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Spain's Ambassador Uses His Country's Struggle Against ETA as Example of Importance of Collaboration
For almost 40 years Spain has been victimized by domestic ETA violence. In 2004, Al Qa’ida perpetrated a devastating terrorist attack in Madrid.
Ambassador Ramón Gil-Casares, Ambassador of Spain to the United States of America, discussed both the threats and responses, particularly focusing on Spain’s contributions to security concerns nationally and globally.
Sending military troops abroad and concerns for domestic issues may fuel temptation to consider some terrorism as worse than other terrorism, but Amb. Gil-Casares asked the audience to consider Spain's fight against ETA, a Basque terrorist group -- "once considered not so bad."
Read more: International Cooperation is Prerequisite for Success in Fight Against Terror
North Caucuses Region Is Source For Many Terrorism Problems
The run-up to the Sochi Olympics has been plagued by security concerns that will no doubt persist until the last visitors have left this winter’s sports venue.
From his vantage point in Tbilisi, Georgia, just a few hundred miles from Sochi, Potomac Institute Senior Fellow and Cyber Center Director David J. Smith is watching the situation carefully.
“The press is abuzz with tales of a Black Widow suicide bomber who may already be in Sochi,” Amb. Smith said. Black Widow is a term applied to widows of terrorists seeking to avenge their late husbands’ deaths. “Of course, there could be a suicide bomber or some other kind of terrorist inside Sochi. Terrorist groups have known the Olympics would be held there since 2007,” Amb. Smith continued. “Moreover, do not imagine that the Russian security services ‘Ring of Steel’ around the Sochi region is not made of cheesecloth in some places. They’re throwing 50,000—one even hears numbers up to 100,000—troops and police at the problem, but most of them have no real counter-terrorist training.
Read more: Persistent Security Concerns Plague Sochi Olympics
A new e-newsletter from Potomac Institute features current issues in the news and under review at senior leadership levels in government and industry, focused on key science, technology and national security issues confronting our society. The January edition can be found here.
Debuting last month, the Potomac Institute Focus includes information on recently published reports, links to video from high-level seminars – such as the 16th Annual International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism discussion – overview of news coverage of Institute-related issues, summaries of recent events, and more.
Intended as a multi-level resource, providing insight into emerging issues, review of timely topics, and myriad other work the Institute studies and researches.
To subscribe to the Potomac Institute Focus, please click here.
Objectivity, Indepence, and Collaboration are Key Factors in Institute's Continued Success
Centered on Science & Technology issues, the Potomac Institute is organized around four divisions that capture key activities involved in strategy, planning, analysis, research, and more. The focus is to build and continue to provide the best value and guidance on all issues associated with science and technology, with a professional cadre of people who provide innovative idea, advice, strategic planning and assessment.
The Strategy & Planning Division contributes to the formation of national science and technology policy by providing technical and strategic planning support and advice to the U.S. Government.
Experience includes National Level Cyber Review for the White House, Extensive Work in Developing Strategy
Reinforcing its focus and attention on cyber security issues, the Potomac Institute welcomes Melissa Hathaway, former acting senior director for cyberspace at the National Security Council, to its Board of Regents.
Melissa Hathaway is at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs as a senior advisor to its cyber security initiative, Project Minerva, a joint effort between the Department of Defense, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University.
Mike Swetnam, CEO and Chairman of Potomac Institute, highlighted the key insight and skill she brings to the think tank in cyber security and cyber space issues.
“Not one day goes by where we don’t hear about the serious policy and security issues resulting from cyber matters: activities, intrusions, capabilities, and more,” Swetnam said. “Melissa gets that big picture and can help us explore even further the range of policy issues and recommendations. This will help us connect our research and strategy in a more significant way.”
Read more: Melissa Hathaway Brings Cyber Security Expertise to Institute