Monday, December 3, 2012

Good Questions About Tunis, Khartoum, and Sana'a

Consumer Notice: This post is certified 100% free of Matters of Official Concern that are not referenced from publicly available sources of information.














I'll say this for the Benghazi Accountability Review Board - it is doing a great job of maintaining the secrecy of its proceedings. I don't think the least hint about its deliberations has leaked out into the public sphere. We'll just have to wait for the report, assuming it is publicly released.

In the meantime, please read Diplopundit's post of earlier today because it contains a good many excellent and extremely pertinent questions about what lessons we have learned from the other serious attacks of last September. I partially quote from a few of them below, because they go directly to the premises that underlie some of our overseas physical security practices (which, for the record, are described pretty well in GAO reports like this one).

• If a mob can scale 9-foot walls that easily, and help from host country authorities are slow or not forthcoming, what are the recommended options for the embassy staff short of getting into a safehaven and waiting to be roasted like ducks?

In the event we cannot expect a timely response from host country authorities, I can imagine extreme circumstances under which it would be preferable to evacuate the mission, even during an attack, rather than to go into the safehaven.

• If the safehaven rooms are to function as the embassy’s “safe haven” for employees under attack, shouldn’t these rooms require not only fireproofing but also be fully smoke sealed?

That GAO report I linked to above describes "five key Overseas Security Policy Board standards to protect overseas diplomatic office facilities against terrorism and other dangers" but none of them address fire and smoke used as a weapon. Maybe the OSPB should think about that.

• Is it more advantageous to continue the path of co-location of facilities and other agencies inside one hardened facility (and provide a single target) or does the policy of co-location provide more vulnerabilities than acceptable?

Is it better to put all your eggs in one basket, or to spread the risk by distributing them in several baskets? The only answer I've ever heard that makes sense to me is this: in places where the host government provides reasonable security, distribute your eggs in several baskets; in places where it doesn't, put your eggs in one basket and use all your resources to protect that basket.

• How did the protesters easily got on top of the chancery buildings? Were these buildings constructed with built- in ladders? If so, is it time to revisit this and if the built-in ladders are there for “aesthetics” maybe it is time to screw that? As a precaution, what has been done to the current buildings constructed with built in ladders?

The embassy in Tunis did indeed have what amounted to built-in ladders (evidently vertical window stacks running from ground to roof with hand- and foot-holds wide enough to climb).



According to a definitive source of publicly available information, New Embassy Tunis completed construction on November 1, 2002, which means that it predates by one year the Office of Overseas Buildings Operations era of standard embassy designs. So, at least that architectural ladder wasn't reproduced elsewhere. On the other hand, that means the ladder was there for ten years with no action taken to remove it. Hum.  

The Stairway to Heaven was a good song, if a bit slow to get started, but it is really bad defensive architecture.

• Has the State Department updated its use of force policy since the embassy attacks? If so, what red lines require the corresponding response of active use of force?

Assuming (1) we cannot expect a host country intervention for many hours, if ever, and (2) that we may have to evacuate the compound while under attack, and (3) that fire may be used as a weapon ... that adds up to a need to use deadly force in unprecedented ways.

That's a lot of good questions.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post TSB and Diplopundit! I'm no fire safety expert but isn't diessel smoke much more deadly than other types? (burns much longer and more toxic) Is there any current type of safe room and equipment available to survive something like that for several hours? Any thoughts on that Jordan embassy plot? gwb

TSB said...

I'm not sure about diesel fumes, but burning furniture and room furnishings can put off plenty of toxic fumes in a typical building fire, and heat alone can be as effective as fire or smoke. It's a big problem.

I understand there are water curtain units that could be installed around a single room, and also modular foam generators. Those look promising.

On Jordan, the local security services are highly efficient, and our embassy is a hard target. It's a good thing that plot happened there instead of somewhere else.

Anonymous said...

TSB: Should be a big day down at the Palace on Friday. Great pictures of the Tuesday crowd by Russia Today.. with lots of not so religious men and women stopping by to have a chat with Morsi. Check out that security!! gwb

http://rt.com/news/cairo-egypt-protest-teargas-269/

Anonymous said...

TSB: "My contacts" in Allepo say the sarin gas is headed their way and yesterday the Eisenhower carrier battle group arrived off the shores of Syria via the Suez Canal. These guys get a lot of stuff totally wrong but stuff like this is found where else???? gwb

http://www.debka.com/article/22583/Assad%E2%80%99s-chemical-weapons-units-head-out-of-Damascus-toward-Aleppo

Anonymous said...

TSB: Karzai was interviewed yesterday in Kabul by a US network.
When asked about the Petreaus scandal he said: "(I'm summarizing because they didn't show this answer): I can only think of the suffering and dying that happened in Kandahar while Petreaus was playing with his girl friend in Kabul." I loved the guy on Fox News
who was arguing that Petreaus was the greatest US General since Matthew Ridgeway! gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: Time to draw up those plans for the "Bengahzi South" consulate. gwb

http://rt.com/usa/news/pentagon-military-mali-us-560/

PS: I suggest trained meerkats for sentries. The biggest expenses will be supplying them with scorpions to eat and training them to wear kevlar.

Anonymous said...

TSB: It is really getting 1984ish around here!
http://www.infowars.com/woman-sentenced-to-year-in-prison-for-having-supposed-al-qaeda-magazine/

Inspire seemed like such an uplifting name for a magazine. I'm glad I didn't subscribe but could I be jailed just for reading this article? gwb

Anonymous said...

• Surveillance at a Spring Training Stadium in Arizona: Arizona officials used $90,000 to install bollards and a video surveillance system at the Peoria AZ Sports Conference (where the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres play spring-training). (Pg. 26 & 27)

• Tank-like “Bearcats” to Protect Cities and Towns Everywhere (Including the Keane, NH Pumpkin Festival: Many cities or local governments have used UASI or DHS grant funds to purchase Bearcat armored vehicles. The small town of Keane, NH (population 23,000 purchased a Bearcat vehicle. The grant application cited protecting the town’s annual pumpkin festival for why the armored vehicle was needed. (Pg. 42)

TSB: This year the Mariners are going to need a couple Bearcats to protect their personnel if, as expected, they field a worse team than last year. We, fans have suffered enough watching these guys so I don't think we should be expected to pay for more security. My God! Parking is already higher than a ticket to the game. gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: In the great northwest we believe in going easy on little gunslingers like this, especially when they show initiative and leadership and are church goers. If he had killed her we would have been "shocked and heartbroken" gwb

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2245712/Amy-Garrett-Portland-woman-held-gunpoint-boys-aged-7-11-attempted-carjacking.html

Anonymous said...

Re: Anna Wintour Wouldn't it be worth it just to get her and those outfits out of the country? and don't we owe the French something for having to put up with DeGaule, LaGarde and Straus-Khan? (He settled with the maid today for ?? $$ and his wife says he can have all the hotel maids he wants now.)
gwb

TSB said...

GWB: Wintour gets my vote for Ambo to France. Why not? I'm just wondering how to get hands on some of that sweet Homeland Security money. Winter is here, and a Bearcat would be great in snow.

Anonymous said...

TSB: This is such a joke. 619 billion in Mexican drug money goes thru HSBC and all they can say is
"mistakes were made and we're sure sorry"?? The sincerity is really moving. Since the article is about HSBC being the favorite.. why don't they tell us who are the runners up? gwb
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-12/hsbc-mexican-branches-said-to-be-traffickers-favorites.html

Anonymous said...

If I Am Captured, This Blog Will Continue
TSB: I checked out this guy because I want to keep up with all the conspiracy theories. Great advertisement for 'living better thru chemistry'. This murder sounds like a professional hit to me, probably ordered by McAfee. I think the lesson here is it's ok to hate your crazy neighbor but get psychiatric help before you poison his dog. gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: I'll bet the damn humanitarians up north aren't buying any Bearcat G3s to protect their pumpkin festivals either. They're probably bringing swat teams on snowmobiles. My God! their banks are even solvent. gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: Our State Department at Work?

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/mcafee-released-returning-us/story?id=17946650
gwb

Anonymous said...

Christmas Eve 1979. The Russians— the enemy America loved to hate— invaded Afghanistan. Jimmy Carter’s troubled presidency had one year remaining. President Carter signed a “presidential finding” authorizing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to jump from intelligence gathering to an “operational” role in Afghanistan. (Informed Comment)

TSB: I propose making Christmas Eve a national holiday to commemorate our longest war. (33 yrs this Christmas) And I predict we will end this thing on it's 40th anniversary when Afghanistan will be "liberated" by the North Koreans with Kim Young Young taking the throne after Karzai flees to Hawaii. gwb

Anonymous said...

Clinton testimony update:
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/12/13/state_dept_clinton_may_not_testify_on_benghazi_1

TSB: As you know Secy Clinton has started Yoga as part of her transition to private life. Her instructor has advised her that in the beginning stage it's important to avoid useless stress as it could set her back weeks! gwb

TSB said...

GWB:

Hillary and joga, perfect! She's always been slipery, but now maybe she'll learn to be flexible too.

BTW. I remember that Christmas Eve of 1979; back then you needed a shortwave radio to get foreign news in any kind of depth, and I spent days with my radio glued to my ear.

About Mcafee, I don't know, but I suspect he's the kind of rich kook that drives everybody crazy and makes countries pass him along like a hot potato.

Anonymous said...

Those were the days TSB! I used to love Larry King on the radio and I was glued to Ted Koppel every night
wondering why Carter was such an indecisive sap. Gas was cheap and some tv was still fun to watch. Who knew the military was taking over the country? gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: The Christmas troop surge has started in Iraq and Turkey. Remember Kosovo when the troops were going to be home by Christmas?Maybe Bill and Hillary will fly in there to serve dinner on their 17th anniversary and give an award to the food service guy there who is now 78. Don't we need a new super hero general for the 2013 middle east troop surge? and how bout some new "retro uniforms" suitable for all continents? gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: Re: the guy from Hoboken.
CNN's Dr. Drew Pinsky: "This is EVIL! This has to stop NOW!" Our leaders have to step and address this sickness right now!"

my thoughts: "And now back to our matinee: Apocalypse Now!..and could we get a comment from Sylvester Stallone? gwb

TSB said...

Uniforms suitable for all continents?? That got me thinking. You could interpret our military / foreign policy changes over the years with a display of how uniforms have changed.

In World War II and Korea - everybody wore plain green wool pants and shirts. In Vietnam - tropical weight green poplin with an outside-the-pants blouse and a floppy jungle hat. For the Cold War - green woodland pattern heavyweight camo BDUs and shiny black boots. For Dessert Strom, desert pattern BDUs and non-shinable brown boots. For Afghanistan and Iraq - a confusion of various shades of tan and green, experiments in digital camo, the use of different patterns for different services, plus we go Euro with berets.

I serious think there is a potential museum exhibit in this idea.

Anonymous said...

That is a great idea TSB. Reminds me of that "Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Museum" in Waco. That is a really fun trip for the whole family. gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: Iran says "Ha Ha", game over!

http://www.debka.com/article/22616/US-Iranian-nuclear-talks-fail-Iran-has-plutonium-for-24-Nagasaki-type-bombs
gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: Secy Clinton fainted today at home after being reminded about her upcoming congressional testimony. Unfortunately she suffered a concussion and now cannot remember anything pre-Benghazi. She promises to answer all questions when she feels like it... I mean better! gwb

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CLINTON?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-15-12-28-49

Anonymous said...

TSB: Not a peep yet whether anyone in Portland has the stomach to return to shop at the mall but the big gun store reports the 2 biggest days in their history on top of the biggest year in their history as everyone lines up for Glocks and AR-15's. There are now 13 co-sponsers for the banning legislation. Remember when Super Soakers were popular? gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: President Obama will be traveling today to Chicago for a candelight vigil to remember the 20 some teens shot this week and offer his plans to stop senseless gun violence. Oh..they're black?,from the old neighborhood? Well..that could take more time.
gwb
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-shootings-violence-december-14-december-15-20121214,0,912168.story

Anonymous said...

TSB: I've been fuming since I saw Geraldo's awful reaction last nite.
But you better have a talk with Di Fi. I think she wants to ban anything that isn't approved by PETA. gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: http://www.amazon.com/Korea-Betrayed-Kim-Jung-Sunshine/product-reviews/0312240171/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt/182-9845054-5069500?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Pretty interesting book about how CIA provided $500 million to "our"
Korean President which ended up funding the N.Korean nuclear program, while buying our guy the Nobel Peace Prize. I wonder if any
$$ changed hands for Obama's Peace Prize and whether Nato's Fohgg guy is looking for one as well? gwb also, I rechecked "The Coldest Winter".. no mention of Turkish allies in Korean War.

Anonymous said...

TSB: Now that it has hit Drudge how long will MSNBC keep on pretending? gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: I'd like to see them cover this one because the guy was stopped by a girl Sherrif's deputy before he could kill anyone plus the guy is still alive so he will be able to tell us his motive which I assume is: "I just felt like killing a bunch of people and it's her fault!" gwb

TSB said...

GWB: That's surprising about The Coldest War. But then, I once read a collection of Russian high school histories of the Second World War and they reduced the role of the Western Allies to about two paragraphs. Maybe it's typical to ignore foreign allies.

BTW, Anthony Herbert, the most decorated U.S. enlisted man in Korea, wrote in his autobiography ("Soldier") about being lost on the battlefield and taken in by a Turkish unit with which he fought until he found some U.S troops days later. He heartily approved of the Turks even though he never understood a word they said.

Anonymous said...

Richard Engel's disappearance is now on wikipedia. I found 2 great new books on N. Korea at the library. Barbara Demick's "Nothing To Envy-Ordinary Lives In North Korea" (2010) is a really great read. gwb