Us Intelligence News

A container ship smashed into a four-lane bridge in the U.S. port of Baltimore in darkness on Tuesday, causing it to collapse and sending cars and people plunging into the river below.Rescuers pulled out two survivors, one in a "very serious condition," and were searching for more in the Patapsco River after huge spans of the 1.6-mile (2.57 km) Francis Scott Key Bridge crumpled into the water.The ship "lost propulsion" as it was leaving port, and crew on board notified Maryland officials they had lost control of the vessel, ABC News reported, citing an unclassified U.S.

Western allies on Wednesday warned against reaching premature conclusions on who was responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines, with Germany suggesting the attack could also have been a "false flag" operation to blame Ukraine.A New York Times report, citing intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials, said on Tuesday a pro-Ukrainian group may be behind the blasts that became a flashpoint between the West and Russia after last year's Russian invasion of Ukraine.The report…

New intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials suggests that a pro-Ukraine group - likely comprised of Ukrainians or Russians - attacked the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September, but there are no firm conclusions, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.There was no evidence that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy or other Ukrainian government officials were behind the attacks which spewed natural gas into the Baltic Sea, the newspaper reported, citing U.S. officials.Reuters could not independently verify the report.The Sept.

Britain's Royal Navy said on Thursday it had seized Iranian weapons, including anti-tank guided missiles, last month from a smugglers vessel in international waters in the Gulf of Oman.Britain said the vessel was detected travelling south from Iran at high speed during the hours of darkness by an unmanned U.S.

Boston-based maritime autonomy and perception systems company Sea Machines Robotics, Inc, announced it has installed its new AI-ris computer vision product onboard a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 270-foot Famous-class Medium Endurance Cutter ahead of the vessel’s upcoming deployment.AI-ris uses artificial intelligence to identify and track visual targets of interest.This installation aboard the USCGC Campbell (WMEC-909) was made possible under an ongoing Cooperative Research and Development…

Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations Supervisory Air Interdiction Officer Ali Baig recognized for promoting regional maritime securityThe National  Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Executive Steering Committee annual national level “MDA ESC Excellence Award for 2021 for law enforcement was presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations Supervisory Air Interdiction Officer Ali Baig of the Jacksonville Air and Marine Branch. The recognition…

North Korea launched multiple short-range anti-ship cruise missiles into the sea and Sukhoi jets fired air-to-surface missiles on Tuesday as part of its ongoing military exercises, South Korea’s military said.The missile tests came on the eve of a national holiday in North Korea to celebrate the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founder of the country and grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong Un.Launched at around 7 a.m. (2200 GMT), the anti-ship missiles plunged into the sea more than 150 kilometres (93 miles) off the east coast town of Munchon…

The United States on Friday announced the deployment of 1,500 troops to the Middle East, describing it as an effort to bolster defenses against Iran as it accused the country's Revolutionary Guards of direct responsibility for this month's tanker attacks.President Donald Trump's administration also invoked the threat from Iran to declare a national security-related emergency that would clear the sale of billions of dollars' worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries without required congressional approval.The actions were the latest by the Trump administration as it highlights what it sees as a threat of potential attack by Iran…

The United States believes Iran has started carrying out naval exercises in the Gulf, apparently moving up the timing of annual drills amid heightened tensions with Washington, U.S. officials told Reuters on Thursday.One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said possibly more than 100 vessels were involved in the drills, including small boats. A second official expected the drill could be wrapped up this week.Iran has been furious over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of an international nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Tehran. Senior Iranian officials have warned the country would not easily yield to a renewed U.S. campaign to strangle Iran's vital oil exports.The U.S.

A U.S. Navy officer with access to sensitive U.S. intelligence faces espionage charges over accusations he passed state secrets, possibly to China and Taiwan, a U.S. official told Reuters on Sunday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the suspect as Lieutenant Commander Edward Lin, who was born in Taiwan and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen, according a Navy profile article written about him in 2008. A redacted Navy charge sheet said the suspect was assigned to the headquarters for the Navy's Patrol and Reconnaissance Group, which oversees intelligence collection activities. The charge sheet redacted out the name of the suspect and the Navy declined to provide details on his identity.

Russian submarines and spy ships are aggressively operating near the vital undersea cables that carry almost all global internet communications, raising concerns in America, reports Reuters. The US intelligence officials feel that the Russians might be planning to attack those lines in times of tension or conflict, says the report. From the North Sea to Northeast Asia and even in waters closer to U.S. shores, there is increased Russian activity along the known routes of cables that carry the lifeblood of global electronic communications and commerce. The New York Times reported that US spies had noticed Russian submarines and spy ships acting suspiciously near cables in the North Sea, north-east Asia and off the American coast.

Fox News and the Washington Free Beacon reported the presence of a  top Russian spy ship off the coast of Kings Bay, Georgia and is capable of cutting undersea cables. The Pentagon responded to the media reports that it was closely being monitored by defense agencies but declined to give a location of the Russian vessel. "The U.S. intelligence ships, aircraft and satellites are closely watching the Russian military vessel in the Atlantic that has been sailing near a U.S. nuclear missile submarine base and underwater transit routes," say Pentagon officials. The Russian research ship Yantar has been tracked from the northern Atlantic near Canada since late August as it makes its way south toward Cuba.

NATO disputes Conservative claim that Russians confronted Canadian warship. The parliamentary defence secretary said Russian warships confronted a Canadian frigate in the Black Sea. Nonsense, say NATO officials. A report in Ottawa Citizen says that the federal government has ratcheted up its war of words over Ukraine, with the parliamentary defence secretary claiming Russian warships confronted a Canadian frigate in the Black Sea. NATO officials, however, say no such thing happened. Meanwhile, U.S. Rear Admiral Brad Williamson, commander of the maritime group, said at another point two Russian ships were spotted in the distance. The Russians followed all regulations required of vessels in international waters, NATO added.

The U.S. pressed China to implement structural reforms in its exchange rate and to modify its "aggressive behaviour" in disputed waters during a preliminary round of bilateral talks, senior U.S. officials said. The United States, led by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, will also push China this week to resume cooperation on fighting cyber espionage and return to dialogue on internet issues, a senior U.S. official said. The two-day annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue kicks off officially on Wednesday.

General Dynamics announced that Thomas W. Kirchmaier has been elected a vice president of the corporation and appointed as president of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, reporting to David K. Heebner, executive vice president of the company's Information Systems and Technology group. Kirchmaier succeeds Lewis F. Von Thaer, who resigned in April. The appointment is effective immediately. Kirchmaier, has been the senior vice president and general manager of the Intelligence Solutions division of General Dynamics Information Technology since 2007, leading a worldwide organization with more than 4,600 professionals which provides high-technology solutions for the U.S. intelligence community, selected DoD commands and agencies, their coalition partners and NATO.

“Last summer, we acquired several companies specializing in geospatial intelligence, logistics technology, and real-time risk decision-making,” stated Dennis Groseclose, President of TransVoyant. “TransVoyant combines the proven technology and global logistics knowledge of Portal Dynamics and the unique qualities of ObjectFX geospatial and decision-support technology. Founded by a team of government and commercial-industry veterans with deep technology experience and a track record of success in bringing new products to market, TransVoyant helps clients solve their most difficult challenges in global data intelligence environments through visionary and industry-leading solutions.

The U.S. completed a 14-month investigation into national security threats and document fraud associated with U.S. merchant mariner credentials. The investigation, known as Operation Drydock, revealed nine individuals that held credentials have suspected associations with terrorist groups. "Through extensive and detailed investigative efforts, we have reduced vulnerabilities to terrorism by preventing the fraudulent use of credentials by those who seek to harm our nation and its citizens," said Admiral Thomas H. Collins, Commandant of the Coast Guard. "This is a great example of interagency cooperation in the war on terror," he said.

This article focuses on the necessity to craft an effective network system while meeting the government's objectives in the basic rules for security and surveillance of Ports throughout America. This approach explores, from a programmatic perspective, the notion that dealing with the safety issues facing Homeland Security can be successfully accomplished only if technology interconnects the various agencies defending our Ports. It should be noted that system integration can be achieved with technology that exists today, incorporating wireless and broadband services through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to which all United States Administrators of Defense will have access. Defense budgeting with the intent to fight terrorism is here to stay.

President Bush signed into law the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (S. 2845). The major emphasis of the legislation is reform of the U.S. intelligence organization. Other measures, though, may impact the maritime community. The Secretary of Homeland Security is directed to prepare a National Strategy for Transportation Security. This document is identify and evaluate transportation assets (including maritime) in the United States that must be protected from attack or disruption and develop a risk-based priority addressing those security needs. Also, the Secretary is to promulgate a rule requiring operators of cruise ships to provide passenger and crew information so that the Department can develop a “watch list” program similar to that utilized by airlines.

President George Bush has signed into law legislation repealing a four year old rule imposing a 50% duty on the cost of routine repairs and maintenance carried out by U.S. merchant mariners while their vessel is at sea. The elimination of the duty, which customs authorities have levied on US-flag carriers since April 2001, represents a victory for the domestic shipowning community. The community has lobbied hard against it since its introduction. President Bush signed into law the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (S. 2845). The major emphasis of the legislation is reform of the U.S. intelligence organization. Other measures, though, may impact the maritime community.

The Department of Homeland Security in consultation with the Homeland Security Council, has made the decision to raise the national threat level from an Elevated to High risk of terrorist attack or Level Orange. The U.S. Intelligence Community believes that Al Qaida has entered an operational period worldwide, and this may include attacks in the United States. In the wake of terrorist bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco, Al-Qaida and those sympathetic to their cause, are still a principal threat, but threats may also emanate from other anti-U.S. terrorist groups, regional extremist organizations, and ad hoc groups or disgruntled individuals not connected to existing terrorist organizations or state sponsors of terrorism.

On October 23, the FBI issued an intelligence update warning state and local law enforcement of recent reporting that Al Qaeda is targeting the U.S. railway and petroleum sectors. Information from debriefings of Al Qaeda detainees as of mid-October indicates that the group has considered directly targeting U.S. passenger trains. The U.S. U.S. economic interests. containers. Recently captured Al Qaeda photographs of U.S. threat. against the global petroleum sector. including oil facilities and nuclear power plants. In addition, the U.S. financial sector and government facilities and installations. physical protections. enhanced rail security measures. well as Amtrak. implementation of enhanced security measures. measures. Administration have implemented additional security measures as well.