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The National Security League was an elite private lobbying group in the World War I preparedness movement in the United States. Its educational wing was a group consisting mostly of college professors called the Committee on Patriotism through Education, which sought to use education to promote a militaristic brand of patriotism. This paper adds to our knowledge of the geopolitics of the period by critically reviewing the Committee's propaganda efforts, as organized into its Patriotism through Education Series. More importantly, this paper theorizes this propaganda by engaging with two literatures that seldom cross paths: emerging interest in intimacy-geopolitics and Gramsci's concept of war of position. Intimacy-geopolitics is used to highlight the performative edge of war propaganda, as it directs desire and affect to toward geopolitical visions which accord with elite visions of the good life. Intimacy-geopolitics as an analytical framework helps connect affect and war in a way that avoids scalar hierarchies of violence. The Committee deliberately sought to direct emotion toward militaristic ends, and saw teachers as foot soldiers in that effort. Understanding how war propaganda works through affect, that is, how it positions country as an object of affection, also qualifies and dovetails with an understanding of war propaganda as elemental to the Gramscian war of position. Quite apart from accusations of war-profiteering, elite manipulation of desire and affect toward the war effort also worked to obfuscate class interest in favor of gender and other social roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper fills a literature gap by investigating the strategic interactions between an attacker and a defender with a multi-period multi-target game. At each period, the defender allocates a limited amount of defensive resources over multiple targets, and the attacker assigns some attack probabilities to those targets. We consider four scenarios where the defender could be either myopic or long-sighted, and the defense could be carried over to future periods or not. Our analyses characterize the defender's optimal allocations in these four scenarios and develop a n algorithm to identify the optimal allocations. We find that increases in defense carryover could lead to less allocation to defended targets from the second period at equilibrium, and lead to defending more targets. To gather empirical evidence regarding one key function of the model - success probability of attack, we conduct statistical analysis based on datasets from Global Terrorism Database, which is provided by National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant allocations from FY 2004 to FY 2012. We conclude that in general, effects of defense resources on reducing success probability of attack are mixed due to scarcity of terrorism data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. electrical grid, the largest and most complex man-made system in the world, is highly vulnerable to three types of external threats: 1) natural disasters, 2) intentional physical attacks, and 3) cyber-attacks. The technical community has recommended hardening the grid to make it more resilient to attack by using distributed generation and microgrids. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are an ideal distributed generation technology to provide power for such microgrids. However, both the deployment velocity and the policy of how to implement such technical solutions have been given far less attention than would be normally considered adequate for a national security risk. To address this threat, this paper reviews the technical and economic viability of utilizing defense contracting for the beginning of a national transition to distributed generation in the U.S. First, the technical scale of electrical demand and the solar PV system necessary is analyzed in detail to meet the first level of strategic importance: the U.S. military. The results found that about 17 GW of PV would be needed to fortify the U.S. military domestically. The current domestic geographic deployment of microgrid installations in the critical U.S. defense infrastructure were reviewed and compared to historical grid failures and existing and planned PV installations to mitigate that risk. The results showed a minimal number of military bases have introduced solar PV systems, leaving large parts of the Department of Defense electrical infrastructure vulnerable to attack. To rectify this situation, the technical skills of the top 20 U.S. defense contractors is reviewed and analyzed for a potential contracting transition to grid fortification. Overall the results indicate that a fortified U.S. military grid made up of PV-powered microgrids is technically feasible, within current contractors skill sets and economically viable. Policy recommendations are made to accelerate U.S. military grid fortification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Remote sensing with sensors mounted on satellites or aircrafts is much needed for resource management, environmental monitoring, disaster response, and homeland defense. Remote sensing data considered include those from multispectral, hyperspectral, radar, optical, and infrared sensors. Classification is often one of the major tasks in information processing. For example, we need to identify vegetations, waterways, and man-made structures from remote sensing of earth. The large amount of data available makes remote sensing data uniquely suitable for statistical pattern recognition. This paper will address several issues on statistical pattern recognition that are related to information processing in remote sensing. Though the paper is largely tutorial in nature, some specific issues considered are image models for characterization of contextual information, neural networks for image classification, and the performance measures. Either to supplement the capability of sensors or to effectively utilize the enormous amount of sensor data, many advances in statistical pattern recognition can be very useful in machine recognition of the data. The potentials and opportunities of using statistical pattern recognition in remote sensing are indeed unlimited. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Political geographers have recently focused their attention on the performative nature and imaginative geographies of US security strategies. This work has illuminated a number of mechanisms through which geographical knowledge has been interpreted and reformulated to support specific political agendas. This paper builds upon and develops the insights of these recent studies, arguing that current US security strategies are constructed around a policy of integration, whereby states are encouraged, through a range of measures, to mesh with attitudes and perspectives on the world. It assesses the ways in which these integration strategies are being performed, through an analysis of US National Security Strategy documents, the works of writers such as Kagan and Barnett, and the imaginative geographies and popular geopolitical representations of the US and its enemies. This paper contends that these practices combine to produce the effects that they name, bringing to life an imaginary geography that mirrors and supports the particular logics of the US-led ‘war on terror’. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With millions of bags checked at over 7000 baggage screening locations in US daily, the checked baggage screening system may be exploited by the terrorists to do harm to the homeland security. Due to such a huge amount of luggage, how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the screening system becomes a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a risk-based cost-effectiveness model where checked bags are classified into several risk classes according to their risk characteristics. According to their risk levels, bags from different classes may go through different device combinations sequentially. For a multiple-device screening system, we determine the optimal sequence of the screening devices and the separate grouping strategies for bags from different risk classes with the objective of minimizing the expected cost per bag. Based on a detailed numerical study, we compare our model with three other cost-effectiveness models (the first model assumes that there is only one risk class, the second model assumes that there is only one group for each risk class, and the third model assumes that all devices in a device combination need to be gone through). Our major conclusions are that our proposed model is beneficial compared with other three models and moreover, the relative benefit becomes larger when the authority commands a stricter upper bound for the probability of false clear. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The existing US public safety wireless infrastructure consists of thousands of disparate systems built by separate local agencies. Problems with interoperability, cost, spectral efficiency, and limited functionality plague these systems but could be significantly reduced through the deployment of a single nationwide network that serves all public safety personnel. Two major efforts towards such a nationwide network are the federal-government-only Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) and an FCC-led effort to create a public-private partnership in the 700MHz band; the future of both projects is uncertain due in part to concerns surrounding cost. This paper presents a model to estimate cost for two fundamental approaches to a nationwide network: a public-safety-only network and a public–private partnership which serves both public safety and commercial subscribers. We apply this general model to four network scenarios which differ in the amount and band of spectrum allocated as well as the number and type of subscribers (public-safety-only versus commercial and public safety) under three traffic scenarios: voice-only, data-only, and voice and data. We demonstrate that the nation''s many small systems could be replaced with a single nationwide network with a small fraction of the tower sites and spectrum. The cost of building this new infrastructure is comparable to what is likely to be spent in just a few years on upgrading and maintaining the existing infrastructure. In addition, we show that these cost estimates are highly dependent on some key system design parameters including the public safety capacity required and signal coverage reliability, which must therefore be well-defined in advance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: X-ray phase contrast imaging solves the basic problem of conventional X-ray imaging, i.e. low image contrast arising from small absorption differences. For years X-ray phase contrast imaging was thought to be restricted to synchrotron radiation facilities, but a new approach was recently developed at UCL which makes synchrotron-like phase effects achievable with conventional sources, by introducing two separate sets of appropriately designed coded-apertures at either side of the imaged object. Although most proposed applications of X-ray phase contrast imaging are focused on medical aspects, substantial advantages can be gained in other fields, including security inspections. In this case the system has to be based around higher X-ray energies, which has an impact on the system design. This paper describes such a design. A previously developed and experimentally validated simulation program was used to estimate the image contrast that can be expected from a range of details of interest in security inspections imaged under various conditions, including beam spectrum, detector characteristics, coded-aperture design, source-to-sample and sample-to-detector distances, etc.—while taking into account the interplay between these different parameters. The conditions providing maximum image contrast were chosen and used in the ultimate system design. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the analysis of power systems security, recently a new concern related to possible malicious attacks caught much attention. Coordination among different transmission system operators (TSO) in an interconnected power system to counteract such attacks has become an important problem. This paper presents a general framework for describing the physical, cyber and decision-making aspects of the problem and their interrelations; within this framework, an analytic tool for the assessment of information impacts in handling on-line security after a malicious attack is proposed and discussed. The model is based on the socially rational multi-agent systems and the equilibrium of a fictitious play is considered to analyze the impacts of various levels of information available to the interconnected system operators on the outcomes of the decision-making process under attack. A 34-buses test system, with 3 systems interconnected by tie-lines, is presented to illustrate the model and compare the impacts of different information scenarios. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper reports on the feasibility of research and development related to select US military space weapons technology development plans. The proposals are presented in an international context where the USA is likely not alone in having aspirations to space warfare technology. China, Russia and France, among others, are just as likely to develop novel space weapons technology, with the concept of militarized outer space gradually being replaced by that of weaponized outer space. However, since the US programs have received more attention and were arguably in more advanced states of planning, if not development, this article will focus on US national security space management and organization proposals, investigating five key technology projects that have been pursued by the US government. These systems will be described in relation to the technical issues, engineering difficulties and physical limits involved. If appropriate, their implications will be linked to the political impact of these US plans and the likely reactions of the rest of the world, as other countries may answer the perceived threat inherent in the mere development of space weapons by emulating or outpacing US space militarization plans. While the USA arguably has more advanced weapons technology expertise, it will be shown that other countries have already deployed low-tech weapons in space applications, with less media attention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Identification of vulnerabilities of water distribution systems and identification of appropriate counter-measures are important components of homeland security. These are difficult and time consuming tasks. This paper provides a new approach to resolve these problems in complex infrastructure systems. It is based on the use of co-evolutionary computation for the generation of both terrorist and security scenarios. The basic concepts of co-evolutionary computation are briefly explained. The concept of co-evolutionary generation of terrorist and security scenarios is introduced in the context of a hypothetical water distribution system for a small town. A tool developed at George Mason University is used for a number of experiments that reveal a variety of emerging security patterns. The experiments show that these patterns may be helpful in effectively protecting the network. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Directorate of Information Analysis & Infrastructure Protection (IAIP), Protective Services Division (PSD), contracted the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Innovative Technologies Institute, LLC (ASME ITI, LLC) to develop guidance on Risk Analysis and Management for Critical Asset Protection (RAMCAP). AcuTech Consulting Group (AcuTech) has been contracted by ASME ITI, LLC, to provide assistance by facilitating the development of sector-specific guidance on vulnerability analysis and management for critical asset protection for the chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors. This activity involves two key tasks for these three sectors: [•] Development of a screening to supplement DHS understanding of the assets that are important to protect against terrorist attack and to prioritize the activities. [•] Development of a standard security vulnerability analysis (SVA) framework for the analysis of consequences, vulnerabilities, and threats. This project involves the cooperative effort of numerous leading industrial companies, industry trade associations, professional societies, and security and safety consultants representative of those sectors. Since RAMCAP is a voluntary program for ongoing risk management for homeland security, sector coordinating councils are being asked to assist in communicating the goals of the program and in encouraging participation. The RAMCAP project will have a profound and positive impact on all sectors as it is fully developed, rolled-out and implemented. It will help define the facilities and operations of national and regional interest for the threat of terrorism, define standardized methods for analyzing consequences, vulnerabilities, and threats, and describe best security practices of the industry. This paper will describe the results of the security vulnerability analysis process that was developed and field tested for the chemical manufacturing sector. This method was developed through the cooperation of the many organizations and the individuals involved from the chemical sector RAMCAP development activities. The RAMCAP SVA method is intended to provide a common basis for making vulnerability assessments and risk-based decisions for homeland security. Mr. Moore serves as the coordinator for the chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, and LNG sectors for the RAMCAP project and Dr. Jones is the chief technology officer for ASME-ITI, LLC for RAMCAP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel liquid scintillation detector with high spatial resolution is being developed with standard microfabrication techniques. It consists of a dense array of scintillating waveguides obtained by filling microfluidic channels with an organic liquid scintillator and optically coupled to a pixellated photodetector. Such a microfluidic device can be designed and processed to meet the requirements of a wide range of applications like medical imaging, homeland security and high-energy physics. High-spatial resolution miniaturized detectors as well as large-area detectors can easily be fabricated. The fabrication process of a prototype detector and experimental results are presented in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recently, the United States has seen an increasing emphasis on security as related to potential terrorist threats. One aspect that has received attention is the radiological dispersal device (“dirty bomb”), in particular the possibility of obtaining radioactive material for producing such devices. As a result, the security of US gamma irradiators has been the focus of industry efforts to reinforce protection of high-activity sources. This paper presents approaches that may be used to improve security at gamma irradiation facilities, including increased vigilance, education and awareness, and physical changes to the facility. As each method has been or is being implemented, employee involvement is a critical factor to success. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]