Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Ouda Shudeifat, media and cultural advisor, General Command, Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army News flows in from far and wide, accompanied by analysis, commentary, communication and dialogue. Based on the convictions, opinions and objectives of the media outlet or guest, programs can strike an accusatory, defensive or neutral pose on issues of the day. On many broadcasts, the features, emotions and modes of expression shift; patience wears thin and voices rise, perhaps even to the point of shouting and swearing, until the viewer gets confused. It is often difficult to come away from this melange of opinions with something…
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DR. HUSSEIN Allawi, ADVISOR TO THE IRAQI PRIME MINISTER ON SECURITY SECTOR REFORM Cybersecurity is a strategic priority for the government of Iraq. Iraq has established a cyber incident response team (CERT), activated a cybersecurity policy and crafted an electronics crime law extensively debated in the Iraqi parliament. The main task of the CERT is to combat cyber-attacks in all ministries, work with security and intelligence agencies to monitor hackers and terrorist groups, and pursue organized cybercrime gangs. These precautions are necessary in contemporary societies such as Iraq’s that rely increasingly on the internet to transfer money and conduct the…
SALTANAT BERDIKEEVA More than 85% of Kazakhstan’s population uses the internet, the highest rate in Central Asia. Major areas of the country’s economy and the government have become fully digitized. In 2018, the Kazakh government launched the Digital Kazakhstan program, which has encouraged government agencies and businesses to shift from brick and mortar to online access for more efficient customer service. But with Kazakhstan’s massive transition to digital economy, cybersecurity has grown more urgent, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that forced many people to work and study remotely. This has inspired Kazakh authorities to advance serious measures…
UNIPATH STAFF With the rapid development of the internet and mobile phones, technology has become a necessity in people’s daily lives. These technologies have improved all sectors of society, including education, medicine, engineering, security and economics. However, organized criminal gangs and terrorists have exploited these technologies, leading countries to form cybersecurity teams to protect networks from cyberattacks. Unipath magazine met Staff Maj. Gen. Raad Shakir al-Kanani, director of the Military Communications Directorate in the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, to discuss the tasks and accomplishments of the ministry’s cybersecurity team. Unipath: What steps has your directorate taken to secure Iraq against…
DR. AHMAD AWAD BIN MUBARAK, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, YEMEN The war in Yemen has surpassed its seventh year since the Houthi militia launched it against the Yemeni people following the coup against legitimate authority. This war is dangerous not only because the Houthi militia is trying to seize power, but it is also seeking to change the nature of Yemeni society, to derail its future and that of the region by recruiting children on a large scale and indoctrinating young people to incite violence, perpetrate conflict and spread hatred between inhabitants of the same country. In addition, the Houthis…
UNIPATH STAFF Concerned about cyberattacks on computer networks, Pakistan’s federal Cabinet approved the country’s first National Cyber Security Policy in July 2021. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication wrote the policy to protect the nation’s digital assets from cybercriminals and potential geopolitical rivals. Pakistan breaks the policy into a series of overlapping categories — legal, technical and organizational — to improve what the country’s information minister deemed an inadequate protection of devices connected to the internet. More than 65 million Pakistanis have internet service, and the country, like many around the world, is moving business and governmental services online.…
ISSAM ABBAS AMIN, Intelligence AND Security DIRECTORATE, IRAQI MINISTRY OF DEFENSE The intelligence community suffers under the weight of unrealistic expectations about preventing unforeseen events, especially those that target state sovereignty or internal security. An example of this was the two drone attacks on the Iraqi prime minister’s home on November 7, 2021. By its very nature, intelligence failure always raises questions about the competency of intelligence services and their working methods to prevent any security breach. The dilemma of intelligence is that it is constantly open to criticism. Even well-regarded intelligence services such as those of the United…
UNIPATH STAFF Unipath: Describe the duties of the Royal Jordanian Navy Col. Al-Jarrah: The Royal Navy is one of the Jordan Armed Forces’ three branches (land, air and sea) and complements the national defense system by playing a dual role — the military role of the Navy and the organizational and security role of the Coast Guard. It is considered the main maritime force and is primarily responsible for Jordanian maritime security, a mission it conducts through a number of duties. These include patrols to protect and guard Jordanian maritime borders to prevent infiltration and smuggling, naval inspections conducted by…
Unipath interviewed Brig. Gen. Ali Qanso, chief spokesman of the Lebanese Armed Forces. He described how the Lebanese military combats threats to its computer networks that could affect national security. Unipath: Cybersecurity has become an integral part of any state’s national security. What cyber threats does Lebanon face? Brig. Gen. Qanso: Lebanon is exposed to cyber threats from numerous actors, all of whom seek to breach our online systems, spy on communications and steal information. There are terrorist organizations that breach accounts to propagate extremist ideology among young people, with the aim of recruiting them, as well as the risk…
UNIPATH STAFF | Photos by Combined Task Force 151 The Maritime Security Center, made up of Omani military, security and civilian agencies, keeps territorial waters safe and stable. The center at Al-Murtafaa Garrison gets reports from those agencies and coordinates with the relevant authorities. Its specialized systems and equipment protect Omani waters 24 hours a day. As part of its duties, the center: Unifies efforts between the maritime security authorities. Provides the necessary capabilities and assets in terms of equipment, devices, reconnaissance aircraft, ships and boats. Develops procedures and plans to counter illegal activities and organized crime at ports, facilities…