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We hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. While many folks are taking time off between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, it is still Monday and the news cycle keeps cranking on. The big news is the failed terrorist attack that occurred on Christmas day when a 23-year-old Nigerian man to blow up a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight. Certainly a major news story that has caused many to sit up and remember that we are always vulnerable on our homeland. The theme of today’s post is the fallout from this failed attack. So, fire up that second cup of coffee — as we always say — and read on.

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Mr. Charles Allen, former Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the decision to kill the domestic spy satellite program is a mistake. Mr. Allen told the Associated Press that the imaging could help provide a better understanding of the U.S. land and sea border vulnerabilities, as well as weaknesses in the country’s critical infrastructure that could be exploited by terrorists. As many of you know, Mr. Allen spoke at the GEOINT 2008 Symposium last year.

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Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano plans to kill a program begun by the Bush administration that would use U.S. spy satellites for domestic security and law enforcement. Why? She consulted with state and local law enforcement officials and learned that they had far more pressing priorities than using satellites to collect information and eavesdrop on people. As you can imagine, the decision is causing a stir on both sides of the aisle. Rep. Jane Harman, a California Democrat and House homeland security committee member had this to say about Napolitano’s bold move: “I thought this was just an invitation to huge mischief. It shows real leadership on the part of Janet Napolitano.” Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., had this to say: “If it is true, it’s a very big mistake. This is definitely a step back in the war on terror.” What do you all think about this? Would this be a step back in the war on terror? Or was a prudent decision based on real feedback – it sounds like state and local law enforcement was not even using the data? We welcome all thoughts and feedback.

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Welcome once again to the Wednesday GEOINT 2008 Video post on got geoint? This week’s installment features a GEOINT 2008 keynote from a true intelligence leader, Mr. Charles E. Allen, Former Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Mr. Allen talks about his vision for implementing intelligence and analysis for supporting the diverse national security threats that DHS faces on a daily basis. Scroll down to watch the video.

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Yesterday, the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a hearing called “Homeland Security Intelligence: Its Relevance and Limitations,” which consisted of law enforcement and and members of the ACLU discussing the need for better sharing of information in homeland security efforts. A key part of the hearing was on DHS’ “Intelligence Fusion Centers”. For those not familiar with these fusion centers, they were set up by the Bush administration (about 70 total in the U.S.), run by DHS and serve as areas where local law enforcement can share information with federal authorities on potential threat activities.

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