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CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

1. World
2. Africa
3. Americas
4. Asia Pacific
5. Europe
6. Middle East
7. South Asia
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
9. Finance
10 Human Rights
11. Law and Legal Issues
12. Transportation
13. Weapons of Mass Destruction
14. Recently Published

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Maritime Security Part 3: The Situation Today

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

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1. World

The World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were founded on July 22, 60 years ago. This anniversary launched the "Celebrating the Bretton Woods Institutions" exhibit and presented an opportunity to evaluate past experience and build for the future. As William Rhodes commented in the Financial Times (July 22), "Experience has shown that the right mix of policy and financing can reduce credit risks, restore investor confidence and act as the enabler for private finance even in the most severe crises". http://jolis.worldbankimflib.org/Bwf/index.htm, http://www.ft.com

The UN Security Council reviewed partnerships with regional organizations, leveraging the relative strengths of each. Regional groups play important roles in conflict prevention, management and resolution, especially when tackling root causes, while the Security Council maintains primary responsibility for global peace and security. The Council called for more frequent exchange of information and collaboration for building stability. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11417&Cr=peace&Cr1=security

The Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) called for the international community to develop a code of conduct for responding to hostage taking, that has become a preferred weapon for terrorists.
http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?ut=2&id=4246

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2. Africa

Burundi has completed a draft power-sharing agreement to complete the transition from civil war to a new constitution ahead of elections in October. It sets out ethnic representation of 60 percent Hutu, 40 percent Tutsi, and three seats allocated to Twa. Tutsis make up 15 percent of the population and have dominated the government since independence.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has implemented "far-reaching structural reforms", according to an IMF study issued this month, that also predicts that the country will take 45 years to reach the level of development it had in 1990. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=17234.0

Nigeria, home to three-quarters of all new polio infections, had good news from the northern state of Kano. They withdrew from the vaccination campaign following allegations that the US had contaminated the vaccine to render Muslim women infertile. Now they have obtained supplies from Indonesia they believe are safe and will immediately resume vaccination.

Rwanda has supported dissident military leaders in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in violation of the UN weapons embargo. This was the finding of a UN group of experts who reported they had directly witnessed and documented its actions. They also called on Uganda to investigate "complicity or involvement of Ugandan authorities and agents in certain border areas and restrict the provision of armed escorts, official transportation and other advantages to Ituri armed group leaders, except in the framework of international peace negotiations." DRC is bordered by nine countries that all have weak border controls, allowing easy flow of weapons. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11427&Cr=democratic&Cr1=congo

Somalia's proposed transitional parliament is scheduled for July 30 but the clans have missed the deadline for agreement on how to share seats and nominate representatives.

South Africa's land reform program is the subject of two reports on the Clipstone community in KwaZulu-Natal province. Researchers found that the poorest households, mostly large female-headed families, remain vulnerable and least likely to escape poverty because they lack the resources to take advantage of the land. Since the poorest households did not own cattle they would have been better off using the land as an equity investment in a joint venture with a commercial farmer. Important policy interventions include "education and vocational training, especially for women; better access to transport, jobs and banking facilities (to mobilize savings) in the long run; and improved and better targeting of social welfare grants for the chronically poor in the short run". Meanwhile, the South African government announced plans to investigate foreign land ownership and see what impact it has had on land reforms. Also in KwaZulu-Natal, ten bombs were found hidden in a storeroom of the provincial legislature: it is being investigated.
http://www.basis.wisc.edu/live/institutions/linear%20discriminant%20analysis.pdf
http://www.basis.wisc.edu/live/institutions/0406-poverty%20among%20land%20beneficiaries.pdf

Sudanese government forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) have improved relations in the Nuba Mountains, where a ceasefire is in place. In Darfur, by contrast, the situation is deteriorating. Rioting in border camps killed several people and at least 38 men were killed by a rebel attack on a relief convoy. In addition to government-backed militias continuing campaigns of destruction, there is increasing evidence of plans for forced repatriation, rape being used as a weapon of war and of the government recruiting, arming and providing operational support for the Janjawid militias. The international community, led by the UN and US, has stepped up pressure for concrete moves by the government, who continues to deny involvement with the militias. The US congress passed a resolution saying that genocide is being committed in Darfur and asks the Bush administration to prepare strong sanctions. Rebel leaders in Darfur from the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have agreed to start political negotiations. Meanwhile, additional humanitarian aid is needed.
http://www.irinnews.org/frontpage.asp?SelectRegion=East_Africa&SelectCountry=Sudan
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11413&Cr=sudan&Cr1=
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engafr540762004
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/07/20/darfur9095.htm
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11453&Cr=sudan&Cr1=
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sudan/story/0,14658,1242074,00.html

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3. Americas

July 19 marked the 25 anniversary of Nicaragua’s Sandinista revolution. That triggered revolutions across the region. Now, former BBC correspondent Mike Lanchin presents a 4-part series, " Central America: Legacies of Rebellion", in which he takes viewers "on a journey back to meet the key actors and the ordinary players from those heady days".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1731_centralamerica/index.shtml

Colombia's Department of National Planning reports that the number of kidnappings have fallen by almost half, from 1,906 in the first half of last year to 966 this year. There was a total of 21,000 kidnappings from 1996-2003. http://www.dnp.gov.co/ (in Spanish) Rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) say there will be no peace talks while President Uribe is in power but would negotiate with a new government.

Cuba and Mexico have agreed to reinstate their ambassadors in a signal that the tensions over the last few months, sparked by Cuban criticism for Mexico's support for the US, are easing.

The independent National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States issued its final report, blaming no one but apportioning responsibility to all. Individuals and institutions made repeated mistakes, over multiple administrations, of "policy, management, capability and, above all, imagination". The report does not say whether the attacks could or should have been prevented but made it clear that the magnitude of the threat was not understood and presents a damning picture of structural weaknesses and the failure of government to protect its people. It says that none of the measures taken "disturbed or even delayed the al Qaeda threat". The Commission described missed opportunities and proposed sweeping changes, of which the more controversial include establishing a cabinet-level intelligence position and new national counter-terrorism center to unify intelligence and operations. http://www.9-11commission.gov/

US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan will exceed budget by more than $12 billion this fiscal year and to make up this shortfall, the Pentagon will need to delay some activities and transfer funds from other accounts to military use. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, "Military Operations: Fiscal Year 2004 Costs for the Global War on Terrorism Will Exceed Supplemental, Requiring DOD to Shift Funds from Other Uses", is online at http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-915

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4. Asia Pacific

Australia's "Report of the Inquiry into Australian Intelligence Agencies" (the "Flood Report" has been released. The independent report finds that the decision to go to war in Iraq was based on "thin, ambiguous and incomplete" intelligence" but that the information had not been politicized. It also finds that there should have been more knowledge of Jemaah Islamiah but there was no specific warning of the 2002 Bali bombings.
http://www.pmc.gov.au/intelligence_inquiry/index.htm
http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases/media_Release1008.html
Key findings and links to other analysis http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/22/1090464790209.html

Indonesia's Constitutional Court ruled that anti-terrorism laws passed last year could not be used retroactively. The 32 militants convicted in the Bali bombings were not set free after the court said the 2002 attacks were an exception to the ruling, but the decision may give them an opportunity to appeal, particularly for the three sentenced to death. The decision could complicate cases in process against other alleged militants such as Abu Bakar Bashir, believed to be the head of Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

Malaysia's police intelligence chief said that Jemaah Islamiah elements are regrouping and, along with other militant groups, are planning new attacks.

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo reiterated their commitment to the "war on terror" and that foreign policy in this regard had not changed, despite the withdrawal of their small peacekeeping force in Iraq to meet demands of insurgents that had kidnapped and threatened to behead a Filipino worker.

Singapore has created a new agency, the National Security Coordination Secretariat, responsible for overseeing and coordinating transnational terrorism threats.

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5. Europe

Bosnia-Herzegovina celebrated the inauguration of the Bridge of Mostar, a centuries-old icon that collapsed into the Neretva River during shelling in the 1993 war. Now restored, it reunites the two sides of the city and acts as a symbol of Balkan reconciliation.

Cyprus marked the 30th anniversary of the July 20 Turkish invasion of the north. The Financial Times has published a Special Report that focuses on politics and the economy. http://www.ft.com/cyprus2004 For background on the conflict see https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2004/022204.html#FeatureArticle

Georgia and the separatist conflict in Abkhazia is the topic of a new report to the UN Security Council that finds there has been no substantive dialog on key issues that that without a comprehensive political settlement the situation will remain precarious. Today civilians struggle to deal with an unstable situation that includes numerous unpunished murders, robberies and abductions as well as human rights violations by security forces. http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2004/570 In the breakaway area of South Ossetia clashes between Georgian troops and separatists recurred last weekend. President Saakashvili pledges to bring both regions back under central authority.

Germany commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Stauffenberg plot - the July 20, 1944 effort to assassinate Hitler. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3908431.stm

In Greece, July 23 marks the 30th anniversary of the collapse of the military junta and installation of former prime minister Constantine Karamanlis.

In Moldova, linguistic cleansing efforts have continued, with authorities in the breakaway region of Transdniestria forcibly closing or interfering in the operations of schools that use Latin script. http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?id=4256

Dutch Interior Minister Remkes said he made a mistake about threats based on an al Qaeda letter that turned out not to exist and therefore an emergency debate in parliament was no longer necessary.

Russian President Putin has reorganized security departments. Painted as an efficiency measure, it seems also to be a reaction to recent setbacks in Chechnya. Commander of Russia Forces General Kvashnin lost power when operational control passed from him to the defense minister. Deputy head of security Yezhkov, charged with the North Caucuses operations, and two other officers, were dismissed. In Chechnya, a rebel landmine killed two soldiers; two were killed and eight wounded in an attack; and rebel gunfire killed a soldier in his truck.

British authorities are investigating the disappearance of papers, later found on the roadside near Heathrow airport, that contained confidential counter-terrorism plans for airport, including details about police measures and incident response.

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6. Middle East

Gaza militants continued protests against Yasser Arafat's administration by attacking Palestinian Authority buildings. Other fighting has been among Palestinians, including one episode in which, when a family tried to stop al Aqsa militants from launching rockets in their yard, the militants opened fire and killed a 16-year old boy and wounded 3 family members. The clashes began last week after Arafat nominated his cousin as head of security. Although the nomination was withdrawn, the candidate continues to head security in Gaza. The protestors, mainly from the al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, accuse Arafat and his colleagues of cronyism and corruption, but are also fighting for leadership in the Gaza Strip after the planned Israeli withdrawal. At this time, Israel is still in occupation and has continued their program of demolishing buildings. The operations have been accompanies by a number of injuries, and one helicopter missile strike killed three Islamic Jihad militants.

Iraq, the bordering countries of Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey, as well as Egypt, have agreed to a regional security plan to secure borders and cooperate to fight militant groups, including regular meetings and channels for exchange of intelligence and security information.

During the week in Iraq, kidnappings dominated the news. They have spread from threats against countries that provided troops to countries that stayed out of the war and have been attempting to deliver only humanitarian assistance. A group calling themselves "The Black Flags" (also translated as "The Holders of the Black Banners"), threatens execution of the hostages, including three Kenyans, three Indians and an Egyptian, if their companies or countries do not leave Iraq. None of the three countries participate in the US-led military operation. Kenya has called for all its citizens to leave Iraq immediately. The families and government of India have issued appeals for their release and emphasized that India will not send troops to Iraq. Cairo has also insisted it has not offered any troops.

Israeli judge Adi Azar was assassinated in a drive-by shooting. His is the first judicial assassination in Israeli history. Investigations are underway but at this time the motive is unknown and there are no suspects.

At Jordan's border a 4.5-hour firefight killed three gunmen and a fourth was captured, by an Israeli patrol, as they tried to enter Israel.

In Lebanon, senior Hezbollah militant Ghaleb Awali was assassinated using a remotely detonated car bomb. Sunni extremists of Jund al-Sham claimed responsibility but most believe the claim is false. Israel has denied responsibility, but militiamen who have previously collaborated with Israel are likely candidates. In an exchange of fire at the border, a Hezbollah fighter and two Israeli soldiers were killed. With increasing tension at the withdrawal line, the UN force is being extended for another six months. http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2004/572

Saudi security forces carried out operations in Riyadh, killing two suspected militants and injuring three. The amnesty for militants expired at midnight on Thursday, with only a few surrendering. The government plans a full-scale offensive operation.

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7. South Asia

Political intimidation in Afghanistan continues, including violence by extremists in the south and local authorities in the west curtailing expression and operations of registered political parties. http://www.aihrc.org.af/ The number of people killed by Taliban attacks, mostly in the south and east, so far this year now exceeds 800. Interim President Karzai has removed three provincial warlords from army command posts: two as police chiefs and one as governor. It is unclear that these promotions will reduce their military power. Raising further concerns, it may not be possible for NATO to provide promised security in time for the elections.
India's Andhra Pradesh state lifted the ban on Maoist rebels of the People's War Group (PWG) ahead of planned peace talks.

India and Pakistan foreign ministers held talks reviewing the peace process and ways to move it forward.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, deputy chief minister Mangat Ram Sharma escaped assassination for the second time in a week. The grenade attack on July 19 killed five and injured more than 40. Security measures are under review. In separate incidents, a bomb attack by militants of al-Nasirin killed three people but not the targeted ministers, and other militants broke into the home of a former policeman, killing him and four family members.

Nepal's Maoist rebels abducted more than 50 students and teachers from school but released them shortly thereafter. It was the first time such an event had occurred close to the capital.

Pakistan's paramilitary forces are reported to have undertaken a violent dispute over land in Punjab. The tract is owned by the army but has been farmed for generations. The military altered a 1913 contract under which the farmers were sharecroppers with rights, into rent-paying farmers who could be evicted. A rebellion has followed, beginning with nonviolent tax protests, and progressing to violent demonstrations. Human Rights Watch now reports that paramilitary forces have killed at least four, tortured dozens, and arrested hundreds. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42293
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/07/21/pakist9102.htm

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

The first handheld computer virus, for Microsoft's Windows Pocket PC, is a "proof of concept" called "Duts". http://www.bitdefender.com/bd/site/presscenter.php?menu_id=24&n_id=102

The US Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General reports on "Progress and Challenges in Securing the Nation's Cyberspace". The report finds a lack of coordination, poor communication, and failure to establish priorities leave the country vulnerable to more serious attacks that could result in "widespread disruption of essential services ... [that]... could delay the notification of emergency services, damage our economy and put public safety at risk". http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/OIG_CyberspaceRpt_Jul04.pdf

A new issue of "Digital Investigation - The International Journal of Digital Forensics and Incident Response" includes articles on legal issues, encryption and investigating mainframes. http://www.digitalinvestigation.net

Mi2g reports on false information posted on those internet security portals containing information on software vulnerabilities. In some cases, ransoms have been demanded to avoid negative publicity. http://www.mi2g.net/cgi/mi2g/press/200704.php

The US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) provided guidance for financial institutions on the risks of instant messaging and public file sharing. They say, "IM access may expose financial institutions to security, privacy, and legal liability risks" and offer information regarding risk management and mitigation. http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2004/fil8404a.html

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9. Finance

Northern Ireland's Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) has published "Organised Crime in Northern Ireland: A Report for the Secretary of State and Government Response" by Professor Ronald Goldstock. The Goldstock Report includes 21 recommendations. They include the need to strengthen cooperation between OCTF and prosecutors; engaging experts from industry and academia; removing financial incentives for fuel smuggling by aligning rates in Northern Ireland and the Republic; using multi-disciplinary teams to enhance investigations; and considering legislation to combat gangsterism similar to the US RICO law. http://www.octf.gov.uk/pdfs/goldstockorgrep.pdf
http://www.octf.gov.uk/news/newsstory.cfm?id=136

Following last week's US Senate report that said Riggs Bank helped former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet launder up to $8 million and evade asset seizure, a court in Chile has started an investigation into allegations of corruption. Taking a different tack, Equatorial Guinea plans to file criminal and civil suits against foreign media that commented on long-time dictator President Obiang Nguema's finances, and have warned local companies against broadcasting such information, saying it could jeopardize national security. Opposition groups plan legal action and hope that this could provide a wedge to help end Obiang's 25-year rule.

The European Commission, European Banking Federation, European Savings Banks Group, European Association of Cooperative Banks and European Association of Public Banks, in a public-private partnership, have produced a database of all persons, groups and entities subject to EU financial sanctions. http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/cfsp/news/ip04_734.htm

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has published a report on Germany's observance of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations. They find that Germany has "adopted a very comprehensive set or repressive measures with regard to money laundering and terrorist financing". Areas still to be addressed include ratification and implementation of the UN Convention on terrorist financing, criminalization of terrorist financing undertaken by individuals, not just organizations; and extending cross-border wire transfer requirements to those within the EU.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=17555.0

The World Bank reports that has been training officials from the banking and securities sectors in Bosnia Herzegovina in preparation for new legislation to combat money laundering and terrorist financing that comes into effect in November.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20225874~menuPK:34458~pagePK:64003015~piPK:64003012~theSitePK:4607,00.html

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10. Human Rights

The US Senate Armed Forces Committee held hearings on detention operation doctrine and training. The testimony focused on a report regarding investigations into abuse of prisoners by US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. In it, 94 cases were confirmed, including theft, physical assault, sexual assault, and death. It said there were no systematic problems contributing to the abuse, a conclusion the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has previously disputed.
http://armed-services.senate.gov/e_witnesslist.cfm?id=1284

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Special Representative on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings has called for creation of an international alliance against human trafficking, as part of a meeting discussing this topic. http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?ut=2&id=4257

The British Home Office has introduced a new rule requiring foreign ministers of religion must pass a basic test in the English language as part of immigration rules prior to entry.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/n_story.asp?item_id=1028

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11. Law and Legal Issues

The Caprivi 13, part of 120 people arrested for Caprivi Liberation Army (CLA)-led secessionist violence in 1999, had been released from treason charges but the Namibian Supreme Court has overruled that decision and the 13 men, including alleged CLA commander John Sambomba, will stand trial in August. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42303

Richard Costelow's family and six other families of victims of the October 2000 USS Cole attacks, have filed a $105 million lawsuit against Sudan, claiming they provided financing and training for the al Qaeda attackers.

Luis Echeverria, former President of Mexico, has been indicted in connection with the June 10, 1971 attack by paramilitaries against student protestors in which at least 25 civilians were killed.

Hsin Hui Hsu, a former US Agriculture Department employee, was sentenced to 21 months in prison as well as community service and fines, by a US federal court, for conspiracy to commit visa fraud in connection with illegally obtaining visas for Chinese nationals. http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/July/04_crm_503.htm

Gaspard Kanyarukiga, former Rwandan businessman, pleaded not guilty four counts of genocide and crimes against humanity at a UN war crimes tribunal. He is alleged to have transported police and Interahamwe militia to Nyange Church and of then supervising the massacre of some 2,000 civilians taking shelter there, in 1994. http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/PRESSREL/2004/399.htm

Scott Levine has been charged in a 144-count indictment filed in US court in connection with breaking into Acxiom computer records. Charges include conspiracy, unauthorized access of a protected computer, access device fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice. http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/July/04_crm_501.htm

Simon Lopez and 17 co-defendants have been indicted on twelve counts for activities connected with a drug and money laundering cartel. http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txs/releases/July2004/040720-Lopez.htm

Sidya Toure, former prime minister of Guinea and current head of the opposition Union Republican Forces (UFR) party, has been cleared by an appeals court, of a plot to overthrow the government. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42321

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12. Transportation

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have begun coordinated naval patrols of the Malacca Straits as part of measures to combat attacks from pirates or terrorists.

Australia has announced additional funding for maritime security, adding AU$102 million over four years. The funding will help to increase container examination rates, support more vessel inspections, extend the closed circuit network, pose immigration specialists to assist with border control at ports, and a number of other initiatives. http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases/media_Release1000.html

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13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

Investigations into the loss of two computer storage devices from Los Alamos nuclear weapons laboratory are underway. While the FBI investigates, 19 employees are under suspension, and the US Energy Department has ordered that all operations using "such controlled removable electronic media (CREM) as classified hard drives or computer discs conduct an immediate stand-down to improve procedures for protecting such media".
http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=16221&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASES&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE
http://www.lanl.gov/worldview/

The International Atomic Energy Agency announced plans for inspection in Iraq this month. They will examine remaining nuclear materials to ensure nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) conformance. http://www.iaea.or.at/

District authorities in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo prevented a team from the UN mission from visiting the collapsed Shinkolobwe uranium mine. The UN team wanted to assess the irradiation dangers, particularly since some 15,000 illegal workers have been removing uranium and cobalt. The local authorities said the mission had neither legitimate interest nor authorization to visit the mine. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42287

Carnegie has updated "WMD in Iraq: Evidence and Implications" to take into account information in the Senate Intelligence Committee report assessing pre-war assessments of Iraq. http://www.ceip.org/files/nonprolif/templates/article.asp?NewsID=6591

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14. Recently Published

Ken Ellingwood, "Hard Line: Life and Death on the US-Mexico Border" Pantheon

Stephen Flynn, "America the Vulnerable" Harper Collins http://www.harpercollins.com/catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0060571284
Author interview (audio)

Dean Godson, "Himself Alone: David Trimble and the Ordeal of Unionism" Harper Collins

Thaddeus Holt, "The Deceivers: Allied Military Deception in the Second World War" Scribner

Chua Mui Hoong, "A Defining Moment - How Singapore Beat SARS", Institute of Policy Studies (Singapore) The book is being released in conjunction with a photo exhibit. http://www.ips.org.sg/activities/calendar2004.htm
The author is a reporter for The Straits Times, where there are a number of related stories. http://straitstimes.asia1.com/singapore/story/0,4386,262950,00.html

Rashid Khalidi, "Resurrecting Empire: Western Footprints and America's Perilous Path in the Middle East" Beacon Press

Sankar Pal and Pabitra Mitra, "Pattern Recognition Algorithms for Data Mining" Chapman and Hall/CRC

Marcus Rediker, "Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age" Beacon

Christopher Whitcomb, "Black", Little Brown (novel) The author is a former FBI agent and member of the Hostage Rescue Team. An excerpt is available at http://www.christopherwhitcomb.com/writing/black/chptr1.htm and an author interview at http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/au-whitcomb-christopher.asp

Siva Vaidhyanathan, "The Anarchist in the Library: How the Clash Between Freedom and Control is Leaving Cyberspace and Entering the Real World" Basic

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FEATURE ARTICLE: Maritime Security Part 3: The Situation Today

On July 1 the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) took effect. It modifies the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to take into account contemporary risks and ensure there are standard ways to assess risk and mitigation methods, as has been discussed in parts 1 and 2 of this series. This week we take a look at where the new security measures stand.

There are 148 governments that have signed on to the 1974 SOLAS Convention. That includes more than 98 percent of the gross tonnage carried in merchant ships around the world. At the end of June, security plans had been submitted for approval from 79 percent of ships under the code.

The International Maritime Organization released figures showing that ISPS compliance by ships and ports has edged over the 50 percent mark and that early indications are that the new security measures have not created chaos in international trade. Based on information from 46 governments there were 11,996 ships issued International Ship Security Certificates (53.2 percent). Eighty-six governments provided port facility information. Of nearly 8,000 facilities, 53.4 percent had their Port Facility Security Plans approved.

Two high-risk areas had particularly high compliance rates. The 118 vessels among members of the International Council of Cruise Lines reached 100 percent compliance. The International Parcel Tankers Association, specializing in chemical tankers, had 99 percent compliance out of 429 ships. These are two of the non-governmental organizations that have a consultative status with IMO.

Another in this category is Intertanko. Of their 2,175 ships liable to the code, 71 percent had received their certificates. They provide specific information by country and port. All ports in Algeria, New Zealand and Yemen are compliant. In most areas, the major facilities are compliant, but serious gaps remain.

The United States is a case in point. In the US ISPS enabling legislation is the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA). The Coast Guard is the lead agency responsible for MTSA implementation, including setting regulations and providing for inspections and enforcement. In addition Customs Border Patrol (CBP) is responsible for container security initiatives.
The overall strategy to secure the US maritime industry is in the hands of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They put together a strategy to cover the layers of maritime security overseas, in transit, in US waters and on US shores. For overseas, it includes such measures such as the 24-hour advance manifest , Customs-Trade partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), the Container Security Initiative and Operation Safe Commerce. In transit, initiatives include smart boxes, automates targeting, Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) and advance notice of arrival. In the US they include security boardings; automatic identification; screening for radiological, chemical or biological agents; identity cards; grant programs; and many other components.

The maritime industry in the US is huge. DHS cites these facts for consideration:
* Over 95 percent of the nations overseas cargo moves through US ports
* There are 76 million recreational boaters in the US and they spent over $30.3 billion on boats and accessories in 2003
* Worldwide, 5.8 billion tons of goods were traded by sea in 2001. This accounts for over 80 percent of world trade by volume
* Over 318 billion gallons of petroleum products are shipped in vessels on US waterways in a year
* Cruise Ships calling at US ports carry over 6 million passengers per year

MTSA calls for the owners and operators of 9,200 vessels (such as cargo ships, ferries and barges) and 3,150 port facilities (including shipping terminals and factories with hazardous materials) to develop and submit security plans by July 1, 2004. Compliance inspections of all facilities are targeted for completion by January 1, 2005 and for vessels by July 1, 2005. So where does this stand?

The plan called for some 12,300 plans to be submitted by July 1, under one of two options. First they could develop their own plan and submit it to the Coast Guard for review. Second, certain industry groups were allowed to develop industry-based standard plans and the individual owner or operator could self-certify their adherence to that template. The Coast Guard reported that 90 percent complied with one or the other option by the deadline and that most others subsequently complied. There were 67 facilities and 90 vessels that failed to comply, with eight owners or operators fined a $25,000 penalty. Of the plans submitted, 5,923 were prepared under option 2 that means there is no review of the individual plan. About 62 percent of all vessel plans are being developed under this option, and some 7 percent of facility plans. Of the 6,400 plans submitted under option 1, every one of them had deficiencies that had to be revised before approval and a majority of the revisions are still in review, mostly for facilities.

These facilities and vessels have for the most part been allowed to continue operating. The Coast Guard in its enforcement role provided this information about foreign vessels complying with ISPS in the first week:
Total foreign vessel arrivals: 232
Number of foreign vessels (including above) inspected and approved before July 1: 151
Number of foreign vessels inspected in port: 52
Number of foreign vessels inspected at sea: 3
Number of foreign vessels denied entry beginning July 1: 19
Number of foreign vessels detained in port beginning July 1: 30

The Coast Guard reported that the most common deficiencies for facility plans included insufficient detail of responses to elevated threat levels and what security measures would be put in place to control access. For vessels, common deficiencies included inadequate description of conducting security drills and exercises, insufficient access control, and inadequate description of the qualifications and responsibilities for those responsible for the security programs.

Of course, this is all still at the planning stage. The challenge of implementing these plans still lies ahead. The Coast Guard is responsible for monitoring and oversight of these implementations. To put this in perspective, a force of around 40,000 (about the same as the number of police in New York City) cover some 95,000 miles of shoreline, using one of the oldest fleets in the world. The presents a substantial workload and as yet neither public nor private resources appear to be in place to support it. This includes sufficient inspection personnel, training, performance-based rather than uniform inspection standards, funding, and long-term commitment. (Details of these issues are in a GAO report cited below.)

Neither container nor port security is adequately funded. For example, in the US over the last three years some $500 million has been spent on grants to secure ports. (This is less than what is spent in 3 days in Iraq.) Container security has been largely deferred to the private sector although the government has invested in some scanning equipment. Deploying scanning technology at international ports would cost around $800 million, but that investment has not been made. Countries with even fewer resources than the US present even higher risks. A container can pass more than a dozen waypoints during transit, each presenting another vulnerability.

Security measures are, as always, only as effective as the weakest link. ISPS and other shipping regulations operate through multilateral treaties that are as effective only as the provisions are implemented and enforced by each government. To assure the level of communication and collaboration required under ISPS requires not just technology and laws and frameworks, but also fundamental cultural change. Assessment of risk is difficult in the best of circumstances. As yet there is no evidence that sharing these vulnerabilities with other governments will ever take place as envisioned in the international frameworks. On the other hand, the movement towards open source and open information in other areas may provide a counter example that has been very successful.

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