So it begins to unwind!

Kia Ora,

The Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India finish later this week & after numerous protests over the amount of security hampering the crowds it would appear from comments from one of administrators that security will be relaxed a little.

You always knew that the constant moaning by the bigger teams about the restrictive security would result in the strings been loosened.

Smart terrorists will wait because if there is no attacks after some lessening in security then the pressure will go on to lessen it further.

I have already heard one New Zealand media rep say that the terrorist threat had not eventuated.

It just shows how little they know.
The History of Terrorism: From Antiquity to al Qaeda
The most dangerous time is at the beginning or end of an event. Or arriving & leaving a site.

A common thought in Iraq (& from what I have read & heard in Afghanistan also applies) was you were not there until you had your feet on the ground & you hadn't got clear of the threat until you hit the ground at home.
Inside Terrorism
What this meant was when flying into Iraq especially on your first day on a contract, it wasn't real until you were there. During one suicide bombing campaign in Baghdad those of us returning from leave were stuck with a group going in for the first time for nine days in Amman, Jordan.

When leaving it was not uncommon for you to have to report several days in a row to the airport to see if anything was flying. At one time several hundred people were living in the airport building in conditions that made living in areas of Christchurch post the earthquake seem like five star hotels. All waiting to leave.

Then on one occassion three hotels in Amman were hit by suicide bombers.
Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind
Take that back to the games in Delhi & just because there have been no terrorist attacks yet, does not mean there will not be. The games are not over for the visitors until they touch down in their own country.

To think otherwise is to not keep in touch with the reality of the situation.

But if an attack does happen it will be India who get the blame despite the pressure put on the games administration to lessen the security blanket.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

It really is the small things that count!

Kia Ora,

Last night we had another of those reality police shows here on TV3 called "Road Cops".

In one incident it is the small thing the police officer notices that then leads to revelation of greater crimes.

For all those who moan about the police focus at times on traffic issues it was a great view to how effective it can be in catching up with other crimes.
The Literature of Crime and Detection: An Illustrated History from Antiquity to the Present (Ungar Writers' Recognitions Series)
The small thing the police officer noticed was the vehicle was parked in a handicapped car park. On questioning the driver he was initially given false details to then find on a further check that the driver was wanted on about 6 warrants for arrest including drug use & assault from what was displayed.

When the time for arrest came though the driver reversed into the police vehicle then took off & a chase ensued. On this occassion they got away due to nature of the area but were caught sometime later.

This is also why the police need to be able to conduct chases as it is the small thing that trips people up.

One thing that does rankle is, especially right now, when you ring police comms with suspicious activity or even small crime the reaction is quite different for an ex police officer or 'off duty' police officer to those in the security industry or just the general public.

It is like the police are the only people who see suspicious activity at times. Sounds just like Iraq when many things like suicide bombings did not happen if they were not witnessed by a US service person.

First point is many parts of the military rely on that recognition of the small things that are out of place & if you have been there you just transfer that training to the civilian areana. At times it is just part of the intelligence picture.

Then there are security guards who often build up that skill level through experience to pick up on things that are out of place.

Last but not least is the person knowing their local area & what is out of place.
Guardians: Angels on patrol /Little army big war
Now someone from the police comms has said to me that it is the caller not providing the correct details. That to me is a cop out as well as bureaucracy gone mad & it never used to be needed.

Often you can not put your finger on what is wrong until after the fact. Of course you are not always right, but that is part of life. Experience & keeping up with what is happening in the community mean you are more likely to be right than not.

But it is again those small things that need to be noted. The big things as they say take care of themselves.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

New Zealanders just don't get it!

Kia Ora,

It seems everywhere I have looked today there is another New Zealand reporter or security commentator saying that New Zealanders shouldn't listen to the advice at the Commonwealth Games to hide their national colours.

Why was that advice been given?

Because it was believed Al Qaeda was looking to target countries with troops in Afghanistan.

So are they right?

Well really neither the New Zealanders were right or those offering the security advice but those offering were far closer to the facts.

At least one commentator mentioned the fact that the people of India were threatening to swamp Kiwis with kindness. That is most likely but it doesn't mean a terrorist will embrace them as New Zealanders.

Another said basically Kiwis should wear their colours as not a target.
The History of Terrorism: From Antiquity to al Qaeda
What a load of rot!

First is if you use a New Zealand flag much of the world thinks you are Australian.

Second the likes of Al Qaida are not dumb. They do know who is who in the world. They do have people who read books like that by Sir John Keegan "The Iraq War" which says New Zealand he believes was part of the invasion of Iraq. Whether he is right or wrong it is a common belief in the Arab World.

Thirdly & where both parties are not right is the mindset of a suicide bomber or terrorists. All people are a target including Muslims for the Al Qaeda suicide bomber. Their aim is to achieve their mission which is likely to be take as many with them as possible.
Inside Terrorism
From the information I am receiving from people on the ground, pictures on TV, security is not as good as people say it is. It would be interesting to see the check points as earlier photos of a few years ago showed tourists getting checked whilst life carried on. That does not make a place secure.

Again it is that mindset of New Zealanders. New Zealanders believe they are one of the few countries that is have the ability to move anywhere. That is true to some extend & has been true over the years & why our passports have been so sort after.
Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind
But the world has changed & some people don't care where you are from as long as they make their statement.

New Zealanders just won't get it until it blows up in their faces.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Fools Paradise! Commonwealth Games Security!

Kia Ora,

Well the on going saga of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi is playing out. With the concentration on the state of the Games Village & some of the other buildings security has been pretty much glossed over.

The news footage here has focussed on two security points. The person with the rifle & the car search.

The person with the rifle is in what in the army we would of called a 'caught unawares shot'where someone took the pose like they were actually working. No one would stay in that pose for their whole shift especially if they were weak in the upper body.

As to the car search. A suicide bomber would love that search as too many standing around the vehicle. But not a problem that could not be sorted with some quick training & leadership.
Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding Threats and Responses in the Post 9/11 World (3rd Edition)
After my last blog on the security situation at the Games Village with comments based on the information from a security consultant who had been on the site, I have received a message through another social media forum. That message is from someone living close to the Commonwealth Games area & the comment was interesting. There is a lot of security but its only mission seems to be hassle the locals not protect anything.

They say the situation is a lot worse than the media is reporting.
Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment, Readings and Interpretations, Revised & Updated 2004 (Trade Edition)
A reporter was just on TV saying how many check points they had to go through.

Picture the other day showed an Indian check point several years ago checking all the tourists whilst the locals walked around the side. Pretty much the situation in one I came across after the suicide bombings in Amman, Jordan in 2006. At the hotel I was in, all tourists went through a metal detector & had their luggage searched whilst some who would be an odds on bet to be Jihadists were allowed around the side.
Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment, Readings and Interpretations, Revised & Updated 2004 (Trade Edition)
In another incident we watched as a bodyguard for an Iraqi politician handed his pistol to the politician as they were not checked.

You can have as many check points as you want, but if they do not apply to all then they are ineffective.
Debating Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Conflicting Perspectives on Causes, Contexts, and Responses
The same here recently in a dress rehearsal for the Rugby World Cup 2011 when people were walking past the alcohol searches & not been checked. Though I can't blame the security for that as no one expects a great threat. But as we focus on the issues in India, it is best to remember we will need to be much better than worrying about alcohol searches.

It can be fixed but time is running out for both the Commonwealth Games & the Rugby World Cup 2011. At present we are all in a fools paradise.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Like Lambs to the Slaughter!

Kia Ora,

Well security at the Commonwealth Games have hit the headlines again with an Australian 'Expert' saying there is a huge chance of terrorist attacks outside the venues.

The Australian Olympic Committee has followed its New Zealand counterpart & hit out at him. Dismissing his claims & basically saying it is under control.

So was he on the button?

Well what he has forecast is a high likelyhood but his prediction shows that he is most likely out of step with what has been happening.

On the other hand the consultant I spoke of a few blogs ago seemed to be up with the methods that terrorists have been using in the last few years. His focus was more on the games village to be used by the atheletes & I could visualize what he was talking about quite easily from experience. Whats more the TV images so far have backed up what he was saying.
The Mind of the Terrorist: The Psychology of Terrorism from the IRA to al-Qaeda
Meanwhile what of the 'Expert'?

His predicitons are more in line with what would happen in conjunction of an attack on a venue or the games village. That or, as was set up to happen when the embassy next to our villa in Baghdad was targeted by a suicide bomber, a series of IED's aimed at the emergency services responding to the initial incident. On that occassion those IED's failed to detonate.
Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind
Meanwhile the authorities continue to ignore Private security consultants whom might just know a lot more than the government lacky's.

That is not to say the games shouldn't go ahead, but there maybe needs to be a look at using the likes of PSD companies in conjunction with the authorities. In this situation experience is everything. Otherwise it really is like leading lambs to slaughter.

http://foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Has the West lost the will?

Kia Ora,

With the talk of mindset & how I have seen people react to what has happened here in Christchurch after the earthquake, it has reminded me of a conversation in Iraq.

The person who made the following statement had experience in several armies & a war or two.

They stated "the west will never beat these guys (Al Qaeda terrorists)as they are focussed, have a mission & are not waylaid by the false things in life" or words to that effect.

That is what I have seen over the last nearly two weeks(how time flies when you are having fun) on how by focussing on the false things in life, peole have not handled reality when it confronts them.

Don't get me wrong it has been traumatic for people, in particular those that have lost their houses, businesses or are in the worst affected areas.

But it could of been much much worse. The power of the earthquake could of levelled the city with many deaths. If people are not handling it now then what would of happened had it been worse?

That the city is mainly back on a relatively normal footing is mainly due to good building codes & luck.
Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind
Although a suicide bombing does not have the power of an earthquake, its effects are more localized & much more traumatic. Bodies ripped apart, blood & bits of bodies everywhere to mention a few.

That requires a whole different mindset.
The Mind of the Terrorist: The Psychology of Terrorism from the IRA to al-Qaeda
Some people will say we just did after the earthquake what the British & Indian peoples did after their terrorist attacks.

No the British & Indian people been used to it, just wouldn't let it defeat them, where as what I saw even on the day of the quake was many in denial treating it like a family outing whilst the police & other services tried to get on top of the situation. Not to mention the good groups of volunteers & workers who have given a huge effort. But the wider good will in the community was a myth which had it been worse would of quickly turned to anarchy.

People ignored police requests to stay put & stay out of the worst affected areas as they were identified.
Inside the Mind of a Suicide Bomber (History Channel)
Had that been suicide bombings we know the usual tactic is one followed by a series of others targeting emergency services or bottle necks.

Many of those with issues here in Christchurch have had nothing more than putting up with a very violent earthquake (yes likely deadly & yes it felt like the buildings were going to collapse) & the aftershocks.

That is nothing to the fear you see when people have to deal with the prospect of dealing with suicide bombers everyday, sewage hardly ever working properly, power still not fully restored 7 years after an invasion yet everyday just getting on with life.
Inside Terrorism
Now the right mindset is what allowed the consultant to see the threats to the Commonwealth games village in India. It is how we see the threats to the Rugby World Cup 2011.

Unless people can understand the mindset of the suicide bomber or terrorists they will never see the threats. These guys are that committed, where as in the West we worry about false things.

What is your mission in life? Maybe if we all focussed on finding our mission in life to make this a better world, those who at present have a mission of death & destruction would change theirs.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Coming up against a countries Mindset when yours has moved on!

Kia Ora,

An article appeared in the Sunday-Star Times yesterday about how Rob Nicol the players representative for Rugby,Cricket & now the Athletes Federation is criticizing the New Zealand Olympics Committee's(NZOC) security plans for the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
The History of Terrorism: From Antiquity to al Qaeda
The problem Rob Nicol is dealing with is his exposure in particular through the issues surrounding the cricket tours to the sub continent has shifted his mindset in regards to security. Although I still don't think he or his advisors have fully grasped yet the threat to New Zealand, the biggest issue is he has moved on but New Zealand has not.

The NZOC has come back & pointed to the fact that the New Zealand government was best placed to offer security information.
I have had that said to me as well. Yeah right. Until the country is able to change its mindset then it is unlikely the bureaucrats who advise the government will change theirs & that is unlikely to happen until the first suicide bomb goes off here.

That is shown when the bureaucrats put together the new security personnel bill had no idea of what security face on the streets of New Zealand & made no provision for likely threats in the future. Or as I say it's only good use is as toilet paper.

But the NZOC is only reflecting the attitude of the country as are the bureaucrats.
Terrorism - A World in Shadows (Box Set)
The spokeswoman for the NZOC says it has seen the security plans for Delhi & they are in accordance with international best practice.

In the process of getting keeping my businesses moving until they become self sustaining I have had to carry out a variety of work. Everytime I hear the words 'best practice' I know that is exactly what it isn't going to be. I know many others think the same way as soon as those words are uttered.
Inside Terrorism
So Rob Nicol has a task ahead of him as you just can't change a nations mindset. In fact if you look at the US, the Oklahoma bombings, once it was realized it had been carried out by a US citizen no permanent mind set change occurred. If it had it is less likely 9/11 would of occurred.

This issue is part of the thought process I had to go through when looking on how to provide security & came up with the 0900 Suspicious concept. How do you provide really effective security without expending your energy in trying to change peoples mindset.
Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind
Or as a quote used by Robert Kiyosaki on financial education says "Don't teach pigs to sing as it annoys the pig & wastes your time". In other words educate by doing, not trying to change someone.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Rugby World Cup Test is a shambles!

Kia Ora,

After the Rugby World Cup test of systems in Christchurch the powers that be are hailing it as a success, but it appears to be a shambles & that is just based on what was on the media. Not to mention the scathing report from one Australian reporter & some letter writers to editors.

First response to the security set up was astonishment. The police system was been overseen from Wellington using technology. Well that is great, but it needs to be the people on the ground who make the decisions as if you are hit by a terrorist attack.

As I have said before you have about 30 seconds to react if it is a suicide bombing.

Technology is only ever an aid & after watching that any group planning an attack would be planning to disrupt those communications. I saw this done by a commander of mine when I first joined the army & were enemy for visiting US forces. They were so reliant on the communications that they had to send a vehicle down to ask us to stop as they could not function.

The police commander was heard to say that people are not arriving fast enough. Shows he does not know his community. Christchurch has this thing that everybody arrives up in last 30 minutes.

The Venue actually have said this morning that the crowds were arriving a little more even than normal. So there is a disconnection between the police commander in Wellington & the venue in between the understanding of local quirks.

Next we are hearing that the Rugby Road worked great. It is a terrorist attack waiting to happen on the way there & it is a riot waiting to happen on way back if the local team looses.

On the way to the stadium there are greater crowds & as suicide bombers work in groups all you need is a few spread out a long the route & mingle with the crowds. Or watch where the bottle necks are & place IED's. What was noticeable from footage was the lack of security along the route.

There have been a lot of comments in last few weeks about New Zealand fans been boorish. Actually they are becoming the worst sports fans you can have. The abuse of visiting fans or players & watch out if they loose, especially in Christchurch. Destruction of property & fighting is the norm.

Much has also been made about the number of staff at the stadium in the lead up to the game. From experience most of them would not be security so that makes the claims even more laughable. To comply with international standards there would have to be nearly 400 security staff as much for health & safety issues as anything.

That might seem overkill but should say a suicide bomber detonate a vest in the stadium there will be panic. Especially in NZ where such things are thought never likely to happen & then in that moment 400 will not be enough.

New Zealand needs to wake up & wake up quick. All the technology in the world is only ever an aid. Stop looking at this through rose coloured glasses. Saturday night was a shambles.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Terrorist Raidss! Why do people feel they are picked on?

Kia Ora,

Well have been taking part in a forum where the discussion stemmed from the terrorist raids in the Tuhoe area here in New Zealand in the last few years.

For those that are not in NZ, what happened was after police surveillance, the NZ police raided an area where the Tuhoe Iwi(tribe) is based. From memory 17 were arrested country wide, only two really with connections to Tuhoe, but the community was raided with roads blocked off where the training had allegedly taken place. Most of those arrested were from eco green groups & one person even had an arab name, which in itself is not suspicous but when connected to terrorism things take a different slant.

The first thing to come out was people say the raids were wrong as the charges were thrown out & new ones under another act were drawn up.

That is not what really happened, the charges were thrown out as they were brought under the new Terrorism act which the judge pointed out was badly written.

That is what happens when politicians listen to bureaucrats who have no idea what they are talking about. By not knowing they were not ready & rushed through bad legislation.

The same is happening with the new security personnel bill. Though not rushed the bureaucrats have no idea what they are talking about, so have produced some finely written toilet paper which will be shown to be inadequate & then some very rushed bad replacement will come into force.

Next some are complaining that they were not connected with any terrorists (depends on whose definition as there are so many it can range from work place bullies right through to organized crime & groups such as Al Qaeada, eco greens, anti abortionists) & their children were targeted.

If you let gangs, terrorist organization or drugs & you keep your kids with you then you can not expect otherwise as distasteful as that might seem. Basically it is your fault for putting your children in that situation. Bad parenting & poor community responsbility, no matter what rights you have to grievance as Tuhoe genuienly do.

In recent history there have been enough examples of children been used to carryout or assist terrorist attacks or activities. Vietnam children throwing grenades at vehicles or laying improvised IED's, South Africa kids throwing grenades into vehicles (participants in both have told me how hard it was to shoot towards children to keep them away), Northern Ireland people of all ages placing improvised IED's with magnets against vehicles used by security forces.
Whose terrorism? A classroom activity enlists students in defining terrorism and then applying their definitions to world events.: An article from: Radical Teacher
Whilst working in Iraq knowing this we were looking for the IED's & grenades. In Afghanistan it has been taken a step further with children been used as suicide bombers (so far apparently unsuccessful).

On a lessor level children are often used to carryout criminal activity on behalf of their parents or other adults. Only today a report came out of a 12 year old selling drugs at school on behalf of family.

In this situation in particular Maori have this habit of defending those issues which are destroying us as a people. Gangs/terrorism drug use, child abuse, domestic violence & the list goes on.
Terrorism: definition, justification, and applications.(Terrorism. The Philosophical Issues )(Book review): An article from: Social Theory and Practice
People such as police do not find it easy to point firearms at children as many of them are fathers, but like going into a hostage rescue situation you have to treat everyone as a terrorist until you are sure otherwise.

If I remember properly at the time the police also detained a school bus. Funny thing is when acting as enemy party on one exercise we used a school bus to elude friendly forces to move to a new area of operations. We train to learn from those sort of experiences.

On another exercise the enemy party stole a military ambulance & managed to use it to eliminate some high ranking officials. Rest of exercise & since Ambulances have got a good going over at least by NZ forcs.

In Iraq on more than one occasion insurgents used ambulance to good effect & there was always the rumour of a fire engine fitted as a suicide bomb.

Instead of complaining they should say, "why did we get targeted?" & What can we do to ensure it doesn't happen again?"

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Omagh! Could the same happen here?

Kia Ora,

Always looking to learn from others & in particular mistakes they have made or incidents they have faced.

So it was interesting to watch the doco drama on Maori TV about the bombing in Omagh(Northern Ireland) by the Real IRA.

Though the programme dealt very much with the effects on the families of those who lost someone to the bombing & the political process. I was more interested in the initial response by the authorities & how it would compare to a likely NZ response.
My understanding of Omagh has always been that a hoax bomb alert was called in, resulting in an evacuation to an area obviously identified by the bombers as an area outside the cordon, which they then detonated a vehicle bomb.

The Doco though gave the impression that the message was not that clear & some confusion existed as to where the actual bomb was. This may of been deliberate.

What it showed though that a common tactic used by terrorist groups was able to be employed on this occassion. That is placing a bomb or a secondary device (as shown in Hurt Locker) where groups such as those evacuated or responding services would gather.

In this instance probably what caught them out was the use of the recognized codewords the IRA used. The IRA starting using those to ensure they got their message across but to limit innocent casualties as they had found that counter productive to their cause.

So how would the response I saw on the Doco play out in NZ?

First point is the way in which the Irish people took the news. Bloody nusiance but best we move on. No arguments with the police. In NZ though most might move when informed of a bomb threat, many would argue. It would be yes those people next door have to move but my place is more important or I have important stuff to do.

The next issue is one I have raised before & that is the evacuation procedures which I know from both experience & anecdotal information can range from up to date to nothing more than a fire drill. Of course a fire drills actions are very different from a bomb threat.

Another area I have raised before is the areas where people gather whilst the threat is been dealt with. As shown in recent alerts so far nobody seems to have learnt the lesson & probably won't until something goes bang to control this part of the process.

As the recent incident here in Christchurch showed, both police & the public in one big huddle at the edge of the cordon. From the Doco the impression is that is exactly where they placed the vehicle bomb in Omagh, on the edge where they thought the cordon would be.

NZ is just a terrorist attack waiting to happen. Those sort of groupings are even more of a target for suicide bombers.

Won't happen in New Zealand! As the advert goes. Yeah Right! Given the opportunity.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Intelligence! What is it & how is it useful?

Kia Ora,

There is the standing joke that Military intelligence is an oxy moron as it doesn't really exist.

But properly provided information can build a good intelligence picture to allow you to defeat the enemy in a military sense or impact on crime in the civilian world.

The problem is what is intelligence & how to use it?

What was noticeable in Iraq was the US preponderence on electronic intelligence over human intelligence (either from 'spies' or those on the ground). At one part we were told that nothing happened unless it was witnessed by a US soldier(that was later extended to coalition soldier).

More than once we, as private security reported suspicious activity on the entrances to the Green Zone, only to be ignored by the US soldiers. Each time within a day or two there would be a suicide bombing at that gate.

I see now since 9/11 the US has developed so many conflicting intelligence gathering organizations, both government & private, that most of the reports are not even read. Much of the information gathered is an exact duplication of another groups & the plan to co ordinate is not happening.

In fact it is so bad that they believe the US has actually made itself less safe as so far attempts of terrorist attacks have been thwarted by normal citizens not the vaunted intelligence network.

It seems to be the same here in NZ when you call in suspicious activity to the police. Those answering the phones at police communications have no idea that those small bits of information going into their system help make up the intelligence picture of an area.

In the late 80's I was taught a very important lesson in what intelligence is & how it is best used.

The I.O. (Intelligence Officer) of our unit had come from the British army. As part of virtually whole of army exercise we were expecting good intelligence, but all we were getting from upline was a summary of the major incidents that we all knew about anyway.

What the I.O. had done though was have his whole cell bring some civilians up. He then had them out talking to locals about information. After each contact with the enemy by our unit, he would interview those involved to get the little things like tactics used, weapons & clothes.
Those were the things that were not coming through, but told us a lot about the enemy.

It is no difference when dealing with crime. If you first go into say a static security guard job (were you are confined to the one site) it is good to note things that seem suspicious or just general activity.

Then you start to see the things that are out of the norm.

When can this be of use?

The NZ police like police everywhere are for ever asking for information if an incident happens. By having those small suspicious incidents noted it builds immediately a picture of what was out of place at the time. The initial reports also allow the police to get a picture of normal activity in that area.

It is still all intelligence & often the most important parts. It is not often the smoking gun that will be found, but the out of place comment or suspicious incident could be what is needed to get an arrest.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Wake up New Zealand! It is only a matter of time!

Kia Ora,

Yet again you have to ask the question as to whether New Zealand is ready to host the Rugby World Cup 2011 from a security perspective, little lone the summer Olympics as now proposed by the current Mayor of Auckland.



I say this because of the photo across the front of the Christchurch 'Press' with several police officers & members of the public standing in the middle of the road after a bomb alert.

It ends up the bomb was just an attempt to thieve.

But that crowd was the perfect target for a suicide bomber or IED after an initial 'come on' explosion or call.



This is a common terrorist tactic, but with the suicide bomber it has meant that considerations of innocents is taken less into account than with the IRA campaigns or even the Real IRA bombing in Omagh.

In one incident in Baghdad US soldiers were trying to win the hearts & minds campaign by when in a cordon giving out sweets.

The British based on their experience would of ensured the children were inside the cordon. That lesson was to be soon learnt as a suicide bomber then exited a nearby street & targeted the nearest military vehicle, which just happened to be the one the children were gathered around.



It seems though that New Zealand will only learn that once it happens here.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

How do you know who your friends are?

Kia Ora,

Much has been made here in recent days about how the MP Russell Norman should of being known by the Chinese protection team as a Member of Parliament.

Only problem with that is the history of Close Protection shows that those who are friends or are supposed to be there, are most likely to be the assassins or these days suicide bombers.

That is why you are, in that side of the profession, supposed to profile your clients before hand.

But any form of security really requires some form of assessment of likely threats.



Though most would not expect as happened in the above clip where two groups assigned to protect the area of a foreign embassy after a suicide bomb attack, ended up in a firefight (gun battle) with each other.

That is most but the local security (our local mate was extremely good at this) would of picked possible problems.

You could see bodies lying about the place & it took an extremely brave person from memory to step in the middle of the two groups to stop the firing.

But it was seen as a common after a while when ever these two groups or the military & police were co-located to provide the outer cordon security in Iraq.



As Kevin Rudd found out today even his most 'loyal' Lieutenant can be ready to at a less extreme level 'stab' him in the back.

Whilst our own Prime Minister seems to have taken a leaf out of the Arab book & brought those seen to be as his likely closest enemies in closest(hold your friends close & your enemies even closer).

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

So how should a Security Guard handle a suspected Bomb?

Kia Ora,

Many in NZ ask why does a Security Guard need to know what to do if told there might be or is a bomb nearby?

Well first they will often be first point of call & also if they don't  know it is possible to tie up all the other emergency services by overwhelming the system.

Experience shows that having people properly trained  can immediately cut out most calls. It doesn't mean being Rambo, just carrying out some commonsense checks that will cut down the work of the emergency services & will likely save lives.

When dealing with a bomb threat real or potential there are the four C's to follow.

First is Confirm: That can be anything from  confirming it is suspicous enough to call in the authorities to something actually going bang.

Next we have Clear: That just doesn't mean the area of the device, but area where responding services will set up, & choice of areas where people will be moved too.

Not as, in at least one major site & one government department here, where clearance drill is hit the fire alarm (many are wireless & bombs are set to often go off on frequencies) or just one normal evacuation place,same as for their fire drill.

It is a common tactic of terrorists to call in a false bomb alert or even fire drill to see what reaction is then set one in place responders will head or evacuees will gather.



The next C is Cordon:  Yes the police will put a cordon in but someone has to take up a cordon at least until they arrive in force & even assist in the manpower they require on their cordon. There maybe a requirement for an inner & outer cordon or several
 cordons for different reasons.

The last C is Control: That is not just control of the people being evacuated, but control of the incident prior, during & after an incident & who is in control at what stage.

As one British consultant said, when visiting NZ & asking some people in the NZ security industry, they didn't even know what their role was, little lone what to do in the event of a bomb incident.

At best at present most are likely to just get them out & then leave people to their own devices.

An IED is just a booby trap with explosives added for all intent purposes.

On my booby trap course the definition of a booby trap was given roughly as this "a cunning contrivance to catch out the unwary or those committing a 'safe' act."

With out the right mindset then every act taken in the NZ security industry is a safe act.

It is not being about living in constant fear but being aware & preparing properly.

              http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Why worry about Terrorism when your Focus is Basic Security?

Kia Ora,

The above is a question I am often asked. So why do I look at terrorism when the focus is basic security?

Because if basic security is carried out correctly then the terrorist threat along with criminal activity is limited.

A security guard does not, as someone said of those at their place of work, stand there brain dead but ready to act.

As I pointed out to them their guards if doing their job properly should be looking well beyond their premises. If they have the right observation skills that every person in the NZ security industry should have, then the guards will see most issues coming.

The problem is one I have talked about often. Lack of real security training & guards being told to ignore all that happens off their site.

That same skill applies whether you are standing outside a licensed premise, static security on a site such as a bank or government department or dealing with terrorists.

The amount of times we reported suspicious activity, such as someone with a video camera at the gates, to the American soldiers on the gates. Yet time & again this suspicious actinity was not acted on to be followed within a day or two by a suicide bomber.

It is what most of the NZ security industry does not realize, yes we have to make money to survive, but the real reason you patrol comes under six headings known to the military as the aims of patrolling.

The way they can be employed is slightly different compared to how the military or PSD teams might apply them, but commercial security if they are to be effective need

to use them.

The following is the Aims of Patrolling modified slightly for civilian use.

1. To Gain & Retain the Initiative

2. To Gain Information

3. To Deny Criminal/Terrorist Elements Information

4. To Make Criminal Elements Uncomfortable

5. To Provide Protection
                                 
6. To Provide Security

These aims do not always necessitate you actually moving as you can use your senses to achieve the same goals.

These aims would not even need explaining to someone from Britain as they do it as second nature.

But NZ as someone said on the news tonight when talking about a relation who was murdered " it just doesn't happen in NZ". Sorry but it does & it is all happening with greater regularity.

It is only a short hop to regular, what most people would regard as, terrorist activity.

                                                                      http://www/foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

New Zealand is ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011. NOT!

Kia Ora,

Is New Zealand really ready to host the Rugby World Cup 2011? Not after another debacle over security I think not. A lot of fingers were being pointed at the police last night but they can't do everything it needs a change in mindset for the whole country.

This is the situation which eventuated last night, but has gone from the news services today.

A vehicle which had being sitting for days in a car park of a sports field according to residents, yet nothing was done until Tuesday when one resident called the police. They then showed up 24 hours later to find a bomb in the vehicle.

Compare that with Britain with their history of combating terrorism. My understanding of their actions is no vehicle is left sitting parked for more than 24 hours. Any residents would of called it in well before they did in Auckland.

Taking the item of the news services is too late. It got on there so it will be world wide, this the day after NZ was rated the most peaceful country in the world.

I understand a consultant being used for the World Cup is not a New Zealander & the assessment is all is safe & I think I have an idea who it is.

Thing is when assessing for threats such as possible suicide bombings are hard to picture if you have not lived in that environment. Those of us who have (alot of Kiwis), see the threat assessment as terrorist attacks & suicide bombings extremely likley either during or prior to the Rugby World Cup.

To combat a terrorist or terrorism you have to be able to think like them, that is something I have being accussed of more than once.

Currently in NZ there are a multitude of responses to likely bomb threats & I know talking to someone in a Government department that their response was totally lacking (being British they identified it but no one wants to know) where as Government department next door to them has a response in line with how terrorists think.

In NZ there seems to be a believe that you just deal with the one incident & it will be all Jake (OK).

But that is not standard operating procedure for any terrorist group. These current bomb alerts with hoax or simulated bombs or even real ones not properly set could just as well be the groups planning something seeing how NZ services, security industry & population react to such incidents.

They would then stage anther hoax or real bomb & plant seondary devices to catch in the first instance the emergency services, but also where people would be evacuated too.

This was the action taken in Northern Ireland in the Omagh bombing.

Even worse today is the suicide bomber.

The following was an incident in Iraq during my time there.

The Police Academy was mortared or rocketed on a daily basis, but on this occassion the bombers used this to their advantage as people were taking the same actions everyday.

Two bombers got into the Academy area (there has being some suggestion they bribed their way in past the check points) at breakfast time.

What then appears to have happened is one bomber lined up with the breakfast crowd before detonotating.

Everyone else thinking it was one of the regular mortar or rocket attacks ran to the shelters, where in one the other bomber was waiting, as people crowded in they then detonated their vest.

One thing noted in the NZ responses is the public are allowed to stand around at the cordons edge as a crowd.

All that has to be done here is work out where the cordons are likely to go in & plant devices for maximum effect.

Similar tactics were used when a 'suicide' bomb was detonated outside the embassy next to our villa in Iraq. The responding Iraqi police units later found three unexploded devices along the street, that had failed to explode as they responded to the incident.

Standard tactic with suicide bombers is two to three with short gaps in between or in the case of an attack on Abu Gharib at least seven other bombers. The difference with Abu Gharib was four were used to isolate the area then three others attempted to breach the camp, one after another.

New Zealand ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011? I think it is a long way from even being close.

                                                                 http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Firearms Control!

Kia Ora,

Well it has hit the headlines again. Firearms control after a couple of murders where firearms were used.

But is the way we control them actually going to stop the murders?


Not really. The recently released NZ police statistics made the point that most murders were carried out without a firearm. Often they would of happened without one being present anyway. It was just convenient.

As my sergeants used to say in the army it is not the weapon that kills, but the nut behind it. Or as a former member of the British SAS said to me in Baghdad, "watch the weapon, not the clown behind it. Where it points is the danger, not the clowns intention."

No that is not a contradiction. The weapon is the tool. Badly handled it is dangerous & a bad workman blames his tools.

Of course there is the upswing in armed robbery of late as the financial crisis strengthens it grip, leads to a rise in crime.

Most of those weapons are illegal. Smuggled in through a variety of sources.

For a number of years the NZ police used to have a small press release asking people to watch out for suspicious activity around our coastline which they believed were responsible for alsorts of smuggling.

Then there are incidents like the one last year where a container showed up in Dunedin full of explosives.

Again it often comes back to the NZ mindset. Although we identify as pioneer types most are city born & breed & have probably never held a firearm.

Properly trained they are not that dangerous unless you intentionally intend to use them. But NZ tends to have the blinkers on.

For example recently after I left the army I was involved in the security for a public event. The police were getting their briefing for the nights event when over the radio came "a young boy has just had a firearm pointed at him by a male, description ....., keep an eye out in this area until police arrive from briefing".

We were close to that point, so I suggested we get a little closer to see if we could identify the person in question prior to police arrival.

My offsiders comment was "we will see him as firearms stick out".

"what about pistols or sawn off shotgun?" I asked.

"Oh they are illegal, so they won't be around".

Not sure what planet that guy was on, but just presenting a firearm at someone is illegal or having them concealed, as it was reported to be, is also illegal in NZ. So I don't think that was going to stop someone having one or other of the above weapons.

Stricter weapons control will only penalise those that follow the law. True some of them are pretty slack & the police deal to them when they discover that fact.

But it will in no way affect those that intend to use them for criminal acts.

Female Suicide Bombers. How common are they?

Kia Ora,

We now have the terrorist attacks in Moscow. The claims are that they were both women. How can they know so quick? Actually it is quite easy to identify the remains of someone who has worn a suicide vest amongst all the bodies parts & mayhem.  It takes you about 30 seconds to work out if a vehicle or vest bomber has hit.

Unless of course you are in NZ then a senior police officer would say they are still collating the information & the investigation would take months to confirm the source of the blast. That would be followed by the government (no matter what party) putting together a commission of inquiry & a select committee sub committee to find out what happened.

The results of which would announce that there was no clear evidence that a suicide bombing actually took place.

Now to the question of how common are Female suicide bombers? In Iraq the US military claimed that this type of attack was loosing support as they had started using women.

That flies in the face of intelligence that was available in 2004.

First was the report of a group in Iran asking for volunteer suicide bombers & getting 4000 volunteers in a week.

This was followed by about a week later of information of a website where you register to be a suicide bomber. There were 40,000 enquiries & 30,000 applications in the first week from memory. Over half the applications were from women or young teenage boys.

The Attraction was not Jihad for many either. It was the US$40,000 per successful detonation that went to the family.

It was reputed to be a very professional set up with both prospective bomber & family interviewed to ensure the applicant was suitable & family was happy with it all.

Of course once you have identified that it has being a suicide bombing (& it has to be done on the spot & extremely quickly) you must prepare for the follow up bombing as it is a common tactic.

In fact you hardly ever have a bombing in isolation as evidenced in Moscow & I wouldn't be surprised to hear that there were others that for one reason or another failed to detonate.

Even after the bombing it is going to take that required change in mindset to be able to shoot a female or elderly person that is perceived to be a suicide bomber.