Archive for December, 2012

The Benghazi Report and the Diplomatic Security Funding Cycle

The Benghazi Report and the Diplomatic Security Funding Cycle is republished with permission of Stratfor.”

By Scott Stewart
Vice President of Analysis

On Dec. 18, the U.S. State Department’s Accountability Review Board released an unclassified version of its investigation into the Sept. 12 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the attack, so the report was widely anticipated by the public and by government officials alike.

Four senior State Department officials have been reassigned to other duties since the report’s release. Among them were the assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security; two of his deputy assistant secretaries, including the director of the Diplomatic Security Service, the department’s most senior special agent; and the deputy assistant secretary responsible for Libya in the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

The highly critical report and the subsequent personnel reassignments are not simply a low watermark for the State Department; rather, the events following the attack signify another phase in the diplomatic security funding cycle. The new phase will bring about a financial windfall for the State Department security budgets, but increased funding alone will not prevent future attacks from occurring. After all, plenty of attacks have occurred following similar State Department budgetary allocations in the past. Other important factors therefore must be addressed.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Two Sri Lankan Terrorists Extradited to United States

Two Alleged Operatives of the Tamil Tigers Terrorist Organization Extradited to Brooklyn

Dec. 27, 2012

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D.C. Police Investigating NBC News’s Gregory

From Rueters:

Gregory held up what appeared to be a 30-round gun magazine – which would be barred under Washington municipal code – while hosting the nationally broadcast interview with National Rifle Association Chief Executive Officer Wayne LaPierre.

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Magazine Sales Explode at Brownells

From Guns.com:

To shed some more light on the magazine situation at present, it really has been unprecedented in the last 5 days. During a roughly the 72 hour period from Sunday afternoon to Monday evening we sold the ‘average demand’ equivalent of about 3.5 years worth of PMAGS, and and an even greater amount of our Brownells magazines. We’re working like crazy to get these orders to you as quickly as possible.

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Reloading the AK

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In Pakistan, Mixed Results From a Peshawar Attack

In Pakistan, Mixed Results From a Peshawar Attack is republished with permission of Stratfor.”

By Ben West

The Pakistani Taliban continue to undermine Pakistan’s government and military establishment, and in doing so, they continue to raise questions over the security of the country’s nuclear arsenal. On Dec. 15, 10 militants armed with suicide vests and grenades attacked Peshawar Air Force Base, the site of a third major operation by the Pakistani Taliban since May 2011. Tactically, the attack was relatively unsuccessful — all the militants were killed, and the perimeter of the air base was not breached — but the Pakistani Taliban nonetheless achieved their objective.

The attack began the night of Dec. 15 with a volley of three to five mortar shells. As the shells were fired, militants detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device near the perimeter wall of the air base. Reports indicate that all five militants inside the vehicle were killed. The other five militants engaged security forces in a nearby residential area and eventually were driven back before they could enter the air base. The next day, security forces acting on a report of suspicious activity confronted the militants, who all died in the resultant shootout. Read the rest of this entry »

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MasterPiece Arms Introduces New MPAR 556 Rifle for 2013

COMER, GA – MasterPiece Arms, manufacturers of the MPA MAC Line of semi-auto submachine pistols and carbines, is pleased to announce the new MPAR 556 Rifle, which will be unveiled at the 2013 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada and made available for purchase in the first quarter of 2013.This feature heavy design has been under development throughout 2012 and will feature some serious upgrades, including a short stroke piston design and a lightweight, free floating, two piece aluminum handguard with user located picatinny rails. It will also include an innovative front handguard cap to keep debris out of the internals of the handguards while providing strength and stability to the assembly. The MPAR 556 Rifle will also contain a side folder 6-position polymer buttstock, locked bolt action, and a side charging-handle with forward-assist. The MPAR 556 Rifle is compatible with AR15 / M16 magazines.

The MPAR 556 Rifle will be phosphate / hard coat anodized depending on the material. Disassembly will be very user friendly, both for access to the internals of the weapon, as well as the piston assembly housed in the front handguard. This gun is American Made and offers the MasterPiece Arms Lifetime Guarantee. MSRP is $959.00.

Visit MasterPiece Arms at Booth 2716 at the 2013 SHOT Show, held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV January 15 – 18, 2013.

About MasterPiece Arms:
MasterPiece Arms main offices located in Carrollton, GA and manufacturing in Comer, GA, combines quality engineering and state-of-the-art manufacturing to design and produce firearms, such as the re-innovated MAC Defender Series. MasterPiece Arms uses high accuracy CNC machining, turning, laser cutting and bending in its manufacturing process controlled by their ISO9002/TS16949 Registered Quality System.

MPA engineers, tests and re-tests our weapons to provide customers with one of the most enjoyable guns available. With versatile uses such as protection, hunting, tactical or novelty interests, MPA products are one of a kind and backed by a lifetime warranty for original owners. Learn more MasterPiece Arms products at www.masterpiecearms.com, or call 866.803.0000.

 

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Portland Shooter Confronted By Concealed Carry Holder

From KGW.com:

“He was working on his rifle,” said Meli.  “He kept pulling the charging handle and hitting the side.”

The break in gunfire allowed Meli to pull out his own gun, but he never took his eyes off the shooter.

From The Truth About Guns:

What we now know was the beginning of gunman Jacob Tyler Roberts’s shooting spree came as a complete shock to everyone. Nick, holding young Noah at the time, turned to Casey and said, “Are you serious?!?”. Casey’s simple answer? “Yes”. As Ashley told us, Nick tossed Noah to her and drew his concealed carry weapon in a single motion.

From The Volokh Conspiracy:

On December 11, Jacob Tyler Roberts killed two people at the mall and wounded a third. Nick Meli, who had a concealed carry license, was apparently at the mall, took out his gun, aimed at Roberts, but didn’t shoot because there was someone running across the field of fire. Meli then took cover, and Roberts shot and killed himself.

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Is Boko Haram More Dangerous Than Ever?

Is Boko Haram More Dangerous Than Ever? is republished with permission of Stratfor.”

By Scott Stewart
Vice President of Analysis

On Nov. 25, Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group from northern Nigeria, attacked a church in Jaji, Kaduna state, using two suicide bombers during the church’s weekly religious service. The first bomb detonated in a vehicle driven into the church, and the second detonated approximately 10 minutes later, when a crowd of first responders gathered at the scene. About 30 people were killed in the attacks; the second blast caused the majority of the deaths. The incident was particularly symbolic because Jaji is the home of Nigeria’s Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and many of the churchgoers were senior military officers.

In the wake of the Jaji attacks, media reports quoted human rights groups saying that Boko Haram has killed more people in 2012 than ever before. The group has killed roughly 770 people this year, leading many to conclude that Boko Haram has become more dangerous.

However, it is important to look beyond the sheer number of fatalities when drawing such conclusions about a group like Boko Haram. Indeed, a less cursory look at the group reveals that while 2012 has been a particularly deadly year, the Nigerian government has curtailed the group’s capabilities. In terms of operational planning, the group has been limited to simple attacks against soft targets in or near its core territory. In other words, Boko Haram remains deadly, but it is actually less capable than it used to be, relegating the group to a limited, regional threat unless this dynamic is somehow altered.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Dismantling the Triangle Terror Group

Dismantling the Triangle Terror Group

Inside the four-year investigation of a North Carolina man’s terrorism conspiracy. Details

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Iran Preparing for Nuclear War

From: The Washington Times

Despite the statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel’s red line on Iran’s illicit nuclear program could be reached by next spring, Iranian officials are adamant that war is close.

In analyzing Mr. Netanyahu’s recent speech to the United Nations General Assembly, an Iranian nuclear policy strategist boasted to state media outlet irannuc.ir that Mr. Netanyahu’s red line is based on the current enrichment process to the 20 percent level at the Fordow nuclear facility. A recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report shows Iran has 90 kilograms of 20 percent enrichment, needing just 130 kilograms of such material for a nuclear bomb, which the Israelis conclude will happen by next spring.

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Joe Biden Accidentally Helped Us All E-Mail in Private

From: Danger Room

In the late ’80s and early ’90s, Phil Zimmermann was a Colorado peacenik with a half-written program that he swore would one day let people exchange messages without Big Brother peering inside. The problem was, with a freelance job and two kids, Zimmermann could never quite find the time to finish the damn code — until Joe Biden came along.

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What Rifle To Buy?

From Military Arms Channel:

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San Diego Woman Sentenced for Providing Support to Foreign Terrorists

From FBI:

Nima Yusuf, 25, received a custodial sentence of eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today.

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Cyber Crime Ring Dismantled

The FBI and its international law enforcement partners have dismantled an international cyber crime ring linked to the Butterfly Botnet, which steals computer users’ credit card, bank account, and other personal identifiable information. Details

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