The Domestic IED Threat

[unhappycamper]

The Domestic IED Threat
Joint Forces Quarterly | John Kress and Steven Grogger | December 05, 2007

Terrorists have clearly demonstrated both the intent and capability to employ improvised explosive devices (IEDs) worldwide. This tactic has been used by the Irish Republican Army in Britain, insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Medellin cartel in Colombia, Muslim extremists in London, and numerous other terrorist and criminal organizations. Intelligence estimates support the conclusion that terrorists will continue to use IEDs to achieve their objectives. As seen in Iraq, "the various recovered terrorist training manuals describe in great detail the process by which operatives can convert common chemicals into explosives. In addition, their instruction manuals demonstrate the ease by which explosives can be manufactured by the average person with a limited knowledge of chemistry." It will take a joint effort at all levels of government to mitigate this threat to the homeland.

On February 12, 2007, President George W. Bush signed Homeland Security Presidential Directive-19 (HSPD-19), which addresses the threat of terrorist use of explosives and IEDs in the United States. The directive states that with our open and free society, this threat will be a challenge because of the ready availability of potential IED materials and components, evolving tactics for employment, and the ease with which instructions can be found to create them for numerous operational requirements and targets. These challenges are addressed and mitigated by the directive's focus on a layered security strategy.

The layered security strategy will "deter, prevent, and detect terrorist use of explosives before threats become imminent and ensure that protection and response efforts effectively neutralize or mitigate attacks should they occur." HSPD-19 tasks the Department of Justice to develop a national strategy for IED incidents and to produce an IED annex to the National Response Plan. HSPD-19 also directs Department of Homeland Security (DHS) collaboration throughout this process. The threat of IEDs in the homeland and the release of HSPD-19 have prompted several exercises and joint conferences to determine how this strategy will be implemented in an interagency environment.

Currently, several Federal agencies have responsibility for different aspects of the IED threat to the homeland. Under a possible recommendation addressed in HSPD-19, a Federal Government entity may be created to coordinate these multiple agencies to ensure that the national IED strategy is synchronized in regard to training, research and development, intelligence, and national initiatives.

The Office of Bombing Prevention (OBP) is the DHS lead agent for ensuring that diverse IED security programs nationwide function together to meet evolving bombing threats. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff tasked the OBP with leading the collaborative effort to develop the national strategy for IEDs, which addresses the 11 requirements prescribed in HSPD-19, including an inventory of existing statutes, regulations, and policies, and an assessment of the combined governmental capability to deal with IED threats or events. The OBP is dedicated to enhancing and coordinating the Nation's ability to detect, deter, prevent, and respond to attacks that use IEDs against critical infrastructure, key resources, and soft targets.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/forums/0,15240,157650,00.html?wh=wh



uhc comment: I'll bet this is where H.R. 1955 and S. 1959 came from -->

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2410187
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2388850

[sam sarrha]

1. so what will they do with all the homeless pushing shopping carts full of all they own..

this will get out of hand quickly if the ReThugs get control if it