The Role of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in Planning for Events of Major ImportanceAmbassador Richard J. Griffin, Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic SecurityRemarks to the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute Conference United Nations Headquarters, New York City December 7, 2006 Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to have this opportunity to discuss how the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) works to ensure security at major events, both in the United States and overseas.
Personally, I’ve been involved in security planning for major events – including G-8 conferences, NATO meetings, papal visits, and even political campaigns - for about 35 years. That’s a long time. I guess they are going to make me do it until I get it right. The key to successful security operations for major events is captured in three words:
In 1998, President Clinton signed a Presidential Decision Directive that addressed the coordination of U.S. Government resources for major events of national interest, such as gatherings of world leaders, national political conventions, and major sports events held in the United States.
Although the Presidential Directive addressed security planning for major U.S. domestic events, it quickly became clear that such events involve extensive participation by international organizations and foreign governments.
Without extensive cooperation and collaboration among security professionals from multiple nations, no country can ensure the safety of dignitaries and other participants attending major events.
It is important to remember that, even though only one country may be the host, all participating countries share responsibility for the outcome of these major events.
Following 9/11, the United States, along with most of the world’s countries, declared war on all forms of terror. In practical terms, this means that a proactive stance against terrorism has become mandatory. The foundation and driving force of our current approach to security is the prevention of violence. Catching an assassin or terrorist after the fact represents precious little success for anyone.
In the arena of major events, this pro-active – rather than re-active – stance requires a multinational, integrated approach to prevent terrorist attacks during high-profile events, including international athletic competitions and gatherings of world leaders.
It is within this pro-active context that the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security has a leadership role in working with other domestic and foreign law enforcement entities and private organizations to plan security for major overseas events, including the Olympic Games. In the past, DS has collaborated in security planning for the Olympic Games held in:
Planning for future events includes:
Regardless of where a major event is held, DS has four primary objectives:
Whether we are assessing security for the Olympic Games or any other major event overseas, DS assigns a Security Coordinator to the venue city to work closely with the host country. The U.S. ambassador sends formal notification to the host government designating the DS Security Coordinator as the lead U.S. Government liaison for security. This Security Coordinator establishes working relationships with key officials and planners, and is the point of contact for security issues impacting U.S. participants, including VIPs and corporate sponsors.
The large international scope of most major events requires that participating nations begin to plan and share knowledge, experience, and capabilities many months – sometimes even several years - prior to a major event to ensure a seamless, integrated operational plan.
Countries that host major international events can garner many long-term benefits from the planning and operations that go into ensuring security for the event.
As the International Permanent Observatory on Security during Major Events has stated:
“A high-profile event often offers both the finance and the availability of resources to expand infrastructure, introduce systems and practices, procure equipment and expertise, develop training, and expand capability. By inculcating legacy into major event planning from the start, by creating a planning culture and climate that seeks to derive longer term, tangible and meaningful benefits … by remaining objective, professional, and pragmatic throughout … overall costs can be reduced and significant, long term and sustainable benefits can be amassed.”
One of the ways that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security tries to create a legacy from security planning for major events is through its Antiterrorism Assistance program, or ATA. DS established the ATA program in 1983 to forge close cooperation with police and security forces around the globe by offering security training and other assistance. The ATA program plays a critical role in combating terrorism through cooperation and collaboration.
In 1998, ATA sponsored an International Conference on Major Event Security. This was followed in 1999 with the International Major Event Security Conference held in Sydney, Australia, which was conducted by the Australian government.
In many instances, ATA has collaborated with foreign partners in conducting security assessments and, when appropriate, has developed country-specific security training based on each country’s needs and capacities.
We have worked collaboratively with a number of partner nations to prepare for major events. These include Latvia, Brazil, Vietnam, the Caribbean Community Nations, and South Korea. Training is planned for Peru, India, South Africa and Senegal, all in preparation for major events that will occur during the next few years.
Depending on the particular circumstances and needs of the host country, this assistance and training may address:
ATA’s Major Event Security Management Workshop is a six-day seminar that helps designated partner nations assess, develop, and implement measures to detect and mitigate security threats and vulnerabilities that commonly occur during major events.
A Workshop on Protective Intelligence and Investigations, which is the gathering of information on threats against the event and the attendees, is often given in conjunction with the Major Event Security Management Workshop. This three-day seminar teaches participants methods and strategies for conducting protective intelligence and investigations for major events.
ATA also offers a third workshop on VIP Protection Management. This five-day seminar focuses on the leadership and managerial elements needed to effectively and efficiently lead and manage VIP Protective Units.
With the threats that we face today from ever-more sophisticated weapons, devices, and illicit practices, it is easy for security professionals to feel at times that they are “out-gunned” by the terrorists and other criminals. Sometimes I think that we are involved in our own form of “arms race”: one involving not nations, but individuals bent on advancing an agenda of violence. In this environment, we have no alternative but to re-evaluate and improve our own countermeasures, technologies, and practices on a continual basis. We must assume that the worst will occur – and plan meticulously so that it does not.
The Bureau of Diplomatic Security extends a helping hand to other nations to assist them with such planning and capacity building for major events. The benefits of such assistance may accrue to our partner nations in the form of a security legacy that can far outlast the major event itself.
Based on our experiences in planning for major events, DS has developed a number of “Best Practices” that are used in our collaborations with our foreign partners.
As I conclude my remarks today, I would like to share some of these best practices with you. They include:
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of repetitive, simulated crisis training through rehearsal. Remember the universal law that if something can go wrong, it will. All parties who have a role in providing security should rehearse to the point that they react instinctively and decisively, taking the appropriate action for any given scenario.
In closing, let me remind you of our shared responsibility for security, and let our legacy be, that — thanks to our outstanding communication, collaboration, and coordination — we have set the standard for excellence in international collegiality and cooperation.
Thank you for your attention this afternoon. I would be happy to respond to your questions.
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