Topics in this issue include Superbowl security preparations, ancient chemical warfare, WMD threat on Korean peninsula, Army EOD training and more.
In This Article
Examining a Rare Nerve-Agent Shell That Wounded American Troops in Iraq
Although the soldiers did not yet know it, they had just been attacked by a previously unseen type of makeshift bomb: a device made from an artillery shell designed to disperse a nerve agent. The resulting release of sarin, which several munitions analysts describe as the first case in history of a nerve agent being used in an improvised explosive device, eventually wounded two American explosive ordnance disposal technicians. New York Times >>
Hardcore First-Responder Training at CDP has Arizona Ready for the Super Bowl
Keith Fehr wants to be ready for anything when the Super Bowl comes to the University of Phoenix Stadium in February. “We trained on structural collapse, on foodborne illness. We practiced a biological agent release, a chemical warfare release, explosions, multi-vehicle accidents,” he said. Emergency Management >>
The Manhattan Project Led to U.S. Nuclear Arsenal’s Huge Costs
Even before it entered World War II, the U.S. was racing to create the weapon that would end the war. In 1939, Albert Einstein sent a letter to President Roosevelt informing him that “it may become possible to set up a nuclear chain reaction in a large mass of uranium” and that, using this technology, “it is conceivable—though much less certain—that extremely powerful bombs of a new type may thus be constructed.” Bloomberg Business >>
Time Running Short To Extend Terrorism Risk Insurance Act
Congress has much to do and not much time to do it before year’s end. Fortunately, leaders on both sides of the aisle have made it clear that renewal of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, or TRIA, is a “must-do” before Congress adjourns. Roll Call >>
Plutonium and a National Park: Marking Birth of the Atomic Bomb
The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation that would make a park out of once-top secret sites in Washington, Tennessee and New Mexico where the atomic bomb was developed during World War II. Seattle PI >>
Army EOD Troops Host Air Force Academy Cadets
Cadets from the Air Force Academy’s Chemistry of Weapons Course trained with Army EOD Soldiers from the 764th EOD Company on Fort Carson’s Range 121. Col. Heidi Hoyle, commander of the Fort Carson-based 71st EOD Group, said the cadets worked with live explosives under the supervision of seasoned Army EOD technicians. 20th CBRNE Command >>
Risks of Terrorists Attacking, Using Materials from Nuclear Power Plant Are Low
Energy analysts who support new nuclear power plants construction insist that the probability of a terrorist nuclear attack by land, sea, or air is extremely low. They reject arguments by nuclear power opponents that terrorist groups may one day attack a nuclear plant, or build an improvised nuclear bomb using materials stolen from a nuclear power plant – and that governments should, therefore, end construction of new nuclear power plants. HSNW >>
Forbes: Congress Must Fund Ohio Replacement Program, Increase Fleet Size
The chair of the House Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee said Congress will find a way to fund the Navy’s next-generation nuclear-armed submarine fleet and look to move toward significantly larger fleet numbers compared to the current Navy goal of 306 ships. DoD Buzz >>
Syrian Chemical Weapons Bases’ Destruction to Begin This Month
Destruction of 12 chemical weapons facilities in Syria is expected to start this month, and the work should be completed by June, according to UN officials. UN Security Council diplomats still expressed worries that Syria had yet to make a full declaration of its chemical weapons capabilities. The Australian >>
The Challenge of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Korean Peninsula
WMD create challenges for the U.S. Army that will not go away in the near term. It is apparent that the future operating environment will include a variety of state or nonstate actors that will seek to counter U.S. influence or hold U.S. or allied forces at risk through WMD programs. International Relations and Security Network >>
US Navy Engineer Indicted For Trying To Sell Secrets
A naturalized American citizen working for the US Navy was arrested Friday for attempting to sell technical information about the nuclear aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford to an agent of the Egyptian government. The agent, however, was a federal undercover agent working for the FBI. Defense News >>
Preparing First Responders for CBRN Incidents
In order to effectively manage the consequences of CBRN incidents, a training course for first responders recently took place at the Joint CBRN Defence Centre of Excellence in Vyškov, Czech Republic. Thirty military and civilian participants from consequence-management structures in Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine and NATO countries attended the course entitled “Consequence Management after CBRN Incident.” NATO >>
19 Hospitalized, Thousands Evacuated in ‘Intentional’ Gas Leak in Chicago
Several thousand people, some dressed as animal characters, were evacuated from a Hyatt hotel in suburban Rosemont when an “intentional” chlorine gas incident at the Midwest FurFest convention led to 19 people being hospitalized. Chicago Times >>
Archaeological Evidence for 1,700-Year-Old Chemical Warfare
One of the distinguishing features of the First World War was the widespread use of chemical weapons. Chemical gases of various lethality, including mustard gas, phosgene and tear gas, were used to disable and kill enemy defenders. Although chemical weapons played a major role during the Great War, its usage can be dated to a much earlier period of history. Ancient Origins >>
Protecting the Nation Through Two Sectors
Army Lt. Col. Jennifer Howe, Joint Task Force Civil Support protection cell officer in charge, has a vast knowledge of what it takes to lead and train America’s land force against anti-terrorism. Howe contributes to our nation in both the Reserve and civilian sector with a 22 year background in anti-terrorism. Joint Task Force Civil Support >>
NIST Study Argues for RFID Forensic Evidence Management
While some law enforcement agencies have used barcodes to improve their forensic evidence tracking, storage and retrieval processes, very few have implemented RFID because of concerns about startup costs, the reliability of the technology and the current lack of relevant RFID standards for property and evidence handling. HSNW >>
DHS S&T App Tech Transitioned To Commercial Marketplace
The first mobile security application archiving technology developed with funding by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has been transitioned to the commercial market, to KryptoWire. HS Today >>
Personalized Approach to Army Avatars
New innovations for the Army’s virtual training game will personalize avatars to look and act like their soldiers and integrate more troops, vehicles and aircraft into the simulated training environment. Defense News >>