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May 16, 2008 In News

THE ORIGINAL TIMES ARTICLE

Sean ONeill’s original article makes some cogent points and is obviously well informed by insiders. The main crticism is not necessarily a crticism. To discover that the 130 targets you inherited were not actually the top figures in the dugs trade sounds like a step forward in intelligence to me! Working out the true picture is a vital first step for an intelligence-led agency. The criticisms of management structures and IT systems arent exactly surprising. They could be made of any public sector organisation in the UK.
Sean’s follow-up article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3919731.ece
Which raises some important questions for debate.
Hughes’ letter together with others:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article3932772.ece
and the latest piece:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3941725.ece
Enjoy the read!

May 15, 2008 In News

COLOMBIA SENDS 13 PARAMILITARY LEADERS TO US

This underlines the point made in the previous post. Organised crime, in this case narcotraffickers and narcoterrorists can substitute themselves for the security forces in insurgencies and Military leaders can convince themselves they are “winning” the war as a result.
The final line of this Washington Post piece is a reminder that there are different agendas for the US and for Colombians:
“What we the victims want to know is the truth: who financed them, who directed them, who ordered them.”

May 15, 2008 In News

US ARMY’S NEXT CROP OF GENERALS FORGED IN COUNTER-INSURGENCY

Murphy’s Law says they will get to the top just in time to face something totally different. Nevertheless, Col. MacMaster’s comment that the military were preoccupied in the 1990s with technology to the detriment of the political and cultural dimensions of war certainly rings true.

Now who is dealing with the organised criminal dimension? I’m available!!!!

May 15, 2008 In News

A LINEUP AIMING TO TAME SILOVKI

Further thoughts from the Moscow Times on the Medvedev and Putin teams. Putin has to stay in a position of power to give Medvedev the clout to break the political clans and criminal businesses around the silovki. having used the silovki to break the oligarchs, they now have to be removed from power in their turn. It’s another interesting article in the series.

May 13, 2008 In News

USTINOV’S OUSTER MAY BE A LOSS FOR SILOVKI

may be an indicator that the iceberg is beginning to melt. Medvedev makes a new appointment as Justice Minister. The silovki are the former police, security and justice personnel who displaced the oligarchs under Putin. May lead to a number of slow changes. Medvedev has stressed the rule of law and this may mean a sustained attack on corruption and organised crime. All depends on whether he is working with Putin or against him. See the parallel article: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/362671.htm

May 13, 2008 In News

SCOTTISH CARD FRAUD RUNS INTO MILLIONS

16% rise in credit card fraud in 2007. HM Inspectors of Constabulary want new fraud unit to investigate and prosecute. Recording of the crime hit and miss.

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