Statement by President Obama, July 19, 2010Footnote 1
President Obama. I welcome this important step forward for human rights, as the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission (ILGHRC) will take its rightful seat at the table of the United Nations. The UN was founded on the premise that only through mutual respect, diversity, and dialogue can the international community effectively pursue justice and equality. Today, with the more full inclusion of the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission, the United Nations is closer to the ideals on which it was founded, and to values of inclusion and equality to which the United States is deeply committed.
Press Release from the Department of Homeland Security, July 22, 2010Footnote 2
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today marked the sixth anniversary of the issuance of the 9/11 Commission Report by releasing a 2010 progress report outlining advancements in the Department's capabilities to protect against and respond to acts of terrorism and other threats—including a series of unprecedented steps to bolster aviation security in the United States and around the world.
“The 9/11 Commission's recommendations have in many ways set the course for the Department's efforts to combat security threats,” said Secretary Napolitano. “By working with our partners across the globe, we have achieved historic advances in international aviation security—including bolstering explosives detection, strengthening the vetting of passengers against terrorist watchlists, refining passenger screening techniques and deploying tens of thousands of trained aviation security personnel—that make air travel safer for everyone.”
Highlights from the DHS Progress Report Include:
Major Aviation Security Milestones
DHS has fulfilled a key 9/11 Commission recommendation by implementing Secure Flight for 100 percent of passengers flying domestically and internationally on U.S. airlines, meaning that TSA, not the air carriers, vets passengers against government watchlists using passenger name, date of birth, and gender before a boarding pass is issued. This accounts for over 90 percent of all travel to, from, and within the United States. TSA expects to convert all international carriers to Secure Flight by December 2010.
DHS is also on track to meet the Congressionally-mandated 100 percent screening requirement for all air cargo on domestic passenger aircraft by August 2010. As of May 1, 2010, 75 percent of cargo on passenger aircraft departing from U.S. locations was already being screened under DHS security programs, largely through the Certified Cargo Screening Program, which permits entities who have undergone rigorous inspection and certification processes throughout the air cargo supply chain to screen cargo. Currently, there are over 1.5 million shippers in TSA's Known Shipper Management System that that have been certified as meeting specific security standards. Deterring Terrorism through New, More Flexible Screening Measures
In April 2010, DHS began implementing new enhanced security measures for all air carriers with international flights to the United States to strengthen the safety and security of all passengers. These new measures utilize real-time, threat-based intelligence along with multiple layers of security, both seen and unseen, to more effectively mitigate evolving terrorist threats.
DHS analysis of passenger data played a critical role in the recent counterterrorism cases against Najibullah Zazi, who pled guilty to plotting to bomb New York subways, David Headley, who pled guilty for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, and Times Square bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad.
Strengthening Domestic Aviation Security
TSA utilizes a layered security strategy, with measures both seen and unseen, at airports across the country, with more than 50,000 Transportation Security Officers, Transportation Security Inspectors, Behavior Detection Officers, and canine teams. The Department has also made unprecedented investments in passenger screening through Advanced Technology X-Ray machines, Advanced Imaging Technology machines, bottle liquid scanners, Explosive Trace Detection machines, and other enhanced threat-detection equipment that increase the Department's ability to detect metallic and non-metallic explosives and other threats. TSA is also investing in new, state-of-the-art in-line explosives detection systems and other technology to streamline checked baggage screening at airports throughout the U.S.
In addition, DHS has strengthened partnerships across the federal government, working with the Department of Justice to enhance risk-based aviation security countermeasures and collaborating with the Department of Energy and its National Laboratories to leverage their expertise in building risk-based technology solutions to key aviation security challenges.
Further, in order to facilitate legitimate travel and effectively deploy screening and security resources, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has vetted and enrolled over 780,000 travelers from over 100 countries in four Trusted Traveler Programs (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST, and Global Entry). These programs expedite travel for members who voluntarily apply, provide biometric identification, pass extensive vetting, pay a fee, and provide comprehensive data to CBP for rigorous security threat assessment checks. Historic International Aviation Security Summits
Since the attempted terrorist attack on December 25, 2009, Secretary Napolitano, in conjunction with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), has been leading a global initiative to strengthen the international aviation system against the evolving threats posed by terrorists. Secretary Napolitano has participated in regional aviation security summits around the world, forging an historic consensus and signing agreements with her international colleagues in Africa, the Asia/Pacific region, the Western Hemisphere, Europe and the Middle East to strengthen the civil aviation system through enhanced information analysis and sharing, cooperation on technological development and modernized aviation security standards.
Press Release from the Department of the Treasury, August 6, 2010Footnote 3
In conjunction with the U.S. Department of State's designation today of Harakat-ul Jihad Islami (HUJI) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated HUJI's commander, Mohammad Ilyas Kashmiri, for supporting acts of terrorism and for acting for or on behalf of HUJI. Today's action against Kashmiri was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which freezes any assets Kashmiri has under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in any transactions with him. The United Nations also took similar actions against HUJI and Mohammad Ilyas Kashmiri today.
As commander of HUJI, Kashmiri provides support to al-Qa'ida operations, including logistical support for al-Qai'da's terrorist attacks. Kashmiri has supported attacks against Pakistani government personnel and facilities, including the 2009 attack against the offices of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Pakistani police in Lahore, Pakistan that killed 23 people and left hundreds injured. He directed the October 2008 assassination of the former commander of the Pakistani Special Services Group, General Amir Faisal Alvi, in retaliation for his role in the fight against militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. He also led an al-Qa'ida-linked cell in planning for the assassination of a Pakistani Army general—a plan that was eventually abandoned due to al-Qa'ida's strategic considerations.
“Mohammad Ilyas Kashmiri is at the core of HUJI's efforts to plan and carry out attacks against U.S. forces and our allies. He is responsible for creating a cadre of militants to act on behalf of HUJI and al-Qaida,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey. “In acting together, the United States and United Nations are today taking another important step in combating the threat that al-Qa'ida and its affiliated organizations pose to innocent people around the world.”
Since 2001, Kashmiri has led HUJI training camps that specialized in terrorist operations, military tactics, and cross-border operations, including a militant training center in Miram Shah, North Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. In January 2009, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Illinois indicted Kashmiri for terrorism-related offenses in connection with a terrorist attack against the Jyllands-Posten newspaper in Denmark.
HUJI's area of operation extends throughout South Asia, with its terrorist operations focused primarily in India and Pakistan. HUJI's relationship with al-Qa'ida flourished after the Taliban's rise in Afghanistan. It has provided fighters for the Taliban in Afghanistan and training of HUJI members in al-Qa'ida training camps. HUJI has carried out a number of terrorist attacks. In March 2006, HUJI was responsible for the suicide bombing of the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, which killed four people and injured 48 others. HUJI is also responsible for terrorist attacks in India including the May 2007 Hyderabad mosque attack, which killed 16 and injured 40, and the March 2007 Varanasi attack, which killed 25 and injured 100.
Press Release from the Department of the Treasury, August 11, 2010Footnote 4
As Muslims in the United States and around the world begin their observance of Ramadan, the U.S. Department of the Treasury recognizes the importance of this period of intense devotion, reflection and charitable giving. Charitable giving and philanthropy are core American values, reflected in many faiths and traditions, and are of particular significance within the Muslim faith during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Treasury Department fully supports the ability of American Muslims—and Muslims worldwide—to fulfill their religious obligations through charitable giving and seeks to advance charitable giving at home and abroad, while protecting the charitable sector from the threat posed by those who seek to abuse this sacred obligation. In recent years, Treasury has strengthened its partnership with the charitable sector and donor community to promote transparency and to safeguard against such abuse.
The Treasury Department will continue to work closely with the charitable sector and Muslim American communities to promote our common goals of safe and effective charitable activity and to protect the sector from exploitation by terrorist organizations. We look forward to the continued development of this partnership.
Press Release from the Department of the Treasury, August 24, 2010Footnote 5
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today further targeted the financial network of al-Qai'da by designating Muhammad Abdallah Hasan Abu-al-Khayr, a key leader of the terrorist organization's finance section. Al-Khayr was designated pursuant to Executive Order 13224 for acting for or on behalf of al-Qai'da. Executive Order 13224 freezes any assets al-Khayr has under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in any transactions with him. The United Nations 1267 Sanctions Committee took similar action against Al-Khayr today.
Al-Khayr appears on a 2009 list of 85 persons wanted by the government of Saudi Arabia, in part because of his role as an al-Qai'da financial facilitator. He has transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars for a specific terrorist attack against U.S. interests. Al-Khayr also acts for al-Qai'da in a leadership role on the media committee, and has on at least one occasion recruited a member for al-Qai'-da. His relationship with al-Qai'da began with military training the terrorist group provided him in the mid-1990s. Al-Khayr is a son-in-law of Usama bin Laden and has also provided services to bin Laden as a bodyguard.
“After the death in May of Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, who essentially served as al-Qai'da's chief financial officer, we will continue to work with our allies to target those like al-Khayr who could step into al-Yazid's shoes,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey. “Today's designation of al-Khayr by the United States and the United Nations will help to ensure that that al-Qai'da remains in severe financial straits.”
