Intelligence Briefing for Anthrax Mailings of 2001 - Essay Example

 Intelligence Briefing for Anthrax Mailings of 2001 Introduction The current fear amongst the citizens of US concurs with the government’s determination to protect them against Anthrax menace that has already been detected. Anthrax is an infectious condition attributed to by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. In human beings, the bacterium targets the respiratory system, the skin or the gastrointestinal tract. Imperatively, the citizens have to understand that the state is currently under attack of variant nature ranging from military and biological weapons. This report intends to attain restoration of confidence amongst the citizens through providing comprehensive data of a higher profile concerning the recent realization of traces of anthrax within the mailing systems. This report intends to elaborate issues concerning anthrax to ensure enlightenment among the citizens concerning anthrax to avert contraction of the disease. This report will provide the appropriate information to the security and health authorities to allow for best directions for approach. Therefore, the report will collect, analyze information and disseminate the data throughout the states to ensure appropriate measures against the menace (Diamond, Eichenbaun & Hennessy, 2001) Collection Plan The police have intensified their patrols within the cities and outside the towns and outskirts. The patrols concern the attainment of information regarding anthrax mailings and reassurance of safety among the public. Through the police patrols, the police intend to gather information and the people involved in the direct spread of the anthrax mails. The police have engaged in different activities and processes in most regions to allow gathering of adequate data concerning the anthrax prevalence. Police officers and technicians have been deployed in sensitive places such as post offices, main hospitals and clinics to aid in the provision of the first hand information from experience regarding the menace. The police have engaged in the actual recording of information on people infected and their locations to know the probable direction of the attack (Massey, 2004). Police reconnaissance, has led to information concerning the probable sources of the letters. The police have employed several techniques to classify and individualize the individuals distributing the mails. Police have maintained profound surveillance assessments, both of the disease and of people. Though the surveillance has posed as a comprehensive practice, the police have simplified it in both private and public places. The police have upheld strict surveillance in streets, business buildings, hotel rooms and recreational centers. Meanwhile the population’s behavior is monitored at individual perspectives to single out individuals with traits that might imply malice intents. Criminal investigations Interviews and Law Enforcement Investigations The process involves the grilling of the suspects and interviewing the witnesses and victims. The criminal investigation would be conducted by the police and their affiliates such as the detectives and informers. The network of investigation on anthrax data is rooted in all locations within the United States to cater for all sources that may lead to information. The undercover agents have also provided preliminary information for the apprehension of the suspects. The detectives would obtain information from the suspects through commutations of lighter sentences in exchange of confession. Forensic Evidence and Biometric Data The biometrics such as fingerprints and the DNA material would be targeted for confirmation of the suspects. Any biometric that would be obtained from the investigation processes will be compared with that stored in the national database system. The mails containing the anthrax spores will be treated as vital forensic evidence. The evidence will be analyzed in the forensic laboratories in the New York under a formal chain of custody to realize the potentiality of the risks posed by the bacteria. The forensic evidence would include the analyses of the writings on the envelopes and letters to ascertain the intent of the author. The envelope seal would be examined to ascertain the presence of saliva or tissue material. The tissue material traces in the saliva would be utilized in the extraction of DNA material that can provide comparison sample from that obtained from the suspect for individualization. Databases of intelligence information, terrain, current forces, and many other critical factors could be standardized for all services employing air assets (Hasan, 2003). Data Mining The experts currently employ all forms of software detective devices to ascertain the trends and extent of the anthrax disease in the country. The practice incorporates the analysis of the disease effects among different individuals with perceived different genetic conformations. The software use pre analyzed probes as standards to gauge the manifestation of the disease in the population. The validation of the anthrax would be attained through the current methods because there is no actual software ready for confirmation. The law enforcement investigations The reach back system would entail a conceptual air campaign scheduling and implementing system exemplifying a reach back operations capability. The capacity to use info-linked, but geographically separated, regions of an air promotion planning and performance system to augment survivability of the citizens would enable the restoration of the country security (Massey, 2004). The database queries would aid in the individualization of data and to provide an explicit association of the evidence to the source. In addition, the report further elaborates the hardware and human resources that should arrange to the theatre for a main regional emergency, as well as the apparatus and workforce which should wait in a secure garrison. This section then outlines the aspects for determining where the garrisoned division should inhabit, and explains the faster changing US communications capacity that enables reach back. Analysis The revolutions transpiring in the political realities in the previous half of the twentieth century and the latest attacks postulate that the biological weapons will receive popularity as compared to other weapons such as chemical or nuclear as a hazard to the United States. The targeted groups are the government and the public. The public have to assimilate the information for their benefit in knowing how to protect themselves from the risk. The government can determine the extent of the risks hence put in place appropriate measures. The threat is posed by bacteria and the individuals responsible for the distribution of mails (Hasan, 2003). Collection and destruction of the mails may only be effective if the source is established and maintained. Functional considerations incorporate the skills of the personnel involved that have to merit the demanded prowess in the exercise. The topography of the landscape would dictate the means of transportation to different places during the research. This factor is relative to the distribution of the locations at identified sites. The infrastructure and other civil considerations should be allocated appropriate resources such as land and finances. Discussion Bioterrorism can be contained through application of measures such as personal, tactical and strategic. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization collaborators provided through a treaty that any state using mass destruction weapons of any nature against any member will be interpreted to have breached the treaty stipulations (Krimsky & Plough, 2005). Tactically, the United States have devised sophisticated devices capable of detecting and destroying prospective biological weapons. The situation of anthrax is worth justification processes on the protective measures against the disease. The first measure would incorporate the enhancement of fundamental research capacities. The research would provide additional techniques of averting the disease. Imperatively, research can also lead to discovery of cure to the condition. Sensitization of the public on matters regarding anthrax may also prevent the public from contracting the disease. The knowledge would enable citizens to obtain appropriate caution to remain safe from the spread of the disease (Chess, Cecilia & o’Neill, 2004) Dissemination Plan 1. Project Overview There is a current distribution of anthrax mails that intends to harm the American citizens. The research aims at providing appropriate measures to stop the spread of the infectious mails at the expense of upholding the citizens’ confidence in the country’s security (Massey, 2004). 2. Dissemination Objectives The dissemination intends to spread the information and sensitize the public on anthrax. 3. Target Audience The citizens Law enforcement officers The government 4. Key Messages Anthrax is a potential threat but the situation is under control. Most of the mails have been identified and destroyed 5. Sources of Messages Witnesses Victims Apprehended suspects 6. Budget The most vital factor for consideration is time for the whole process. The plan would require increased resources such as doubled number of personnel, more patrol cars, additional laboratory apparatus and reagents. Transportation costs, investigation equipments and the masking gadgets will also be considered (Chess, 2001). 7. Evaluation The evaluation will transpire from the beginning. The evaluation will consider all facets of the research to ascertain the success and the adjustments of the research. The evaluation will lay more emphasis on the outcomes rather than the efforts (Herr, 2009). References Bresnitz, E.A. and G.T. DiFerdinando, Jr (2003). Lessons from the anthrax attacks of 2001: The New Jersey experience. Clinics in Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2, 227-52. Chess, C. (2001). Organizational theory and the stages of risk communication. Chess, C., J. Calia, and O’Neill K (2004). Communication triage: An anthrax case-study. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism 2, 106-11. Diamond, M.L., P. Eichenbaum, and K. Hennessy (2001). Shore mail handlers: Test us for anthrax; concern mounts with new cases in N.J., Washington. Asbury Park Press, October 26:A1. Eichenbaum P. and K. Hennessy (2001). 2 shore mail sorters ill; new attack threat. Asbury Park Press, October 30, 2001:A1. Hasan T (2003). Anthrax Attacks Around the World. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group Herr P (2009). United States Postal Service: Information on the Irradiation of Federal Mail in the Washington, D. C. Washington DC: DIANE Publishing Krimsky, S., and A. Plough. (2005). Environmental Hazards: Communicating Risks as a Social Process. Dover, MA: Auburn House. Massey, J.E. (2004). Managing organizational images: Crisis response an legitimacy restoration. In D.P. Millar. and R.L. Heath (eds.) Responding to Crisis: A Rhetorical Approach to Crisis Com Risk Analysis 21, 179-87. Read More