Trump Assassination Attempt

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Trump Assassination Attempt: A Critical Look

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

To help us piece together and draw lessons from the attempted assassination of former President Trump, here is a concise timeline of the key events before and after shots were fired.

Security Measures Analysis

Overview of the Protection Plan in Place

The security plan for the July 13 rally involved coordination between multiple agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), local law enforcement, and tactical units. Let’s take a closer look at the plan:

Site Visits and Briefings: The USSS conducted a site visit on July 10, three days before the rally, to assess security needs.

Sniper Teams: Two local law enforcement snipers were positioned on the second floor of the American Glass Research (AGR) building, while additional sniper teams from both the Secret Service and local law enforcement were deployed around the venue.

Perimeter Security: The venue featured two security perimeters: an outer section monitored by state police and an inner perimeter overseen by the Secret Service, including an anti-sniper team.

Crowd Management: Attendees were required to pass through metal detectors to ensure no weapons were brought into the rally area.

Identification of Potential Weak Points in the Security Setup

Despite the resources available and comprehensive planning, several critical weaknesses contributed towards the security failure:

Communication Breakdown: There was a clear conflict between federal and local law enforcement agencies. For instance, it’s known that federal law enforcement did not attend the security briefing on the morning of the rally.

Unsecured Rooftops: The AGR building, from where shots were fired, was identified as a potential risk but was left unsecured. Local law enforcement had flagged the building as a concern, but due to jurisdictional ambiguities, it was left outside the secure perimeter.

Inadequate Surveillance: The shooter, Thomas Crooks, used a drone to survey the area and assess his firing position without being detected. A clear failure in counter-surveillance measures.

Delayed Response to Suspicious Activity: Crooks was spotted acting suspiciously and using a rangefinder. However, the delay in taking action allowed him to get into position and open fire.

Resource Constraints: The Secret Service claims they had a staffing shortage due to concurrent events, which may have affected the thoroughness of the security planning.

Method of Attack

How Security Was Bypassed

Did Thomas Crooks execute a meticulously planned attack, or were the security gaps so obvious it made Trump an easy target? Let’s take a closer look:

Reconnaissance: Crooks conducted extensive reconnaissance, including flying a drone near the rally site two hours before the event. This would have allowed him to identify potential vulnerabilities in the security setup.

Undetected: On the day of the rally, Crooks used a bicycle to access the venue, which he later ditched under a tree. His ability to blend into the crowd allowed him to avoid detection as a threat.

Ladder Purchase: On the morning of the attack, he purchased a ladder from Home Depot, although it remains unclear if he used it to access the rooftop.

Concealed Weapon: Crooks carried an AR-15 with a collapsible stock, making it easier to conceal. He was also equipped with a rangefinder to measure the distance to the target.

Analysis of Planning and Reconnaissance

Crooks' actions indicate a high level of premeditation and planning:

Initial Planning: Crooks began his preparations on July 6, registering for the rally and researching the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This included searches like "How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?".

Site Visits: He visited the rally site multiple times, including a visit on the morning of July 13, where he spent about 70 minutes surveying the area.

Weapon and Explosives: Crooks legally acquired the AR-15 from his father and purchased 50 rounds of ammunition. He also had two crude explosive devices in his car, suggesting he was prepared for a more extensive attack.

Drone Surveillance: The drone footage provided him with a detailed layout of the venue, including the positioning of security personnel and potential escape routes.

Critical Analysis and Lessons Learned

Response Evaluation

Much has been made of the failures of the USSS, particularly on social media, but the immediate response to the shooting demonstrated both strengths and weaknesses in the protection team's actions. Let’s take a critical look:

Rapid Reaction: The Secret Service detail's swift response to shield Trump was largely commendable, with agents quickly forming a human barrier.

Decision-Making Under Pressure: The on-site commander's decision to stay in place rather than immediately evacuate proved justified.

Counter-Sniper Effectiveness: Secret Service counter-snipers neutralized the threat quickly, showcasing the value of pre-positioning and training.

Getting Off the X: While ultimately effective, the extraction certainly wasn’t textbook. Stopping to pick up shoes and suboptimal positioning of agents during the move to the vehicle created cause for concern.

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

While we have the utmost respect for the USSS and the extensive training they undergo, we can learn a lot from the failings that contributed to this assassination attempt. Very few of us will ever have the luxury of depth of resources available to agencies such as the USSS so it’s important we’re on top of all the variables we have control of. This is by no means an exhaustive list:

Secure the Perimeter: Most Presidential assassination attempts have been conducted at close quarters or from an elevated position. As protectors, it’s our primary responsibility to protect the close-quarters zone around the principal. It’s more difficult to cover rooftops, especially with limited personnel. Therefore, it’s important to use all available resources, whether that’s through a site visit, map recce, use of technology such as drones, or liaising with external agencies.

Inter-Agency Coordination: Establish clear protocols for information sharing and joint decision-making between all stakeholders. Petty grievances and inter-agency competitiveness are negligent and cannot be tolerated.

Rehearsed SOPs: Have well-drilled procedures and protocols for addressing identified suspicious individuals before they become active threats. Ensure team cohesiveness and clarity.

Resource Management: Ensure, where possible, that you have adequate staffing for high-profile events and moves. It’s your duty to flag shortcomings that expose the safety of the principal, the public and your team.

Crowd Awareness Training: Establish clear channels for reporting suspicious activities. Leverage the eyes and ears of event attendees or passersby.

Adaptive Security Measures: Regularly update security protocols to address evolving threats and tactics used by potential assailants. Well-drilled training is important to fall back on, but all professional protectors should be able to adapt in real-time to a dynamic situation.

Technology Integration: In the commercial world, we need to compensate for our limited resources by utilizing advanced surveillance and detection technologies to enhance situational awareness and threat identification.

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CIRCUIT MAGAZINE

New Issue of the Circuit - Coming This Week!

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Uncover the evolution of executive protection from outdated "Iron Box" tactics to advanced surveillance strategies. Learn from real-world cases like the Herrhausen assassination and gain critical insights into mastering countersurveillance to protect high-profile clients from sophisticated threats. Stay ahead of potential dangers with these essential techniques!

GEOPOLITICAL ANALYSIS by RANE

In Mexico, What To Expect Following the Arrests of Two Major Drug Lords

In Mexico, the arrest of two major Sinaloa Cartel leaders will almost certainly trigger retaliatory violence nationwide against local civilians and authorities, as well as potentially U.S. targets, in the coming weeks, while the group's potential consequent fragmentation would shift the country's criminal landscape.

U.S. authorities arrested Sinaloa Cartel co-founder and leader Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as El Mayo, in El Paso, Texas, on July 25 in the culmination of a months-long joint operation between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The operation tricked El Mayo into boarding a plane that he thought would bring him to clandestine airfields in Mexico to inspect for use in drug trafficking operations, but the plane instead landed in Texas, where U.S. agents immediately arrested him.

During the operation, U.S. agents also arrested Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of the sons of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Joaquin ''El Chapo'' Guzman, who was extradited to the United States in 2017. A U.S. law enforcement official reported that Guzman Lopez was working with U.S. officials to lure El Mayo onto the plane, though this has not been officially confirmed.

A day after the operation, on July 26, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a statement commending the work of the law enforcement officials, adding his administration would continue to do ''everything [it could] to hold deadly drug traffickers to account and to save American lives.''

During a press conference on the same day, the head of Mexico's Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, reported that Mexican authorities were informed of the U.S. operation after it occurred and stated that the Mexican government did not participate in the arrests.

Read the full article >

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