Surveillance

President's budget shortchanges missile defense of airlines
The defense of commercial airlines from shoulder-mounted missiles appeared to be one of the biggest homeland security projects of the next three years, but you wouldn’t know it from Bush’s budget proposal: In fiscal 2006 the project received $108 million; in fiscal 2007, $5 million
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Homeland security company spins off commercial trace location service
Versatile Nebraska-based company developed GPS systems for homeland security but now wants to use the technology in other markets as well
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A4S shows rugged, survivable video surveillance device
It is not enough to have monitoring and surveillance devices installed in public places; to be of use, these devices and their recording must withstand the power of an explosion, and this is where A4S comes in
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GAO report slams Bush, Chertoff for Katrina lack of preparation, slow response
Michael Brown was the public face of the federal government’s failures before and during Katrina; new GAO report says President Bush and Secretary Chertoff should share more of the blame
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Trend: Remote monitoring of nuclear weapon proliferation
More nuclear reactors are being built as nations try to lessen dependence on foreign oil and comply with environmental regulations, but more nuclear reactors mean more weapon proliferation risk and need for new and more effective remote monitoring technology
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BAE in homeland security deal in India
Homeland security is a major preoccupation in India, and BAE signs large contract to update that country’s border and maritime surveillance
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The long view

Fusion centers, created to fight domestic terrorism, suffering from mission creep: Critics
Years before the 9/11 attacks, law enforcement agencies throughout the country, alarmed by the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, began to monitor and investigate signs of domestic terrorism. That increased monitoring, and the need for coordination among various law enforcement agencies, gave rise to the fusion centers. A new report, which is supported by current and former law enforcement and government officials, concludes that post-9/11, fusion centers and the FBI teams which work with them shifted their focus from domestic terrorism to global terrorism and other crimes, including drug trafficking.Experts say that at a time when the number of domestic terrorism threats, many of which are linked to right-wing extremist groups, is surging, law enforcement must refocus their attention on the threats from within.
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