US State Department Objectives for Western Hemisphere

The US State Department recently published their policy objectives and intiatives for the Western Hemishpere for 2010.

Citizen safety tops the list on the security side. The high profile programs include:
1. Merida Initiative and its follow on programs in Mexico and Central America
2. The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative focus on the spill over of violence into the susceptible areas in Caribbean
3. Emergency Mangement Agreements with Candad and Mexico to facilitate cross border assistance in pandemic situtations. The US-Canada agreements now allow for cross border deployment of military forces in civil support roles. First demonstrated with Canadian aircraft providing airlift in Gulf Coast Huricane Felix in 2008.
4. Colombia Strategic Development Initatitive. The folow on to Plan Colombia to build upon the success of that effort.

Key things to watch over the coming year:

1. Does Congress provide the money? And how quickly is it spent? The recent issues with the Merida intiative are key indicators that what is promised is not always delivered in a timely manner
2. What "balloon effects" from increased clamp downs in Central America appear elsewhere in the region>

Cybercrime or Cyberwar?

In the recently published Virtual Criminality Report 2009 McAfee asked if the transition from criminality to war has already happened, citing evidence that countries hostile to industrial democracies are involved in some of the more serious and sustained cybercrime. In response, McAfee said, “nation-states are arming themselves for the cyberspace battlefield.” McAffee CEO is careful to point out that experts disagree on the definitions of cyber war, but it is apparent that attacks are increasing in number and sophistication. Business, as well as government, must take steps to be prepared.