Top 5 Security Trends in 2007 for the U.S. Private Sector in the Middle East and North AfricaBureau of Diplomatic SecurityWashington, DC December 27, 2007 OSAC Says Lebanon Instability, Terrorist Attacks Among Growing Threats Political violence and instability in Lebanon, al-Qa’ida-related attacks in Algeria, and copycat attacks in Morocco were among the top security challenges that U.S. businesses, nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions confronted in the Middle East and North Africa in 2007, according to a year-end analysis by the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). “These growing threats are among the many consequences — some good, and some bad — of increased globalization,” said Todd Brown, a Special Agent with the Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Executive Director of OSAC. “As an increasing number of U.S. businesses, academic institutions, and nonprofits expand the scope of their international operations, they must learn to safeguard their facilities and personnel by incorporating security and risk management into their core business practices,” he said. Brown added, “Those U.S. entities that take proactive security postures, manage their risks, and develop an internal culture of resiliency often are better able to survive and even thrive in riskier environments or in the aftermath of disasters.” In North Africa, the terrorist group Al-Qa’ida in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) demonstrated that it is a serious threat to both the government and private sector in Algeria, according to OSAC analysts. Noting attacks on Western company convoys and various plots to kidnap Westerners, OSAC warned that AQIM is using sophisticated attacks to target economic targets. Similar sophisticated attacks in neighboring Morocco have raised the specter of terrorism spreading throughout North Africa. “In Morocco, April suicide bombings at an internet café, the U.S. Consulate, and an American cultural center in Casablanca showed a presence of committed militants,” the OSAC analysis said. Political violence and instability posed the greatest threat to the American private sector in Lebanon over the past year, according to the OSAC review. OSAC noted that Lebanon had experienced several violent incidents over the past year, including low-level bombings, assassinations of several well-known anti-Syrian figures, and battles between military and extremists in Palestinian refugee camps. “These incidents have increased concerns that terrorist elements or sympathizers could take advantage of the situation in order to establish themselves and plot attacks against Lebanese or Western interests,” said OSAC. This year-end security review is based on security analyses and informational products developed by OSAC’s regional specialists and delivered to its private-sector members, explained Brown. “By working with our OSAC partners, sharing our analysis, and pushing out our information, we aim to help the U.S. private sector better prepare for, respond to, and recover from the security challenges that may arise in the coming year,” said Brown. The following is OSAC’s list of the past year’s top security challenges to the American private sector in the Middle East. Top 5 Private Sector Security Issues for the Middle East and North Africa Political Instability in Lebanon For much of 2007, Lebanon’s dueling political blocs led some in the private sector to worry that the country could return to civil war if issues are not resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. Lebanon also experienced several tension-inducing incidents in the past year that have been political and/or sectarian in nature, including low-level bombings, assassinations of several well-known anti-Syrian figures, and battles between military and extremists in Palestinian refugee camps. These incidents have increased concerns that terrorist elements or sympathizers could take advantage of the situation in order to establish themselves and plot attacks against Lebanese or Western interests. Terrorist Attacks in Algeria Violent terrorist attacks throughout Algeria over the last year have confirmed that AQIM (al-Qa’ida in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb) poses a serious threat to government and private sector entities. Using sophisticated tactics, several AQIM attacks targeted economic interests, including three attacks on Western company convoys. Other threat incidents included several suicide vehicle bombings (two of which were coordinated attacks on multiple high-profile targets in Algiers), a suicide vest used in an attack targeting Algeria’s president, as well as plots to kidnap Westerners. Potential Spread of Terrorism throughout North Africa Terrorist arrests, threats and incidents across North Africa in 2007, especially in Morocco, have led to fears that the impact of al-Qa’ida-linked organizations would be felt beyond Algeria. In Morocco, April suicide bombings at an internet café, the U.S. Consulate, and an American cultural center in Casablanca showed a presence of committed militants. While these attacks have not been directly linked to transnational or regional terrorist groups, they – and other plots uncovered against tourist areas in 2007 – demonstrate that Western interests are being targeted in the region and that they must maintain heightened awareness of their surroundings at all times. Terrorist Plots in Saudi Arabia Large-scale arrests of suspected extremists plotting attacks against Saudi and foreign-owned oil facilities in 2007 demonstrates the country’s continued vulnerability to terrorist attacks. Planned attacks on major oil facilities were thwarted this year by active police work and increased security precautions around potential targets. Although suspected terrorist cells were unable to conduct successful attacks, continued attempts to strike oil-related targets has prompted the Saudi government to form an oil infrastructure protection force that is designed to secure pipelines, oil fields, and processing plants. The continued terrorist threat in Saudi Arabia has prompted the U.S. private sector to maintain elevated security protocols for western nationals operating in Saudi Arabia. Anti-Iraqi Forces and Political Instability in Iraq U.S. and Iraqi military successes in Baghdad and the western province of Anbar have decreased the daily number of terrorist and militia attacks against Coalition forces and the Iraqi citizenry. However, despite significant Coalition and Iraqi Security Force (ISF) successes against groups such as al-Qa’ida in Iraq, the surge of additional U.S. military personnel and steadily increasing numbers of trained ISF can not yet provide consistent adequate security in specific areas outside of the Kurdistan Region, Baghdad, Anbar, and certain parts of other provinces. Criminal networks remain a significant threat to the conduct of free enterprise in Iraq. The U.S. private sector remains concerned that military successes against terrorist groups and sectarian militias in central and western Iraq could force terrorist and militia groups into the northern Kurdistan region. However, at this time violence associated with terrorist and militia activities has not increased in Kurdistan due to the U.S. and Iraqi military surge. About OSAC The Overseas Security Advisory Council was established in 1985 as a Federal Advisory Committee with a U.S. Government Charter to promote security cooperation between the U.S. Department of State and American business and private sector interests worldwide. With a constituency of more than 3,500 U.S. companies and other private-sector organizations with overseas interests, OSAC operates a Web site (www.osac.gov), which offers its members the latest in safety- and security-related information, public announcements, warden messages, travel advisories, significant anniversary dates, terrorist group profiles, country crime and safety reports, special topic reports, foreign press reports, and much more. The OSAC staff includes international security research specialists dedicated solely to serving the U.S. private sector. Additionally, OSAC has a network of 100 country councils around the world that brings together U.S. embassies and consulates with the local U.S. community to share security information. OSAC is co-chaired by the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and a selected representative of the private sector. The OSAC Executive Director is a Diplomatic Security Special Agent. About The Bureau of Diplomatic Security The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the U.S. Department of State’s law enforcement and security arm. The special agents, engineers, and security professionals of the Bureau are responsible for the security of 285 U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel investigate passport and visa fraud, conduct personnel security investigations, and protect the Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States. More information about the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security may be obtained at www.state.gov/m/ds. Contact: |
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