By
Sridhar Natarajan
As we celebrate dictators driven out of power in the Middle East, it is imperative not to lose focus on what is happening closer home. If national security analysts deem the crisis in Libya important enough to send American forces in, surely there must be a more obvious show of outrage with the way drug cartels have left the Mexican government powerless south of our border. Perhaps the two biggest concerns over the years at … (Continue reading . . .)
By
Gulnaz Saiyed
I’ve had a 15-year-old eighth-grader look me in the eye and tell me he’d make more money trafficking drugs than I made as his teacher. Although he had failed the year before and could barely read, he was right about this. I’ve heard whispers of how much money a young man like him could make driving through the border checkpoint north of us in Falfurrias, and I must say it put my salary as a … (Continue reading . . .)
By
Michelle M. Stein
One of the biggest threats to national security may not come from terrorists, home grown or otherwise. One of the biggest threats to national security is Mother Nature. She may also be one of the most expensive. Check out the timeline to learn more about how many disaster areas have been declared since the beginning of 2011 and when the nastiest bouts of nature occurred. 2011 had not been a good year for disasters. … (Continue reading . . .)
By
Amarita Bansal
An analysis of TSA’s Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) program suggests it is an effective tool in identifying suspicious behaviors amongst airline passengers. Congressional testimony of Larry Willis, program manager for the Science and Technology Directorate, argued that behavioral science and security is effective. The evaluation compared the SPOT Referral Report process with a random screening process to see whether the correct screening decisions are made. As a result, it was found that … (Continue reading . . .)
By
Amarita Bansal
While pointing lasers into an aircraft cockpit could eventually become a federal crime, the Federal Aviation Administration will start imposing civil penalties against offenders as a violation of federal aviation regulations. The effects of shining bright lasers on an aircraft could create temporarily blindness for a pilot, which could endanger the lives and safety of passengers. Chris Dancy, media relations director for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association said, “Illuminating an aircraft with a laser … (Continue reading . . .)
By
Kristen Barbaresi
When I got the Muslim community beat for civil liberties and national security reporting, my initial thought was: This will be a piece of cake. I was right. Finding stories each week was simple. However, over the course of the quarter, I realized my approach to the beat was skewed and a little bit naïve. I began the quarter aware of the inaccurate stigmas attached to the community. But, after a couple of posts about … (Continue reading . . .)
By
Bob Spoerl
European officials are taking a closer look at the safety of food supplies. Britain’s infrastructure safety agency released a warning about the growing threat of agroterrorism. A recent E. Coli outbreak in Germany has killed 25 people and sickened more than 2,700 as of June 8. Some are wondering whether the outbreak was calculated. So how much of a threat is food terrorism in the United States? “Contamination of our food supply is a matter … (Continue reading . . .)
By
Tatiana Kouskoulas
What is more at stake, our civil liberties or our security? Last year 1,506 federal surveillance applications were submitted and approved. Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, court warrants grant the government broad authority to secretly monitor the electronic communications and physical search of persons engaged in espionage or international terrorism against the U.S on behalf of a foreign power. Between 2009 and 2010, there was a 13 percent increase in government requests … (Continue reading . . .)
By
Tatiana Kouskoulas
How much safer do Americans feel now that Osama Bin Laden is dead? Hardly at all, according to a Newsweek and Daily Beast poll of 1,200 adults, conducted in the two days immediately prior to President Obama’s Sunday announcement and immediately after. Bin Laden is dead. But terrorism still exists. Only 26 percent of Americans surveyed said they now feel safer. And 67 percent said they were seriously concerned about national security. According to this … (Continue reading . . .)
By
Tatiana Kouskoulas
In late January, thousands outside of Chicago’s Cultural Center celebrated as Governor Pat Quinn signed the new Civil Union legislation. Taking effect June 1, 2011, this gave a few months for county registrars and county clerks to prepare for handing out civil union licenses. Yet what are the implications? To many, this new law simply means civil union for same-sex couples, with rights similar to those in marriage. However, uncertainty in the full reach of … (Continue reading . . .)
