Overseas Security Advisory Council

An exclusive service to our constituents. Get the most up to date OSAC perspectives on global security trends and issues.


		Nairobbery (December 10 2004) A surge in violent crime --including a spate of high-profile carjackings, home invasions, rapes, and homicides --is causing increasing concern among those living in Nairobi, both Kenyans and expatriates alike. Most striking is the brazenness of many of the attacks. Residents have been dismayed by the lack of governmental response. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (48 Kb)


		OSAC Activity Report - November 2004 (December 7 2004) OSAC presents a summary of its monthly activity, including records of constituent interaction, analyst travel and security trends. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (156 Kb)


		OSAC Activity Report - 2004 Annual Briefing (November 15 2004) This report is a year-to-date assessment of OSAC consultations, threats and Country Council activity compiled for OSAC 19th Annual Briefing, held on November 17. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (228 Kb)


		OSAC Activity Report (November 9 2004) OSAC presents a summary of its monthly activity, including records of constituent interaction, analyst travel and security trends. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (193 Kb)


		Afghanistan Elections (October 12 2004) A look at the first Afghanistan Election and security forecasts. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (123 Kb)


		OSAC Activity Report: September 2004 (October 12 2004) OSAC continues to increase its running monthly average in consultations, averaging more than 250 consultations per month. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (43 Kb)


		September Iraq Update (28 September 2004) Despite the resolution to the standoff between Moqtada al-Sadr and Coalition forces at the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf in August, a high level of conflict persists between insurgents and Coalition forces in Iraq. The violence has spread throughout the country, with Baghdad, northern Iraq, and the so-called Sunni Triangle all experiencing notable increases in attacks. Kidnapping remains one of the chief concerns for foreigners in Iraq, and signs point to an increase in the involvement of organized crime groups in abductions. Additionally, many analysts and media officials are beginning to warn of the potential for an increase in attacks against Westerners, police, and Iraqi government officials in the lead-up to January elections. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (102 Kb)

Hurricane Ivan

According to various press reports, it is now estimated that the hurricane has killed at least 65 people. The Pan American Health Organization states 37 people have died in Grenada and 19 in Jamaica. The US National Hurricane Center expects Ivan to move north into the "panhandle" region of Florida and neighboring states. As it moved northwest across the Caribbean, Ivan sometimes reached category 5, the top of the scale.

Click here to find out more.


		Anti-War Coalition (03 September 2004) The Anti-War Coalition (AWC) is a group of South African activists working as the voice of a significant portion of the country's population who do not support the US war in Iraq. This Hot Topic examines the motives behind AWC as well as their modus operandi and gives sources for further research into their organization. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (84 Kb)


		August Iraq Update (13 August 2004) Iraq Update is designed to give OSAC constituents and associates an overview of major trends and security issues in Iraq. The August issue addresses the recent upsurge in attacks, the increased use of kidnapping by insurgent groups, the the importance of Najaf's Shrine of Imam Ali, and upcoming events and key dates. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (197 Kb)


		August Hotel Bombings (12 August 2004) Turkish separatists are believed to be responsible for four bombings that were conducted in Istanbul, Turkey, on August 10. Turkish law enforcement officials have not determined who is responsible for the incident. However, the bombings reiterate that indigenous terrorist groups in Turkey continue to target U.S., Western, and Turkish interests. The incident demonstrates that groups such as the DHKP/C, PKK/KADEK/Kongra-Gel, IDBA-C, and others will continue to target Turkish officials and various civilian venues such as hotels and fast food restaurants to make political statements, particularly in Istanbul and other urban areas of Turkey. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (29 Kb)


		OSAC Activity Report: July 2004 (12 August 2004) This month, South & Central Asia was the most active RISC region. The region registered 50 constituent consultations - 19% of the RISC total. However, no one region was the clear leader in RISC activity, as five of the seven regions reported between 40 and 50 consultations. This is indicative of a month where no major incidents dominated the world's attention as those in the Middle East had during the past several months. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (191 Kb)


		OSAC Activity Report: Mid-Year 2004 (20 July 2004) The Research and Information Support Center (RISC) reported 1,709 consultations in the first half of 2004, a 52% increase from the same period in 2003. Following a spike in March, RISC figures for the half have continued to show the strong, steady growth that has been exhibited for nearly a year. From January to April, RISC logged four consecutive months with more than 250 constituent consultations. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (308 Kb)


		OSAC Activity Report: June 2004 (20 July 2004) The Research and Information Support Center (RISC) reported 247 consultations for the month of June. This number represents a 15% increase from May figures, as well as the seventh consecutive month with more than 200 consultations. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (154 Kb)


		Businesspersons Targeted for Kidnappings in Larkana, Sukkur, Shikarpur and Jacobabad, Pakistan (6 July 2004) In June 2004, the security director for an OSAC constituent company reported a series of kidnappings he had noted in Pakistan. The information he passed to OSAC was corroborated by two separate sources. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (56 Kb)

Afghanistan and Elections: Security Ramifications for U.S. Businesses and NGOs

The threat of general insecurity in Afganistan, particularly outside of Kabul, the slow pace of voter registration, and the threat--on the rise lately--of attacks on voters and election workers from the anti-recontruction forces are all jeopardizing Afganistan's chance for free and fair elections, currently scheduled for September.

This report is intended to highlight the background of Afgan elections, the particular, security-related issues they face, and the threat remifications for U.S. businesses and NGOs operating in the country.

Click here to find out more.

Targeted Kidnappings/Assassinations in Saudi Arabia: Events, Trends and Security Recommendations

In just over three weeks in Saudi Arabia, there were three targeted assassinations, one attempted assassination and one kidnapping – which resulted in the beheading of the victim five days later – against Westerners

American companies in the Kingdom are now even more concerned about how to protect their operations in an environment of increasing attacks against soft targets.

This report will list the latest events, identify trends, and offer some guidelines to American companies per the State Department’s latest Warden Messages and Travel Warnings.

Click here to find out more.

The Transition to Sovereignty in Iraq

On June 28, 2004, a new Iraqi transitional administration assumed power in Iraq. With this transition, the Coalition Provisional Authority was officially dissolved, and the new government became the sole, sovereign governing power in Iraq.

This transition period, however, is predicted to be a difficult one. The risk of kidnappings, targeted assassinations, convoy and vehicle attacks, bombings, and other violence will likely remain very high.

This report summarizes the security situation in Iraq, focusing on five particular types of attacks. It also outlines some of the deadliest incidents of the last six months, the post-transition Department of State and OSAC presence in Iraq, and the structure of and key dates for the new Iraqi government.

Click here to find out more.


		Shift toward Small-Scale Attacks in Saudi Arabia (14 June 2004) In the past month, the threat level in Saudi Arabia has continued its increase, with the attack on the al-Khobar compounds, several targeted assassinations of Westerners and/or non-Muslims, and the kidnapping of an American employee of Lockheed Martin (the first kidnapping of a Westerner in Saudi Arabia). Just in the past week, four violent attacks against Westerners left three dead. This report lists the recent attacks, highlighting modus operandi and trends, and then lists some guidelines for personal security based on recent Consular Affairs Travel Warnings and Warden Messages. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (33 Kb)


		OSAC Information Sharing Survey Analysis (18 May 2004) This report focuses on ways to fulfill the need for an the sharing of information regime between the American public and private sectors, looking at the needs of both parties as well as current practices. The proposed regime looks to fulfill the current and growing information needs of both the public and private sectors, with the goal of implementing a system that is both more accessible and more informative than that currently in place. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (33 Kb)


		OSAC Activity Report: April 2004 (12 May 2004) The Research and Information Support Center (RISC) reported 278 consultations for the month of April, 26% above the current running 12-month RISC average. April also marked RISC’s fourth consecutive month registering more than 250 constituent consultations. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (33 Kb)


		Terrorists’ Tactics – The Shift to Softer Targets Continues (7 May 2004) In nearly a year since OSAC last addressed a noticeable shift by terrorists in the direction of softer targets, nearly all the major terrorist attacks that have taken place were directed at facilities we would characterize as relatively soft. As we consider the recent series of attacks on soft targets and attempt to anticipate where terrorists might strike next, we are concerned that a number of our constituents may fall into the category of soft targets. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (27 Kb)


		OSAC Activity Report: March 2004 (7 May 2004) The Research and Information Support Center (RISC) reported 418 consultations for the month of March, an amazing 49% increase in activity from February. For the third consecutive month RISC reports a record high in constituent consultations. Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (28 Kb)


		Iraq Kidnapping Report (16 April 2004) OSAC is closely monitoring the recent kidnappings of private citizens working and residing in Iraq. Although too early to identify specific trends, it is clear that some Iraqi insurgents are using... Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (147 Kb)


		Sri Lankan Elections: Where to From Here? (7 April 2004) Sri Lanka's parliamentary elections last week raised more questions than they answered. After two and a half years of cohabitation, the President called these early elections to... Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (191 Kb)


		Madrid Bombing (12 March 2004) On 11 March 2004, 10 explosive devices were detonated between 0730 and 0745 local time at three train stations in Madrid, Spain killing 199 people and wounding more than 1,450 other commuters. The first explosives, a total of three, detonated at 0739 on a commuter train that had already arrived at the Madrid Atocha Train station... Click here to find out more. MS Power Point (1179 Kb)


		Automated Teller Machine Scams (5 March 2004) The Overseas Security Advisory Council, courtesy of the Regional Security Office in London, would like to take this opportunity to review the various methods criminals are using at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Click here to find out more. Adobe Acrobat (1002 Kb)


		Missionary Attacks in Europe (17 February 2004) OSAC notes that there have been a significant number of incidents against representatives of religious organizations within the past two months in Europe. Out of the incidents reported, there were attacks of intimidation, physical assault, sexual assault, and vandalism. Click here to find out. Adobe Acrobat (139 Kb)


		RISC 2003 Activity Summary (4 February 2004) RISC reported 2161 consulatations with constituent organizations and 217 threats (both actual incidents and potential threats) to American interests abroad in 2003. Click here to find out. Adobe Acrobat (227 Kb)


		Increase in violence toward missionaries (22 January 2004) Since the beginning of the holiday season OSAC has been monitoring an increase in violence directed toward representatives of religious organizations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa. Click here to find out. Adobe Acrobat (105 Kb)


		Snapshot of Business and Legal Challenges in Russia. (29 August 2003) American companies have come to face obstacles when entering into business in Russia, especially where legalities are concerned. The following provides a synopsis of the current situation and some general tips. Click here to find out. Adobe Acrobat (124 Kb)

Nov	DEC	Jan
	12
2003	2004	2005