Defense Industry Daily, the Marines are considering a plan that would allow them to transform their C-130 tankers into gunships without having to purchase AC-130s.

 

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Syrian Agent Senteced to 18 Months

Virginia Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Acting as Unregistered Agent for Syrian Government

July 20, 2012
– Washington

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Sally Ride Dead

Sally Ride died yesterday after battling pancreatic cancer.

Military Times and Wired have more.

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Chinook Medical Gear

Chinook Medical Gear has a wide range of products for military/EMT personnel or just the average citizen.

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FBI: 5K Reward for Info on Florida Bank Robbery

FBI Offers $5,000 Reward for Information on Bank Robbery Suspect in 2011 Robbery

July 23, 2012
– Miami

Robbery of Great Florida Bank Branch in Plantation

July 18, 2012
– Miami

AK-47 Bandit Linked to Recent Bank Robbery Near Seattle

July 18, 2012
– Los Angeles

AK-47 Bandit Strikes Again

An alleged serial bank robber known as the AK-47 Bandit has struck again. The FBI needs your help to identify and track him down.
– Wanted by the FBI

Armed Robberies of a Citizens Bank Branch in Philadelphia

July 23, 2012
– Philadelphia

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FBI Briefs Congress on New ID Tech and How It Affects Citizen’s Privacy

CJIS Executive Briefs Congress on Next Generation Identification Initiative

July 18, 2012

Jerome Pender, deputy assistant director of our Criminal Justice Information Services Division, updated members of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law on the status of the Bureau’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) program.

 

What Facial Recognition Technology Means for Privacy and Civil Liberties

Jerome M. Pender , Deputy Assistant Director, Criminal Justice Information Services Division , Federal Bureau of Investigation , Statement Before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law

– Washington, D.C.

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