Discovering the (Illicit) Networks
BENS Expands Work to Help Combat Terrorist Activities
Terrorist organizations are increasingly turning to money laundering, drug trading and other illicit network activities to fund and carry out their missions—creating more instability in regions of strategic importance to U.S. national security. To help the U.S. government and military combat these activities, BENS is launching the Illicit Networks Initiative.
Building on nearly a decade of experience helping partners such as the Treasury Department and U.S. Special Operations Command tackle terrorist financing schemes and drug cartels, BENS will expand its work in combating such illicit networks with a series of events, trips and other engagements. Through these activities, BENS members will be able to interact with high-ranking officials from military commands and agencies such as the FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency to identify how private-sector insights and expertise can make a difference in countering illicit networks.
Speaker events and trips in BENS regions will allow members to learn more about how the government fights illicit networks, and how BENS can help. The first event, featuring Seeds of Terror author Gretchen Peters on Oct. 15 in Washington, D.C., will focus on crime and insurgency in Pakistan and Afghanistan. For more information on the BENS Illicit Networks Initiative, contact Danielle Lindholm at 202-296-2125 or dlindholm@bens.org.
BENS Works: Business Sense for National Security
Wanted: Ideas for Improving National Security —With new efforts underway in the national security community to streamline operations and save taxpayer dollars, your private-sector expertise is needed now more than ever. Click here to nominate new and expanded BENS work for 2011 and shape how BENS will help our government partners bring business solutions to national security challenges in the coming year. We rely heavily on the input of all our members to steer the selection of BENS projects and we look forward to your suggestions. Click here for an update on current policy work.
The Business of Preparing — Because 40 percent
of companies that experience a disaster never reopen, it’s important for businesses to be ready for the worst. September is National Preparedness Month, and a good time to focus on how Americans can prepare for emergencies in their homes, communities and businesses. Here’s what a couple of BENS member companies are doing to stay ready:
We encourage our store staffs and field representatives to partner with other local private sector and government agencies to plan for a coordinated disaster response. Store workshops are conducted to raise awareness and establish the relationships that will be needed to respond to a disaster. Internally, The Home Depot has established clear lines of communication and responsibility that aide planning and speed the organization’s disaster response at the state, national and local levels. – Jeff Partin, Crisis Management Manager for The Home Depot, Inc.
To assure continuity, our telework program keeps us working if we can’t make it to the office. Everyone can access company email and server files from remote locations and we have personal and company laptops when severe weather threatens. All company files are backed up in multiple locations and we also have a contingency phone tree plan for emergencies. For example, when metro Atlanta roads were dangerously icy last winter, we activated the phone tree and employees knew not to attempt driving until conditions improved and worked from home instead of risking the roads. – Jane Stout, Senior Vice President of Cookerly Public Relations. Click here for more on preparedness efforts from BENS Southeast.
Event Highlights and BENS Developments
A Call for Export Control Reform — BENS members took a sneak-peek at new efforts to update
the U.S. export control system during an Aug. 27 conference call with Michael Froman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs. During the special briefing, Froman previewed export control system changes announced on Aug. 31 by President Obama. Aimed at protecting national security while enhancing industry competitiveness, the changes include creation of one export control list, consistent export licensing policies, a single IT system for licensing agencies and greater coordination among enforcement agencies. The announcement follows Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ April speech to a BENS audience on export control reform.
Click Here for Upcoming Events
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Interested in attending one of our regional events? See which events are in your area.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Cliff Ainsworth at (202) 296-2125 or cainsworth@bens.org
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