Feral Jundi

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Paracargo: $3 Million Paracargo Drop for Saudi Tanker, Somalia

Filed under: Maritime Security,Paracargo,Somalia — Tags: , , — Matt @ 2:28 AM

   This is the first time I have ever heard of paying off pirates by using the paracargo method.  I imagine the chute was a guided system so it landed where they wanted it to go.  What a dramatic finish to the world’s biggest ship hijacking, and this one is for the books.  Then the clown shoe pirates sank in their get away boat, and lost their loot to Davy Jones.  You can’t make this stuff up, and thanks to Doug for sending me this. –Matt

——————————————————————-

paracargo loot

The apparent ransom payment is delivered via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star.

 

Pictured: The moment a $3million ransom was parachuted to Somali pirates

By David Gardner

Last updated at 11:53 PM on 09th January 2009

This is the dramatic moment a ransom of $3million was paid to Somali pirates to end the world’s biggest ship hijacking.

The canister full of cash was parachuted onto the Sirius Star – observed by the U.S. Navy who provided these images – and the two-month ordeal of the 25 crew, including two Britons, was finally over.

However things went badly wrong for the pirates soon after the drop – they squabbled over how to split the money and then a wave washed off their getaway boat and drowned five of them.

(more…)

Books: The Mission, The Men, and Me, by Pete Blaber

Filed under: Books,Tactical Thought Process — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 1:36 AM

   Yes, another winner of a book by one of America’s elite.  I guess by now the readers of Feral Jundi are noticing a trend with my book selections.  I look for books written by those that have been there and done that, and are considered to be the best warriors in the world. The members of the Unit are an elite crew, and when these guys talk, I pay attention.

   Also, the amount of these books coming out lately just amazes me, and everyone in the industry should try to take the time to read their stories and listen to their ideas.  The have a hard fought operational wisdom and common sense clarity that is very unique, and reading this stuff is pure brain candy for the security professional–almost Boydian (my new word for authors and their ideas that inspire me).  So let’s get on with my review.

   This book was named after the 3 M principle that Pete Blaber was introduced to early on in his military career.  It is a simple concept where the Mission comes first, your Men come second, and Me comes last in the order of priorities.  These principles have guided Pete through his entire career as a professional soldier and in his civilian life, and this is a major theme of the book.

   The format of the book is great.  For each chapter he discusses a leadership lesson learned, and tries to tie that in with the 3 M’s and what it takes to accomplish the mission.  So definitely do not skim this thing, because you will miss stuff.

   In this book, you will get a glimpse of Pete and his crew going on training treks through the mountains of Montana, to the various combat missions in this war and wars past.  He also talks about the various discussions he had with such individuals like Johnny Walker Lindh (American Taliban) and Ali Mohamed, and then ties in those interviews with the lessons we can learn from these individuals and how they were able to get so close to Usama Bin Laden(UBL).

(more…)

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Legal News: Feds Plan to Charge Former Montanan for Iraq Death

Filed under: Iraq,Legal News,Montana — Tags: , , — Matt @ 10:26 AM

Feds plan to charge former Montanan for Iraq death

Jan 6, 2009

By GENE JOHNSON of the Associated Press

SEATTLE – Federal prosecutors intend to charge a former security contractor for Blackwater USA in the killing of an Iraqi guard in 2006, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Attorney Stewart Riley said he received a letter from prosecutors outlining their intent to charge his client, Seattle resident Andrew Moonen. Riley declined to discuss the letter any further or say if it revealed what charge the U.S. attorney’s office is contemplating, but said he has neither received nor made any plea offer for Moonen.

(more…)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Government Work: FBI Launches Largest Hiring Blitz in it’s History

Filed under: Government Work — Tags: , , — Matt @ 1:06 PM

FBI plans large hiring blitz of agents, experts

Mon Jan 5, 2009 5:15pm EST

By James Vicini

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Wanted by the FBI: agents, language specialists, computer experts, intelligence analysts and finance experts.

The FBI said on Monday it had launched one of the largest hiring blitzes in its 100-year history involving 2,100 professional staff vacancies and 850 special agents aimed at filling its most critical vacancies.

The agency, which seeks to protect the United States from terrorist attack, fight crime and catch spies, among other duties, said it currently has more than 12,800 agents and about 18,400 other employees.

Since the Sept 11, 2001, attacks, the FBI has been criticized for not having enough employees fluent in foreign languages and for not moving fast enough to upgrade its computer system.

FBI Assistant Director John Raucci of the Human Resources division said the federal law enforcement agency is seeking to bring more people on board with skills in critical areas, especially language fluency and computer science.

“We’re also looking for professionals in a wide variety of fields who have a deep desire to help protect our nation from terrorists, spies, and others who wish us harm,” Raucci said.

He said the FBI, which has been investigating corporate wrongdoing in connection with the current financial crisis, also needs finance and accounting experts, along with those skilled in physical surveillance and various other employees.

The hiring initiative for FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., and for its field offices would replace departed staff and add some employees, officials said. (Reporting by James Vicini, Editing by Jackie Frank)

Story Here

Start Here to Apply at the FBI

Monday, January 5, 2009

Technology: Ushahidi, and Mapping the Reports out of Gaza

Filed under: Israel,Technology — Tags: , , — Matt @ 3:27 PM

    Another new technology that is being used in this current war is Ushahidi Mapping Software.  All this does is map what is going on in a conflict, based on various reports from the field from anyone with a SMS enabled phone or computer or using news aggregates.  The problem I have with this system is verification.  Hamas or the IDF could easily tap into this and contribute false reports, to paint a picture of what they want the public to see.  If there was an accurate way to verify, like only accepting reports that have multiple photo or video showing the same thing from different angles, along with a time/date/description stamp system, then maybe this might be somewhat useful.  Until then, I only see this being used more as a propaganda tool.  As you can see below, Al Jazeera is playing around with it, and it is kind of cool to flip through the various info and reports. But who are these folks making the reports, and how do I know they are telling the truth?  The truth after all is the first casualty of a war. 

   Now what I see as a good use for this tool, is for disaster relief.  Mobile phones and text messaging are often the only survivors amongst the rubble of disasters, and you always see these being used to a great extent during and after a disaster.  Sometimes only text messages can make it through, and something like this might be a great way for aid agencies to tap into the needs and emergencies of the victims.  

   Although, the key component of this technology is a population that have mobile phones, and having plenty of working towers to reach these folks.  I do think a mobile cell tower system is a vital component of today’s disaster relief, and should be one of the top priorities of a disaster.  Then once that tower is up, to implement a SMS plan, of reaching out to everyone via their phones, and giving them the preferred method of reporting–using text messages.

(more…)

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress