What we do…

The last few years have been difficult for the policing profession. Idiots who would piss on themselves on the first alarm call. One worthless politician after another calling for destruction of policing through defunding or micromanagement and regulation. While the members of all professions is, to say the least, imperfect, cops have been taking it on the chin for the last few years.

In a discussion with an acquaintance, I explained the major difference between him (A teacher) and I. “You’re at the mall with your family and hear someone shooting, what will you do? Run from him. What do I get to do? Tell my family to unass the area and I move towards him.”

Not bragging or complaining, just stating fact. 

 

With that as a start, great to hear what cops are all about. 

 

‘This is what we do’: 5 police officers rush into burning building, carry out man in wheelchair

The building was destroyed, but the officers' quick thinking saved a man's life

        
SOLVAY, N.Y, — Geddes Police Sgt. Michael Borell was the first on the scene of a fire in a long-time Solvay pizza shop Monday night.

 

He said he heard a woman yelling that her husband was stuck in an apartment over the burning Bianchi’s Pizza Pad on Milton Avenue.

 

“She was screaming and crying in the street that her husband was upstairs,” Borell said

 

He went up the stairs to the apartment and found the man in his wheelchair. The man said he couldn’t walk and didn’t want to leave his cats behind.

 

Borell, who has 15 years as a police officer, would need help to get the man out safely.

Solvay Officer Joseph Hardy parked his patrol car to block off the street and ran towards the building. 

He had heard on dispatch calls at about 8 p.m. that there was a man in a wheelchair inside and possibly children.

 

The smoke was flooding into the street, Hardy said. The 21-year-old has only been on the job five months and had never been to a building fire.

 

Three other officers arrived at the scene from the Geddes Police Department: Adam Lustrinelli, Taylor Potter and Ryan Legacy, said John Fall, Geddes police chief.

 

All officers went up the stairs and into the smoke-filled apartment.

 

“I just kind of ran in there,” Hardy said. “There was smoke but I didn’t stop to think about downstairs being on fire.” 

Borell wheeled the man to the stairs. Hardy grabbed one shoulder and another officer grabbed the man’s other shoulder, Hardy said. Another officer grabbed the man’s feet and the three carried the man down the stairs to the wife’s car, Hardy said…

Gentlemen, thank you have what you did that night, and every night.You showed what a badge means.

An early New Year’s Resolution

Dust off the blog.

 

I’ve been split between multiple writing tasks this year. I’m now on The American Free News Network, I still write other opinion pieces, and I’m hoping to expand my writing even more. But I want to get the A Cop’s Watch more active.

 

I don’t think I will be writing weekly intel summaries, but I will post intelligence/foreign affairs pieces of interest from my reading sources (e.g., STRATFOR).  And as soon as I can figure out how to get pictures, etc, I will start posting the Officer Down post again, They must be noted. But Google made pictures a pain in the ass. Or, more likely, I’m missing something very open in front of me.

 

Anyway, to the people who have logged on, that you for sticking around. I hope to make A Cop’s Watch more worthy of you attention.

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Special Deputy Marshal Anthony Charles McGrew

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, U.S. Government

End of Watch Saturday, August 15, 2020

Age 51

Tour 13 years

Cause COVID19

Incident Date Friday, July 24, 2020

Special Deputy Marshal Anthony McGrew died after contracting COVID-19 while on duty at the federal courthouse in the Frank M. Scarlett Federal Building in Brunswick, Georgia.

Special Deputy Marshal McGrew was a U.S. Navy veteran. He had served with the United States 

Marshals Service for two years and had previously served with the Kingsland, Georgia, Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his wife, three children, and three grandchildren.

 

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch 

Nemo me impune lacessit 

   

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.  

 

 

 

Deputy Sheriff Stephen Bradley Crazywolf Dutton

Harris County Sheriff's Office, Georgia

End of Watch Friday, August 14, 2020

Age 54

Tour Not available

Badge SD25

 

Deputy Sheriff Steven Dutton died after contracting COVID-19 in a presumed exposure while on duty.

 

Deputy Dutton was a U.S. Navy veteran. He is survived by his wife, three children, and 10 grandchildren.

 

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch 

 

Nemo me impune lacessit 

  

Officer Down

 

Corrections Officer IV Lebouath A. Boua
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, Texas
End of Watch Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Age 61
Tour 4 years

Corrections Officer IV Lebouath Boua died after contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak among staff and inmates at the Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas.

Officer Boua had served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for four years. He is survived by two children.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

November Rain

Not quite fall, but the change of seasons is in the air. And the leaves are just coming down, so it will be soon enough. I can’t believe Halloween is just a week from Sunday.

Still not close to being over from two weeks ago. I was thinking about a song over the fall season, and it hit me. This classic from GNR, November Rain.

To make it even better, GNR is joined by Rock royalty, Sir Elton John. From the 1992 MTV Music Awards, back when MTV actually played music, and wasn’t another reality TV hellhole. 

Have a great weekend.

A long two weeks…

As I approach my 57th birthday, this last year has been rough. And got worse last week. One of my my two best friends from high school passed at 54.

I won’t say much, other than enjoy your family and friends. You never know when your number is up.

I’ll leave this Friday with three of Al’s favorites.

Billy Joel, Piano Man.

  

REM, Loosing My Religion.

    

Prince, Raspberry Beret

Al, until we meet again.

Officer Down

       

Correctional Officer Dudley James Champ
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch Monday, August 10, 2020
Age 58
Tour 1 year

Correctional Officer Dudley Champ died after contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak among staff and inmates at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility.

Officer Champ was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for one year. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit 

 

ΩDay is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Let’s go back, and do it again…

A great sone from a great decade for music. Steely Dan and his classis, Do It Again. Something to start a good weekend with as the heat is finally breaking. Have a great weekend

Officer Down

 

Police Officer Sheena Dae Yarbrough-Powell
Beaumont Police Department, Texas
End of Watch Sunday, August 9, 2020
Age 23
Tour 2 years
Badge 114

Police Officer Sheena Yarbrough-Powell was killed when her patrol car was struck head-on by a drunk, wrong-way driver on Cardinal Drive near the Highway 347 overpass.

The crash occurred on the divided highway at approximately 2:30 am. Her partner was seriously injured in the crash. The 18-year-old driver of the other vehicle was also injured and was later charged with manslaughter and intoxication assault.

Officer Yarbrough-Powell had served with the Beaumont Police Department for two years. She is survived by her husband.

Rest in Peace Sis…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Covid as an excuse for aggravated assault…

I have always thought the risk of Covid is overblown, to most people. Older people, people with compromised immune systems, etc, there is a serious issue. But with a survival rate of over 99.%, it is manageable. And I thought some of the people going anal about getting a shot, getting too close, etc was a bit overblown. Then there is this: 

Security guard who shot man 3 times acted in self defense because the victim wasn’t wearing a COVID mask, lawyer says 

 

A liquor store security guard was acting in self defense when he shot a customer three times because the customer was “putting other’s lives at risk by not wearing a [COVID] mask,” the guard’s private defense attorney said during a bond court hearing Wednesday. 

The argument did not sway cook County Judge Mary Marubio. 

 “The victim fled the store, fell outside, followed by the defendant [who], according to the surveillance video, shot a second time. The defendant then paces back and forth and shot a third time,” Marubio said before ordering 42-year-old Chester Holmes held without bail. 

Holmes, who is barred from possessing a weapon because he is a four-time convicted felon and registered child sex offender, was working as an armed security guard at the store on the 6000 block of South Racine when a 28-year-old man walked in without a COVID mask around 9:53 am. Monday, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Darryl Auguste. 

Holmes and the victim argued about the mask policy and the victim eventually left. 

He then turned around and walked back in. When he did, Holmes met him with a drawn handgun and shot him, Auguste said. 

The victim fell to the ground outside the store…

Well, he had no business with a gun, so that kinda puts the icing on the lie of being scared about a dude not wearing a mask. Good riddance.

Another example of the inmates running the asylum…or at least the prisons.

Or maybe I'm blowing it out of proportion. OK, I can see letting prisoners have email, as long as it can be monitored. These people will organize unlawful acts with any communications. Music, books, fine, but you must be very careful with communications with the outside.

110,000 Texas prison inmates to get computer tablets with apps, radio and email

Tablets will create efficiencies for the state, TDCJ said, and a consistent connection to the outside world might also reduce recidivism, as well.

DALLAS — The Texas Department of Criminal Justice will soon distribute computer tablets to almost all of its prison inmates across the state.

“We have 118,000 inmates. There will be a few categories, some of the disruptive inmates, that we may not be able to issue to… but at this point, we would have well over 110,000 tablets issued within the system,” said Bryan Collier, executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Collier made the comments in Tuesday’s "Virtual Re-entry Symposium" hosted annually by Unlocking Doors, a non-profit organization that prepares inmates to re-enter into society.

“Inmates will be given a tablet that will be preloaded with education materials, some e-books, some religious materials,” Collier added. “They have radio. They can also have music on it. It’ll come pre-loaded with some music. They will have an opportunity to buy some additional things to add to it.”

In addition, inmates can send and receive email – not real-time – but within 24-hours, Collier explained. They can even file a grievance on their tablets.</> Perhaps more importantly, he said, this creates a smart, safe way for prison administrators to put specific content in front of every inmate’s eyes...

I hope it does make the prison more manageable. Good luck Texas Department of Corrections.

Officer Down

   

                                                           

Sergeant Gilbert Polanco

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California

End of Watch Sunday, August 9, 2020

Age 55

Tour 34 years

Cause COVID19

Incident Date Thursday, July 2, 2020

 

Sergeant Gilbert Polanco died after contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak among staff and inmates at San Quentin State Prison.

 

Sergeant Polanco was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 34 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

 

Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

 

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch 

 

Nemo me impune lacessit 

  

 

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.  

 

                                                                                                  

                                                                        

 

Deputy Sheriff Philip Kraverotis

Effingham County Sheriff's Office, Georgia

End of Watch Thursday, August 6, 2020

Age 59

Tour 15 years

Badge 4191

Cause COVID19

Incident Date Monday, August 3, 2020

 

Deputy Sheriff Philip Kraverotis died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty at the Effingham County Judicial Complex.

 

Deputy Kraverotis had served with the Effingham County Sheriff's Office for 15 years and was assigned to the Courts Division. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, sister, and two brothers.

 

Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch 

 

Nemo me impune lacessit 

 

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.  

 

What's Going On In The World Today 210809

HYPERLINKS MAY REQUIRE AN EMAIL OR SUBSCRIPTION: 

Carrier Strike Groups

• CVN 70: The USS Carl Vinson is underway in the Pacific Ocean for a large-scale exercise.
• CVN 72: The USS Abraham Lincoln is underway in the Pacific Ocean for a large-scale exercise.
• CVN 76: The USS Ronald Reagan is underway in the Arabian Sea.

Amphibious Ready Groups/Marine Expeditionary Units

• LHA 6: The USS America is underway in the Coral Sea for a large-scale exercise with Australia and seven other countries.
• LHA 7: The USS Tripoli is underway in the Pacific Ocean for qualification trials.
• LHD 3: The USS Kearsarge is underway in the Atlantic Ocean for routine training.
• LHD 7: The USS Iwo Jima is underway in the Persian Gulf.

 

              AFRICA

Evidence points to secret Indian navy base on Mauritian island

Analysis of data suggests construction of airstrip and jetty for military use as India expands influence towards Africa.

Satellite imagery, financial data and on-the-ground evidence obtained by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit point to India building a naval facility on the remote Mauritian island of Agaléga.

Military experts who have analysed Al Jazeera’s evidence say an airstrip under construction will almost certainly be used for maritime patrol missions by India’s navy.

Rumours and media reports about the military base first surfaced in 2018 but both Mauritius and India have denied that the construction project is for military purposes and say the infrastructure is only to benefit the islanders.

Satellite pictures reveal how Agaléga, located about 1,100km (684 miles) from Mauritius’ main island and home to about 300 people, is seeing the construction of two large jetties and a runway that is more than 3km (1.84 miles) long...

Egypt receives fourth German S-44 submarine at Alexandria base

Egypt received the fourth German-made S-44 submarine at its Alexandria naval base on Monday, the Egyptian Navy announced. The model 209/1400 mod 4 sub was shipped from the German port city of Kiel. “This latest addition to Egyptian naval forces represents a huge reinforcement for the capabilities of the Egyptian army, which will contribute to the protection of the country’s economic resources in the Mediterranean and Red seas, as well as the Suez Canal,” Egyptian Armed Forces spokesperson Gharib Abdel Hafez said in a statement...

ASIA 

U.S. approves potential sale of howitzers to Taiwan - Pentagon

WASHINGTON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department approved the potential sale of 40 155mm M109A6 Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer artillery systems to Taiwan in a deal valued at up to $750 million, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

This comes after arms sales last year that included drones and coastal missile defenses meant to upgrade the island's capabilities and discourage a Chinese invasion. The Biden administration has approved other direct commercial sales of arms to Taiwan since taking office. 

The package would include the howitzers, 1,698 precision guidance kits for munitions, spares, training, ground stations and upgrades for Taiwan's previous generation of howitzers, the Pentagon said..

EUROPE  

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

NORTH/SOUTH AMERICA 

Tracking Mexico's Cartels in 2021

Largely Static Cartel Drivers, From 2020 to 2021 and Beyond

Despite pandemic-related changes in the last 18 months — which include U.S. border closures, travel restrictions, lockdowns and curfews — the strategic forces behind cartel violence in Mexico have changed very little since 2020: larger groups continued to fuel local conflicts by controlling trafficking routes and territory through cooperation with local gangs, and in many cases using COVID-19 lockdowns to assert territorial control. Important drivers of violence and insecurity in Mexico in the next 18 months will be cartel revenue streams, political relationships, the U.S.-Mexico security relationship, cartel technological and military capabilities, and cartel rivalries. Criminal groups also will continue to experience fragmentation and infighting that leads to sporadic upticks in violence, such as the events in Reynosa on June 19, when civilians were killed as a result of Gulf Cartel infighting. Other notable cartel-driven risks for the coming 18 months include: 

• Volatility along the U.S.-Mexico border — vital turf for cartel activities including drug- and migrant-smuggling — which could lead to sporadic shutdowns and delays at ports of entry and border crossings.
• An increased threat of indiscriminate violence in important areas where cartels are vying for control, such as the states of Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, Queretaro and Zacatecas.
• Ongoing extortion and theft threat to businesses that focus on natural resource extraction — such as oil, mining and timber — given the lucrative nature of these businesses. 

 

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Rampage Puts Afghan Journalists in Crosshairs

HERAT, Afghanistan—Across Afghanistan, as the Taliban ramp up atrocities in the areas under their control, journalists are fleeing for their lives, terrified the insurgents will make good on threats to kill them and their families unless they start pumping out favorable copy.

The exodus is a potential death knell for one of the true success stories of the last 20 years, when Afghanistan fostered the region’s freest press. But in just the past four months, 51 media outlets have closed, according to Afghan journalism watchdogs, and hundreds of news professionals have left their jobs. In some parts of Afghanistan, newsrooms have been destroyed or looted, and many journalists say they receive messages threatening consequences unless they start reporting about the insurgents positively. Many believe it is only a matter of time before the Taliban make good on those threats…  

CHINA 

China moves quickly to replace America in Afghanistan

As the United States withdraws its forces from Afghanistan, China is not hesitating to move in. Earlier this week, nine Taliban leaders accepted Beijing’s invitation and met in Tianjin with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. One of those leaders was the group’s co-founder, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Wang told his visitors that China expects the Taliban to play an important role in the “process of peaceful reconciliation and reconstruction in Afghanistan” and described the group as a “pivotal political and military force” in the country. It appears to be only a matter of time before China recognizes the Talban’s de facto control of the country even as Washington remains formally committed to supporting the Kabul government.  

IRAN

Amid Stalled Nuclear Talks, Iran Reasserts Itself at Sea 

Iran appears to be ramping back up its naval harassment activities in order to gain leverage in negotiations with the West and display strength at home. Such aggressive behavior, however, risks upending those talks altogether by threatening regional security. A hijacking and deadly attack within days of each other near the strategic Strait of Hormuz reflects a higher risk tolerance akin to previous periods of frequent Iranian naval harassment. On Aug. 3, hijackers seized the Panama-flagged Asphalt Princess tanker while it was transiting the Gulf of Oman and demanded that the vessel set sail for Iran. The hijacking of the vessel, which is owned by a Dubai-based firm, comes only days after a suspected Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) killed two sailors on board the Israeli-linked Mercer Street tanker. While the details of its involvement in both incidents may never be confirmed, Tehran is likely the culprit based on past precedent, geographic proximity and probable motive...   

Iranians Fear Turning Into Another 'North Korea' If Draconian Internet Censorship Bill Passes

Iranians are warning of public anger and drawing parallels with the world's most oppressive regimes as legislation makes its way through the country's parliament that could intensify online censorship and further restrict Internet access. Iranian authorities already block tens of thousands of websites and regularly throttle or cut Internet connectivity during crucial periods, including a near-total shutdown for nearly a week amid antiestablishment protests following a disputed election in 2019. On July 28, the draft of a bill to hand control of Iran's Internet gateways to the armed forces and criminalize the use of virtual private networks (VPN) was sent for review to a parliamentary committee, despite fierce public criticism.

Iran warns of response if security threatened after ship attack -TV

Iran will respond promptly to any threat against its security, the foreign ministry said on Monday, after the United States, Israel and Britain blamed Tehran for an attack on an Israeli- managed tanker off the coast of Oman. Tehran has denied any involvement in the suspected drone attack on Thursday in which two crew members - a Briton and a Romanian - were killed. The United States and Britain said on Sunday they would work with their allies to respond to the attack on the Mercer Street, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned petroleum product tanker managed by Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime.

 

Shah’s son urges West to drive ‘nail in coffin’ of Iran clerical state

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, believes the clerical state that toppled his father is on the brink of crumbling. What Iranians need now, he says, is stronger support from the West. As ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi was endorsed Tuesday as the eighth president of the Islamic republic, Pahlavi, who lives in exile near Washington, pointed to an election turnout rate of 48.8 percent, the lowest since the 1979 revolution, as well as demonstrations first triggered by serious water shortages…

Iran Guards Deploy Aircraft Detecting Radar in Western Syria

Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps factions set aircraft-detecting radar in Syria’s al- Mazare area, around al-Mayadeen city in the eastern sector of the Deir Ezzor countryside. According to sources from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Iranian military experts have monitored the process of fixing and operating the radar. The area is strategically vital for its geographic altitude that overlooks al-Mayadeen city and regions held by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and coalition forces east of the Euphrates River… 

IRAQ 

Iraq calls on Syria to increase water releases due to shortfall

Iraq called on Syria to increase water releases to compensate for the lack of rainfall and high temperatures that have caused a shortfall in revenues, Iraq’s state media reported on Monday. The Minister of Water Resources, Mahdi Rashid Al-Hamdani said he “held a closed-circuit televised meeting with the Syrian Minister of Water Resources, Tammam Raad, to review the measures taken regarding the signed accord during Al-Hamdani's visit to Syria” Last month, both countries signed a joint agreement to exchange data related to the imports of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers “periodically and in emergency situations."

Two rockets fired near US embassy in Baghdad

Two rockets were fired early Thursday against Baghdad's fortified Green Zone which houses the US embassy, without causing any casualties or damage, an Iraqi security source told AFP. The dawn attack came as Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhemi was flying home from Washington after White House talks in which President Joe Biden announced an end to US combat operations in Iraq.

Iraq military: Many feared dead in terrorist attack in north

An attack on a funeral procession in northern Iraq has claimed a number of victims, Iraq’s military said in a statement Friday. The military said the “terrorist” attack in the province of Salahaddin resulted in a “number of victims” but did not provide specific figures. An Iraqi security official said eight people had been killed, among them police and civilians, and that armed militants had opened fire on the crowd.   

ISRAEL

For Israel, Attacking Lebanon Risks Triggering a Multi-Front Conflict 

Israel’s attempt to deter rocket fire from Lebanon risks triggering a greater conflict with Beruit and Hezbollah on its northern border, while also inspiring Gaza militants to resume attacks on its southern border. Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon on the night of Aug. 4, targeting the launch sites from which rockets had been fired at northern Israel the day prior. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the attack was “meant to send a message” to a Palestinian faction in Lebanon that he believed launched the recent rocket strikes against Israel. Gantz also cautioned that Israel “could do much more,” but hoped it wouldn’t come to that. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned Lebanon to avoid “further attempts to harm Israeli civilians” as well. 

KOREAN PENINSULA  

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT   

RUSSIA

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT  

MIDDLE EAST GENERAL

Islamic State Group Smuggling Boys to Desert Training Camps

More than two years after the collapse of its self-declared caliphate, the Islamic State terror group appears to be trying to rebuild its army in the eastern Syrian desert on the backs of boys and teenagers, many smuggled out of the displaced persons camps that dot Syria's northeast. The revelation, based on U.S. military intelligence, is part of a report issued Tuesday by the U.S. Defense Department's inspector general on American and allied operations in Syria and Iraq. In particular, the report warned that despite a series of crackdowns by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, IS, also known as ISIS or Daesh, retains significant influence in many of the camps, as well as freedom of movement, allowing it to target "the most susceptible" for recruitment.  

CYBER ISSUES  

New destructive Meteor wiper malware used in Iranian railway attack 

A new file wiping malware called Meteor was discovered used in the recent attacks against Iran's railway system. Earlier this month, Iran's transport ministry and national train system suffered a cyberattack, causing the agency's websites to shut down and disrupting train service. The threat actors also displayed messages on the railway's message boards stating that trains were delayed or canceled due to a cyberattack. 

INTEL/ESPIONAGE/SPYING GENERAL  

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT  

TERRORISM  

Al Qaeda launches 1st public campaign in 4 years to encourage lone wolf terrorist attacks

More than 10 years ago the I-Team uncovered Al Qaeda's plans for "Open Source" Jihad against the Chicago skyline. Now they're back with a new high-gloss publication for radical followers and a new video, encouraging violent attacks on America by one-person jihadists and lone wolf terrorist. Hundreds of people were killed and injured by truck-ramming attacks from terrorist groups in the past decade. The one-man rampages were encouraged by Al Qaeda and ISIS leaders targeting cities worldwide.

FBI investigating 41 cases of eco-sabotage in Washington

Since Jan. 19, 2020, the FBI in Washington state has been investigating at least 41 incidents of eco-sabotage, specifically direct action against railways and rail lines connected to oil production. In one instance on Dec. 22, a train was derailed and caught on fire in Custer, Wash.... For some groups, climate activists were once considered opponents to some Indigenous communities; The Guardian cites GreenPeace opposing the Inuit seal hunt as one example. But now the intersection of environmental protection and Indigenous rights are at the forefront of many activist groups.  

Gun-wielding masked men shoot 10 in New York City attack, speed off on mopeds

A pair of masked men unleashed a fusillade of gunfire on a crowded street in a New York City neighborhood Saturday night, wounding 10 people before getting on mopeds and speeding away, police said. New York Police Department investigators said the episode appeared to be tied to gang violence, but that seven of the shooting victims were innocent bystanders, including a 72-year-old man.

MISC  

Scientists Launch Privately Funded Hunt For Unidentified Space Objects

Nearly 400 years ago, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei published a book that built a case for an alternative view of the Solar System, one that revolved not around Earth but the Sun…

…Hoping for a more open- minded outcome, a group of scientists is borrowing Galileo’s name to marquee a research project as controversial as any pursued by Galileo himself—a systematic survey for evidence of extraterrestrial technological artifacts.

The Galileo Project is intended to build a public database of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). “Our goal is to [have] transparent analysis based on physics as we know it,” Harvard University astrophysicist Avi Loeb said during a July 26 press conference.

“The scientific community needs the determination to systematically, scientifically and transparently look for potential evidence of extraterrestrial technological equipment,” he added in a statement about the project. “The impact of any discovery of extraterrestrial technology on science, our technology and on our entire world view would be enormous.”

The privately funded Galileo Project follows the June 25 release of a Pentagon report to Congress that outlined preliminary analysis of 144 UAP sightings from military and intelligence sources. The report determined that most sightings were likely physical objects, rather than optical or atmospheric illusions. However, the data was not good enough to provide additional details. “That’s quite an unusual admission by the government—the most conservative organization that I know of—saying there are objects in our sky that we don’t fully understand,” said Loeb…

…The Galileo Project plans three research initiatives: obtaining high-resolution, multidetector images of UAPs; scanning for interstellar objects, similar to the 2017 discovery of the cigar-shaped interstellar object Oumuamua (Hawaiian for “scout,”); and searching for potential extraterrestrial satellites around Earth.