Diplomatic Security
2012 YEAR IN REVIEWUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATEBUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITYDiplomaticSecurity2012 Year in Review
ContentsThe Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), the law enforcement andsecurity arm of the U.S. Department of State, provides a secureenvironment for the conduct of American diplomacy. To advanceAmerican interests and foreign policy, DS protects people,property, and information at 275 State Department missionsworldwide. DS is the most widely represented U.S. securityand law enforcement organization in the world and a leaderin international investigations, threat analysis, cyber security,counterterrorism, and security technology.JANUARYM AYDS Special Agent HelpsCapture Los Angeles Arsonist3Border Security:Domestic Efforts4Border Security:International Efforts6OCTOBERDS Protects Britain’sRoyal Family18OSAC Hosts NYC Forum18DS Protects theU.S. Secretary of State197DS Helps Train NewMarine Security Guards20On Our Border8NATO Summit20Capturing Fugitives andFinding Abducted Children:The Long Arm of DS9J U N E /J U LYInternational LawEnforcement AcademyThe Diplomatic CourierService Delivers2012 YEAR IN REVIEW2012 YEAR IN REVIEWOur Mission22The Assassination ofQassim Aklan33DS Protects Diplomats atUnited Nations GeneralAssembly 6734The Office of Foreign Missions35Enhancing EmbassyProtection with SecurityEngineering and Technology36DS Leads the Way in FederalCyber Security Efforts38Recruiting, Vetting,and Training Personnel40FEBRUARYDS Evacuates U.S. EmbassyDamascus10AUGUSTNOVEMBERAntiterrorism Assistance11DS Protects U.S. Olympiansand Paralympians at2012 Summer GamesThe Overseas SecurityAdvisory Council HostsIts 27th Annual Briefing2342MARCHSEPTEMBERDECEMBERBenghazi AccountabilityReview Board Releases Report4312Car Bomb StrikesU.S. ConsulateMotorcade in Peshawar24Research and Development13Bomb Scare in Brussels24U.S. EmbassyBangui Evacuates44Transition in Iraq14Inflammatory MaterialSpawns ViolenceMobile Security Deployments4525Terrorists Attack U.S. SpecialMission in Benghazi, Libya26U.S. Embassies Under Attack28Weapons of MassDestruction Drill in Riyadh12Intelligence AlertThwarts SurveillanceAPRILU.S. Embassy BamakoEvacuates Family Members15Rewards for JusticeTargets Terrorists1618-Hour Siege of U.S.Embassy Kabul17High-Threat Training17
Since 1977, 65 U.S. diplomatic personnel have been killed by terrorists.Right: Los AngelesMayor AntonioVillaraigosa (front,left) presentsDS Special AgentJonathan Lamb ofthe Los Angeles FieldOffice with a citationfrom a grateful Cityof Los Angeles afterAgent Lamb helpedhalt an arson spree.At center behindthem is SpecialAgent in ChargeWes Weller fromthe DS Los AngelesField Office.Terrorists bombed the U.S. Embassy and Marine Corps barracks in Beirut in 1983. The KhobarTowers in Saudi Arabia were attacked in 1996. U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam and U.S. EmbassyNairobi in East Africa both were bombed in 1998. Terrorists stormed the U.S. Consulate inJeddah in 2004. And, in 2012, terrorists attacked our U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, whereU.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens lost his life, along with Foreign ServiceOfficer Sean Smith and former Navy Seals Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. Benghazi wasa tragedy for the families and loved ones of these four patriots, for the Bureau of DiplomaticSecurity (DS), and for our nation. These losses illustrate the challenges the United Statesfaces exercising statecraft in regions of the world where it is most needed. Our Antiterrorism Assistanceprogram taught our foreignhosts how to investigateterrorist plots; Our in-house security engineersblast-tested their own designsfor modular guard towers andcrash-tested various typesof anti-ram barriers, withimpressive results; Our technical expertsfielded a suite of mobilesystems to solve a challengediplomatic motorcades face —communicating by radio whileelectronic jamming is operatingto defeat remote-controlledbombs in their paths; We improved the training ofthe Marine Security Guardswho serve in our embassies bydesigning working models oftheir overseas command postsat a schoolhouse on MarineCorps Base Quantico in Virginia; We posted 57 million in rewardoffers for information on knownterrorists in Africa, the MiddleEast, and Central Asia; and We built a state-of-the-artForeign Affairs Cyber SecurityCenter to counter the growingthreat of digital terrorism.The challenges that drive thesesecurity evolutions are chronicledin the worldwide incident reportsour Diplomatic Security agentssend back to headquarters everyday, more than 2,000 reportsin 2012. They delineate crimesand threats against Americans,demonstrations, civil unrest,terrorism — anything that directlyor indirectly influences the safetyof U.S. diplomatic personnel attheir posts. The timeline thatruns along the pages of thisreport is a small window intothat unrelenting threat stream.American diplomacy mustcontinue in spite of thesedangers. This has been theDiplomatic Security mandatesince 1917. We undertake thiseffort in more places, in higherthreat places, with higher stakesand greater consequences thanany other security organizationin the world.2012 YEAR IN REVIEW2012 YEAR IN REVIEWIntroductionDespite these challenges, in 2012,DS was able to make life saferfor U.S. Department of Statepersonnel overseas innumerous ways:2Left: A Los AngelesFire Departmentfirefighter battlesone of more than50 arson fires thatplagued Hollywoodand West Hollywoodas the year began.DS Special Agent HelpsCapture Los Angeles ArsonistMore than 50 fires erupted in LosAngeles over New Year’s weekend.Authorities released a grainy, parkinglot-camera image of the arson suspect.A Diplomatic Security special agentand his partner from the U.S. MarshalsService recognized the suspect asHarry Burkhart. Burkhart was the sonof a female fugitive wanted in Germanyfor fraud. They had tracked her downat the request of U.S. ConsulateGeneral Frankfurt. In fact, the son hadinadvertently led them to the woman.Now he was furiously lighting firesJan 1Los Angeles,California:Arsonist lightsmore than 50fires in rampageover New Year’sweekendJan 2Khartoum, Sudan:Sudanese rebelgroup releaseskidnapped USAIDcontractorthroughout the city. The DS specialagent and the U.S. Marshal provided theLos Angeles multi-agency Arson TaskForce with information about Burkhart’sresidence and vehicle.Within hours, Burkhart was pulled overin Hollywood by a Los Angeles CountySheriff ’s deputy. At 3 a.m., DS SpecialAgent Jonathan Lamb was on the sceneto confirm the arsonist’s identity.Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosahonored the two federal lawenforcement officers.Jan 3Caracas,Venezuela: U.S.Airman and hisfather kidnappedfor ransom nearU.S. EmbassyJan 4Cape Town,South Africa:Call-in threatto U.S. ConsulateGeneralbecause“Itofisyouractionsthat we wereable to avertfurther damageand the potentialloss of life.”—Los Angeles MayorAntonio VillaraigosaJan 5Kigali, Rwanda:Grenade attackkills two andinjures 16 localsJan 5Santo Domingo,DominicanRepublic:U.S. Embassyexperiencesmagnitude 5.3earthquakeJan 5Nassau,Bahamas:U.S. Embassyemployeerobbed nearEmbassyhousing3
Border Security: Domestic EffortsAkey mission of the Bureau ofDiplomatic Security is to protectthe U.S. border by thwarting the useof fraudulent passports and visas, aswell as the use of genuine documentsfraudulently obtained. Domestically,DS special agents, investigators, andanalysts pursue these cases from eightfield offices, 23 resident offices, and DSheadquarters. DS personnel also joininter-agency task forces that specializein terrorism or document fraud.Jan 6Cartagena,Colombia:U.S. Embassyfamily memberassaulted4Jan 7Cairo, Egypt:Protestersburn Americanflags outsideU.S. EmbassyJan 8Taji, Iraq:Indirectfire targetsU.S. MissionpersonnelIn 2012, domestic DS offices opened2,436 investigations for passportcrime and 442 for visa crime. Domesticpassport and visa cases generated morethan 1,000 arrests in 2012. On January 10, a financial professionalpleaded guilty to one count of wirefraud and one count of aggravatedidentity theft related to a 19 millionfraud scheme. He fled the UnitedStates to Lebanon with someJan 9Baghdad,Iraq: Indirectfire targetsInternationalZone whereU.S. Embassyis locatedJan 10Sacramento,California: Manpleads guilty in 19 million fraudscheme afterIRS, FBI, and DSinvestigation of the ill-gotten proceeds and afraudulently obtained U.S. passport.An investigation by the DS SanFrancisco Field Office exposed thefacts and evidence of the passportcrime. In February 2009, the fugitivewas arrested at the Canadian bordertrying to enter the United Stateswith the false passport and tens ofthousands of dollars hidden in hiscowboy boots. In September 2012,he was sentenced to more than14 years in prison.Jan 10Kirkuk, Iraq:Indirectfire targetsU.S. MissionpersonnelJan 10Budapest,Hungary: U.S.Embassy vehicletests positive forexplosive tracesduring routinegate inspectionSNAPSHOT:DS VISA FRAUDINVESTIGATIONSAlso in January 2012, the last memberof an international conspiracysurrendered to begin his prison termafter being found guilty of conspiracyand mail fraud by a jury trial in theMiddle District of Florida. The DSspecial agent at the Document andBenefit Fraud Task Force in Bostoninvestigated the visa crime ring forunlawfully obtaining more than 1,000H-2B visas from 2007 to 2009 (H-2Bvisas allow foreign nationals to enterthe United States as temporaryworkers). The crime ring operatedin Orlando, Florida, and suppliedtemporary staffing to hotel andhospitality businesses. The conspiracysubmitted fake documents and falsestatements to the U.S. governmentto establish a pool of foreign workersfor jobs that would normally havebeen filled by U.S. citizens. Foreignnationals were charged 350 to 750to be placed on the petition for theirH-2B visa. Hotels in Orlando and othercities paid the conspirators for theforeign labor. The conspirators weresentenced to 18 to 24 monthsin prison.Co-conspirators provided non-U.S.citizens with counterfeit documentsto obtain U.S. passports. In OperationFamily Reunion, DS agents basedin Phoenix, Los Angeles, andTucson led a multi-agency forceof 100 law enforcement officersin the simultaneous execution ofarrest warrants. Sixteen of thoseapprehended received felonyconvictions. The ring leaders, amother and daughter team, weresentenced to 3 ½ years in prison.Jan 10Montevideo,Uruguay: U.S.Embassy LocallyEmployed Staffmember robbedat gunpointJan 12Dolo Odo,Ethiopia: Gunmenfire on vehicletransportingSave the Childrenaid workers2012 YEAR IN REVIEW2012 YEAR IN REVIEWDiplomaticSecurity specialagents from theChicago FieldOffice review plansbefore an earlymorning arrest.Visa crimes are international offenses that may startoverseas, but can threaten public safety inside the UnitedStates if offenders are not interdicted with aggressiveand coordinated law enforcement action. DS agents andanalysts observe, detect, identify, and neutralize networksthat exploit international travel vulnerabilities. DS globalvisa crime investigations and arrests have increasedsignificantly over the past five years.Number of VISA Crime Investigations Opened Globally1400120010008006004002000 20082009On April 30, in the Central District ofCalifornia, a defendant was sentencedto probation and paid 18,681 inrestitution after pleading guilty tofiling fraudulent paperwork toobtain H-2B visas that weresubsequently marketed to Mexicansfor approximately 3,000 to 4,000each. The DS special agent atJan 12Amman,Jordan: Gunfight outsideU.S. EmbassycompoundJan 12Lahore, Pakistan:U.S. ConsulateGeneral localnational employeedetained andquestionedat gunpoint201020112012the Document and Benefit FraudTask Force in Los Angeles joinedU.S. Immigration and CustomsEnforcement task force membersin the investigation.Jan 13Kirkuk, Iraq:Indirectfire targetsU.S. MissionpersonnelJan 14Kirkuk, Iraq:Indirectfire targetsU.S. MissionpersonnelJan 14Helmand Province,Afghanistan:Congressionaldelegation receivessmall arms fireat patrol base5
InternationalLaw EnforcementAcademyJanuary 20 marked the dedicationof the new International LawEnforcement Academy (ILEA) facilityin San Salvador, El Salvador. Thenew structure was constructed withU.S. funds on land donated by theGovernment of El Salvador. It is tangibleevidence of U.S. partnership withdemocracies throughout the worldagainst drug traffickers, criminals,and terrorists.A U.S. ConsulateGeneral Shenyangassistant regionalsecurity officerinvestigator (right)and a criminalfraud investigator(far right) joinChinese Entry/Exit Bureau policeofficials (center) inLiaoning Province,China, for OperationShenyang Sweep, aquarterly round-upof visa applicantswho fraudulentlyused counterfeitdocuments.DS special agents and intelligenceanalysts serve as instructors throughoutthe ILEA system, where studentstake courses such as Border ControlManagement, Human Traffickingand Child Exploitation, Drug UnitCommanders, and Post-BlastInvestigations.Border Security: International EffortsAs a result of the Intelligence Reformand Terrorism Prevention Act of2004, Diplomatic Security creatednew investigative positions to combatterrorist travel, document fraud,and human trafficking andsmuggling overseas.At U.S. embassies and consulatesabroad, DS special agents are calledregional security officers (RSOs) andassistant regional security officers(ARSOs). A unique subset of these,assistant regional security officerinvestigators (ARSO-Is), work withhost-nation law enforcement to combathuman trafficking, and passport andvisa fraud.Jan 14Djibouti, Republicof Djibouti:Vehicle ramsbarrier outsideU.S. Embassyresidence; twoarrested; one flees62012 YEAR IN REVIEW2012 YEAR IN REVIEWAn assistant regional securityofficer-investigator reviewsfraudulent documents at U.S.Consulate General Ho ChiMinh City in Vietnam.Jan 15Abuja, Nigeria:Multipleincidencesof suspectedsurveillanceof U.S.EmbassyreportedShenyang’s ARSO-I jointly workedan ongoing visa fraud investigationof 57 applicants. They learned thatfraudulent visa petitions for culturallyunique artists and entertainers werelinked to a total of 95 applicants.The ARSO-I coordinated findings withU.S. Customs and Border Protectionin Los Angeles, multiple DS FieldOffices, and Chinese law enforcement.The effort led to the arrest of 22individuals, including the presidentof the company responsible for thefraudulent petitions.In 2012, the ARSO-I program grew to92 investigators, 70 Foreign ServiceNational Investigators (FSNIs), and 12Investigative Assistants (IAs) at 86 postsin 59 countries.ARSO-Is facilitated 1,268 arrests, andthey provided information that led to5,625 visa refusals and 438 passportrefusals in 2012. ARSO-Is also trained13,796 U.S. and foreign personnel.ARSO-I investigations in 2012 resultedin some significant arrests, including: Jan 16Brussels,Belgium: Mandrops suspiciouspackage at U.S.Embassy gate,runs awayThe Government of China’sHeilongjiang Entry/Exit Bureau(EEB) and U.S. Consulate GeneralJan 16Port-au-Prince,Haiti: Violentprotests en routedelay personnelfrom returningto U.S. Embassy Jan 16Kingston,Jamaica:Jamaicannationalmurdered acrossthe street fromU.S. EmbassyThe ARSO-I at U.S. Consulate GeneralGuadalajara and DS agents fromthe Houston Field Office completedJan 16Brussels,Belgium:Suspiciouspackage atU.S. EmbassyJan 17Lahore, Pakistan:Local nationalemployees harassed,threatened forworking at U.S.Consulate Generalthe year-long investigation of EGProfessional Services in Laredo,Texas. The investigation revealeda complex visa fraud conspiracyinvolving approximately 600 visaapplicants over five years. The agentswere assisted by asset forfeiturespecialists, evidence technicians, andcomputer forensic investigators, alongwith Mexican investigators and FraudPrevention Unit personnel workingat the Consulate General. The subjectof the investigation pled guilty tocharges involving fraud and misuse ofvisas, permits, and other documents;conspiracy; and a financial judgmentof 250,000.Jan 18Kirkuk, Iraq:Indirectfire targetsU.S. MissionpersonnelJan 18Brussels,Belgium: Shotsfired at AmericanChamber ofCommerceA DS special agent and a Salvadorancounterpart jointly oversee operationof the San Salvador academy. At thetime of the dedication, more than38,000 students from 80 countrieshad passed through ILEA academies inHungary, Thailand, Botswana, the UnitedStates, and a temporary facility inSan Salvador.Jan 19Tunis, Tunisia:Tunisian manattempts to enterU.S. Embassy whilecarrying ammunitionStages ofILEA buildingconstruction inSan SalvadorJan 19Lagos, Nigeria:U.S. Consulatesupply truckdelayed by violentdemonstration,tear gas in cityJan 20Buenos Aires,Argentina:Twelve overnightTwitter threatsto bomb, burnU.S. EmbassyJan 20San Salvador,El Salvador:ILEAdedicationJan 21Baghdad, Iraq:Small-armsfire impactsDiplomaticSupport Center7
TA man waits to be processedat a Border Patrol detentioncenter on January 11, inImperial Beach, California.On Our BorderFrom Tijuana on the West Coast toMatamoros on the Gulf of Mexico,10 U.S. consulates and consular agenciesspan Mexico’s border with the UnitedStates. So do transnational criminalorganizations involved in narcoticstrafficking and other unlawful activities.Millions of Mexicans and Americanssafely cross the border each year foreducation, tourism, and business, butsome become innocent victims of thedrug war as criminals battle Mexicanauthorities throughout the borderregion. Competing cartels wage violentturf wars for prime trafficking routes.Rolling gun battles, grenade attacks,and assassinations occur in thevicinity of U.S. diplomatic missionsand diplomatic residences.Jan 3Ciudad Juarez,Mexico: Bodyfound shot,burned nearU.S. ConsulateGeneral82012 YEAR IN REVIEW2012 YEAR IN REVIEWCapturing Fugitives andFinding Abducted Children:The Long Arm of DSJan 10Matamoros, Mexico:Mexican officialsdisable a car bombtargeting police,state attorneygeneral in CiudadVictoriaDS supports inter-agency border efforts,including the El Paso Intelligence Center,the U.S. Department of HomelandSecurity’s Joint Operations IntelligenceCenter, and U.S. Customs and BorderProtection’s Border Security OperationsCenter. DS agents serve on task forcesfor terrorism, high-intensity drugtrafficking, and border enforcementsecurity.Notable investigative successes include: Operation Southern Watch, aneffort to identify foreign nationalswith U.S. visas who were associatedwith criminal activity: In 2012, DSrecommended nearly 4,000 visasbe revoked, including immediaterelatives of top lieutenants andJan 10Monterrey, Mexico:150 Santa CatarinaPolice Departmentofficers relieved ofduty; city is site ofnew U.S ConsulateGeneral MonterreyfacilityJan 11Mexico City,Mexico: Twodecapitatedbodies foundnear U.S.Embassyhousingmoney launderers for drug-traffickingorganizations in Mexico. This ongoingoperation disrupts the ability of highvalue targets to travel to the UnitedStates and other countries to conductdrug-trafficking business. Operation Joint Shield, an interagency effort along the CaliforniaMexico border: From October 2011through August 2012, authoritiesarrested and prosecuted more than230 individuals for using fraudulentor altered travel documents, includingmore than 100 U.S. passports.Jan 14Nogales, Mexico:Shootout leavestwo dead, severalwounded outsideU.S. Consulateresidencehe name “El Cali” was associatedwith violence, bloodshed, andterror on the streets of PuertoRico. In January, DS agents at U.S.Embassy Caracas worked with U.S. andVenezuelan authorities to arrest thefugitive drug trafficker and extradite himback to Puerto Rico to face justice.El Cali became a most-wanted fugitiveafter his 1997 escape from a PuertoRican prison where he was serving 209years on murder and weapons charges.In 2012, DS coordinated the returnof El Cali and 228 other internationalfugitives, as well as 16 domesticfugitives. Of these, 35 were chargedwith sex offenses; 30 with felony violentcrimes such as assault, homicide, andbattery; 34 with drug charges; and43 with various fraud charges. Othercharges included child pornography,military desertion, parental childabduction, weapons violations, andtheft. The top five countries for fugitivereturns were Mexico, Costa Rica,Panama, the Philippines, and Belize;but the year’s fugitive returns alsoincluded rare cooperative lawenforcement efforts in Russia,Serbia, and Ghana.of overseas fugitives. This longstandingrelationship has proved invaluable. Inthe past three years, DS and the USMShave brought more than 600 fugitivesto justice.Through the efforts of special agentsassigned to the State Department’sOffice of Children’s Issues and theNational Sex Offender Targeting Center,DS also helps locate children who wereabducted by a parent without custodialrights or who have been listed asmissing. In 2012, DS helped locate 19of these children in 13 countries.DS fielded approximately 5,780 requestsfor assistance during the year. Morethan 200 foreign, federal, state, andlocal law enforcement agencies turnedto the long arm of DS for help withinternational investigations.DS helpedlocate 19 ofthese childrenin 13 countries.A DS assistant regional security officerinvestigator from U.S. Embassy Caracas(left) joins FBI and DEA agents in extraditingthe notorious fugitive narcotics traffickerand murderer “El Cali” from Venezuela toPuerto Rico on January 24.In 2007, Diplomatic Security and theU.S. Marshals Service (USMS) enteredinto a Memorandum of Agreementto coordinate the apprehension,extradition, deportation, or expulsionJan 17Nuevo Laredo,Mexico:Extortionattempt onU.S. MissionpersonnelJan 18Nuevo Laredo,Mexico: Bodyfound nearU.S. ConsulatehousingJan 19Ciudad Juarez,Mexico: Policemankilled near U.S.Consulate GeneralhousingJan 19Hermosillo,Mexico: Druggangs threatenfederal agentsJan 23Hermosillo,Mexico: Two U.S.citizens reportedkidnappedJan 24Caracas,Venezuela:Fugitive murdererand drug traffickerextradited toPuerto RicoJan 27Monterrey, Mexico:Eight personsexecuted nearU.S. ConsulateGeneralJan 27Nuevo Laredo, Mexico:Three criminals killed,four Mexican soldierswounded in drugrelated gun battle9
DS EvacuatesU.S. Embassy DamascusDuring the previous year in July2011, an angry mob scaled the U.S.Embassy wall in Damascus, Syria. Theintruders smashed everything theycould get their hands on.Repeated requests to Syrian authoritiesdrew ineffectual security responses,which did not surprise the Embassy’sDiplomatic Security personnel, whobelieved that attack was governmentsponsored. American leaders had beencalling for the Syrian regime to stopkilling its own people and step down.After suspending operationsat U.S. Embassy Damascus onFebruary 6, U.S. Ambassadorto Syria Robert Ford (center)and members of the MarineSecurity Guard detachmentremove the U.S. flag from theChancery roof.By February 2012, Syrian authoritieshad repeatedly shown indifferenceto their responsibility to secure theEmbassy. Most recently, after a nearbycar bombing, Syria had refused a U.S.request to close the street in front ofthe Embassy.Despite America’s desire to remain onthe ground to exercise diplomacy inthe troubled country, the ambassador,the Embassy’s regional security officer,DS leadership, and State Departmentleadership all agreed it was toodangerous to remain.By that time, the Mission was down toa skeleton staff of 17 diplomats and DSspecial agents. All classified informationalready had been destroyed.On February 6, 2012, the last U.S.personnel departed Embassy Damascus.The RSO team and the ambassadortraveled by caravan to Jordan. At 2 a.m.in the DS Command Center, widescreens tracked the vehicles in real-time.Lines of communication were openwith the motorcade, with the regionalsecurity officer at its destinationat Embassy Amman, and with theDepartment of Defense U.S. CentralCommand. DS had drilled and preparedfor a number of scenarios if there wastrouble; but the caravan proceededwithout incident, and a cheer went upwhen the last U.S. diplomat crossedsafely into Jordanian territory.Feb 4Ottawa, Canada:Bomb threatcalled in to U.S.Embassy10Feb 5Damascus,Syria: DSevacuatesU.S. EmbassyFeb 8Erbil, Iraq: Vandalsbreak headlights,taillights, and sidemirrors of U.S.Consulate Generalarmored SUVFeb 9Abuja, Nigeria:Death threat toU.S. ambassador2012 YEAR IN REVIEW2012 YEAR IN REVIEWAn Afghan student celebratesgraduation from training to protectAfghan President Hamid Karzai. Theevent concluded the first ATA courseexclusively taught by fellow Afghans.Feb 9Rome, Italy:U.S. EmbassyLocal Guard Forcemember attackedwith a hammerFeb 11Monterrey, Mexico:Several armed menattempt to gainentry to new U.S.Consulate GeneralcompoundFeb 13Tbilisi, Georgia:Bomb foundattached to thepersonal vehicleof the Israeliambassador’sdriverFeb 14Brasilia, Brazil:Surveillance ofU.S. EmbassyofficersAntiterrorism AssistanceIn July 2002, two gunmen ambushedthe jeep of Afghan Vice PresidentHaji Abdul Qadir, killing him and hisdriver. After the assassination, AfghanPresident Hamid Karzai replaced hisown protective detail of Afghan soldierswith Americans. In short order, a detailled by a DS special agent formed theprotective diamond around Karzai; butfrom the start, the DS goal was to putthe protection of the Afghan presidentback in the hands of Afghans.The DS Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA)program established a training facilityon the edge of Kabul to build thecapabilities of the Afghan PresidentialProtective Service. The first class of 52Afghans graduated in January 2003, justfive months after the first assassinationattempt on Karzai.Feb 15Yerevan,Armenia:Intoxicatedintruder atU.S. EmbassyCompoundapprehendedby local guardsFeb 23Sana’a, Yemen:Small armsfire outsideU.S. EmbassyresidenceFeb 28Kirkuk, Iraq:Indirect firetargets U.S.ConsulateNearly a decade later in 2012, onFebruary 29, nearly two dozen Afghanagents graduated from training. Itwas the first course taught entirelyby Afghan instructors, a milestonethat represented a huge step forwardfor the country’s antiterrorismefforts. The certified instructors nowprovide training not only to their ownorganization, but also to the personalsecurity details of the Governor ofKandahar and the head of the NationalDirectorate of Security.In 2012, ATA delivered counterterrorismtraining, consultation, and otherresources to 11,766 participants from 64countries, tailoring programs to matchthe needs in each nation.Feb 29Karachi,Pakistan:Telephonicbomb threatto U.S.ConsulateGeneralFeb 29Kabul, Afghanistan:Graduation of first classof Afghan PresidentialProtective Servicetaught by Afghaninstructors11
U.S. Embassy Riyadh employees participatein an annual Chemical-Biological ResponseDrill in Saudi Arabia on March 6.On March 13, an attentiveguard at U.S. Embassy Freetownin Sierra Leone observed anindividual trying to enter theconsular section wearing awristwatch camera and videorecorder that had been featuredin a DS Security AwarenessBulletin two months earlier. Thevisitor provided vague reasonsfor being there and had nopending visa applications.DS Threat Investigations andAnalysis officers send a steadystream of such alerts to DSpersonnel worldwide.2012 YEAR IN REVIEW2012 YEAR IN REVIEWINTELLIGENCEALERT THWARTSSURVEILLANCEResearch and DevelopmentPersonnel in the DS CountermeasuresDirectorate introduce criticalprojects that go from concept toimplementation. They work worldwideto create and deploy multiple layers oftechnical and physical security, and thenoffer the results to other governmentagencies with a similar mission.On March 21, atEglin Air ForceBase in Florida, DStested a ModularGuard TowerSystem conceivedby in-house securityengineers. Its costeffective designfeatures drop-inplace, reinforcedconcrete slabs in asteel frame, with agun port window.Weapons of Mass DestructionDrill in RiyadhOn March 6, DS regional securityofficers at U.S. Embassy Riyadhconducted an annual ChemicalBiological Response Drill for allemployees. Two local guards launchedthe action by simulating a chemicalbiological attack at the Embassy’s visasection. Marine Security Guards alertedMission personnel to don emergencyhoods and institute other measures tominimize contamination. Hundreds ofplastic-hooded employees reportedMar 2Monrovia,Liberia:Burglaryof occupiedU.S. Embassyresidence12Mar 5Karachi, Pakistan:Telephonic bombthreat to U.S.Consulate Generalto their floor wardens, who sent themto decontamination stations. Medicalofficers demonstrated how to correctlydeliver a dose of nerve-agent antidote.DS Weapons of Mass Destruction(WMD) experts distribute hoodsdomestically and overseas, and theyprovide WMD training to employeesand first responders throughout theDepartment of State.Mar 6Riyadh, SaudiArabia: U.S.EmbassyWMD drillMar 10Kirkuk, Iraq:Indirect firetargets U.S.ConsulateMar 12Karachi, Pakistan:Telephonic bombthreat to U.S.Consulate GeneralDS successfully crash testedperimeter systems, such as theDS-71 Anti-Vehicle Barrier. Inthis overhead photo, a flatbedtruck attempts to crash through,but the barrier stops it and thetruck’s cab breaks away.Mar 13Freetown,Sierra Leone:U.S. Embassyvisitor caughtwith hiddencameraMar 14HelmandProvince,Afghanistan:Attemptedcar bombingof Secretaryof DefensemotorcadeMar 15Suva, Fiji: U.S.Embassy foreignaffairs officerassaulted whilejoggingMar 17Quito, Ecuador:Kidnappingand robbery ofU.S. EmbassyemployeeMar 18Tikrit, Iraq:Indirectfire targetsU.S. MissionpersonnelMar 19Moscow, Russia:U.S. EmbassyemployeeattackedMar 20Cairo, Egypt:Woman threatensto shoot U.S.EmbassyemployeesMar 20Quito, Ecuador:Armed robbery,attemptedkidnapping ofUSAID fellowMar 21Eglin AFB, USA:DS blast testsnew ModularGuard Towerdesign13
On February 1, Saharan nomadsknown as Tuaregs captured thecity of Menaka in Northern Mali. It wasthe latest prize in their most recentrebellion, which began in mid-January.On February 2, in the capital Bamako,approximately 1,000 protestersexpressed their anger about thegovernment’s handling of these Tuaregincursions. The mob’s activity blockedbridges between the U.S. Embassyand two scho
explosive traces during routine gate inspection Jan 10 Kirkuk, Iraq: Indirect U.S. Mission personnel Diplomatic Security special agents from the Chicago Field Offi ce review plans before an early-morning arrest. In 2012, domestic DS offi ces opened 2,436 investiga
D&CP - BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY 393 Diplomatic Security Resource Summary ( in thousands) Appropriations FY 2008 Actual FY 2009 Estimate FY 2010 Request Increase / . 90 percent of security clearance investigations be completed within 60 days. DS anticipates compliance with the mandate, and currently grants security clearances in an
Letter of credence—A formal paper from the head of one state to the head of another accrediting an ambassador, minister, or other diplomatic agent as one authorized to act for a government or head of state. Letter of recall—Formal paper from the head of one state to the head of another recalling ambassador, minister, or diplomatic .
diplomatic mission to a foreign country, foreign territory, or international organization. Usually the term refers to the U.S. ambassadors who lead U.S. embassies abroad, but the term also is used for ambassadors who head other official U.S. missions and to other diplomatic personnel who may step in when no ambassador is present.
international law, diplomatic immunity was primarily based on custom and international practice until quite recently. In the period since World War II, a number of international conventions (most noteworthy, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consul
CYBERSPACE - NEXT STEPS 69 State and non-state actors are clearly moving ahead with diplomatic initiatives for increasing the stability of cyberspace.69 Two points of caution 70 Next steps 70 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 71 Analytical matrix representing measures in cyber diplomatic initiatives according to type of stakeholder 72 APPENDIX 1 72
the event of an attack, Marine Security Guards delay the aggressors long enough to help safeguard the lives of diplomatic personnel and to destroy classified information. In times of crisis, they often help evacuate Americans living in the region. Marine Security Guards control access within U.S.
The rise of terrorism transformed diplomatic security. Although new technologies and the growing demands for protection of foreign dignitaries in the United States had prompted changes in security measures in the early 1960s, terrorism in the late 1960s and early 1970s forced the Department of State and its Office of
The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), the law enforcement . and security arm of the U.S. Department of State, provides a secure environment for the conduct of American diplomacy. To advance American interests and foreign policy, DS protects people, property, and information at more than 280 State Department posts worldwide.
