What Is The Balance Between Privacy And Security?

"There is no such thing as perfect security, only varying levels of insecurity." - Salman Rushdie

Congress Debating The PATRIOT Act

This week, we tackle the never-ending debate between security and privacy.  Is there a balance which can be struck between the two?

When major leaks of classified American intelligence documents and programs were published in 2012, many people began to question the ways in which the United States gathers and stores personal information used in the fight for American security.  Since then, this debate over security and privacy has lapsed somewhat.  Discussions still surface occasionally in films like The Fifth Estate and a recent interview between John Oliver and Snowden.  However, many people can't remember some of the most important details of these events.  Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden... It may be tough to sort out who all did what in terms of leaking classified information.  Though all three are guilty of releasing classified information to the public, they have done so in different manners and with differing degrees of severity.  So here is some background into each of these individuals, how they released the data, and what has become of them.

Julian Assange, Co-Founder Of Wikileaks

First, let's examine the case of Julian Assange and Wikileaks.  An Australian journalist, Assange helped found the website Wikileaks, which hosts a wide variety of documents provided by whistle-blowers and activists looking to expose otherwise hidden (and sometimes nefarious) information. After the release of hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents, Assange drew the attention of American officials and sought refuge in the embassy of Ecuador in London (Ecuador granted him asylum in their embassy).  He remains there today, still running Wikileaks and publishing articles on information sharing and transparent governance. 

Chelsea (formerly Bradley) Manning, was a solider in the United States Army and worked as an intelligence analyst.  In 2010, she stole hundreds of thousands of electronic documents from the military and provided them to Wikileaks.  Many of these documents contained information about sensitive diplomatic communications.  This seems benign at first, but the resulting backlash damaged U.S. relations with several countries (especially Germany).  Secrets are critical for maintaining healthy relationships because countries basically need to lie to each other.  This sort of leak can seriously harm relationships, just like having every bad thing you ever said about someone released to the Internet.  The documents also revealed information about sensitive missions in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as a controversial report on an airstrike in Baghdad (a lot of civilians were killed in this airstrike).  Unfortunately, sketchy things and serious mistakes happen all the time in the fog of war.  While it is important for citizens to be informed of the actions of its military (within reason),  these leaks were done en masse and without removing information such as agent cover identities (potentially harming local informants or U.S. collaborators in the region). 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Who Didn't Like Finding Out Her Phones Were Bugged

No to be confused with Manning and Assange, Edward Snowden's leak of information has taken on a slightly different tone.  As a contractor for the National Security Agency, he worked with some of the agency's most advanced data gathering tools and programs, many of which were used to gather information on U.S. citizens (the most well known being a program called PRISM).  In contrast to Manning and Assange, Snowden has been much more calculated in his release of information, instructing a team of professional journalists to remove any information which could compromise specific people, operational locations, or programs targeting known terrorist organizations.

So far, the information released has mostly been the basic details about what the programs are and what they do.  The revelations show that a large amount of the data collected has had little to do with directly fighting threats to national security (due to the way most programs automatically intercept and archive data).  Instead, most of it ends up sitting in large data storage facilities such as the one which recently completed in Utah.  However, this isn't surprising given the sheer size of the data collected.  The revelation of this information has likely forced the Intelligence Community to re-evaluate some of its information gathering methods.  However, even this more measured release of data is not without risks to U.S. security and intelligence gathering methods.

Snowden, Now Living In Exile In Russia

Currently, Snowden is in self-imposed exile in Russia, but the U.S. government has been trying to bring him back into the country to face trial.  Many countries allow for extraordinary rendition, the (semi-legal) process of moving someone across international borders to face trial.  However, Russia is one such country that won't allow this for the United States (partially due to the strained relations between the two).  For now, Snowden's future is uncertain, as are the impacts of his revelations.

So what does it all mean?  There will always be some trade off between security and freedom.  For now, the data collected has been used for relatively benign purposes.  The NSA doesn't care about what you posted on Facebook last night or that drunk text you sent to you ex.  When the target of these measures is radical terrorists seeking to kill innocent people, it isn't so bad.  Most people who collect and handle this data truly are fighting to make the country safer and are not at all concerned with your personal data.  Still, privacy advocates have legitimate concerns about how much data is too much.  And the potential for problems can arise if the definition of an enemy changes to something a little broader than radical terrorists.  Without proper oversight, there is always the potential for abuse in the system.

The NSA Headquarters

In all, the data collection programs, the PATRIOT Act, and all the other security measures authorized in the wake of 9-11 were probably issued with the best intentions in mind.  It is easy to question the value of programs like these in the relative safety of a post-"post-9-11" America, but it is even more critical to evaluate them in times of crisis.  Whether or not you agree that these data collection and intelligence programs are necessary, they have clearly had an impact on the dialogue of security vs privacy in recent years.  The release of classified information always presents risks to national security and can impede the ability of government officials to do their jobs.  But since the information is now out there, we may as well utilize the opportunity to evaluate some of America's security measures to ensure we strike the best possible balance between safety and privacy.

TL;DR: Sometimes trading privacy for security is necessary, sometimes it isn't.  But we can't make this distinction without first informing ourselves.

Dying For A Better Life In Europe

“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.”- Franklin D. Roosevelt

This Is Becoming Increasingly Common In The Mediterranean

One of the greatest challenges facing the Middle East and Africa today is that of immigration.  Every year, tens of thousands of migrants and refugees leave their home countries to pursue opportunities elsewhere.  In many cases, their final destination is Europe and the United States.  On Saturday morning, over 800 of these journeys ended in tragedy as a boat carrying migrants to Italy capsized in the Mediterranean.  So far, less than thirty of the passengers are confirmed to have survived.  Sadly, these occurrences are becoming commonplace in the region, as nearly 2,000 people have died at sea so far this year alone while attempting the crossing.  

Why are so many people risking so much to get into Europe?  Safer routes such as air travel or entering via land routes are much more difficult with travel restrictions imposed on immigrants attempting to enter the countries of the European Union.  Traveling by boat across the sea isn't the only option, but it is often the cheapest. Smugglers will charge anyway from $1,000 to $15,000 per person to ferry people across the sea to Europe.  Aboard these boats, people are crammed into tight quarters and sometimes even locked in cages.  It is a harsh and brutal journey, but it is nothing compared to the tragedies experienced in their home countries.

So what are people fleeing from?  In Libya, there has been almost no functioning government since the outbreak of civil war in 2014.  Though a transitional government managed to mostly keep the peace following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has now essentially split in two.  As such, military forces are far more concerned with killing each other than with patrolling the borders.  A substantial portion of these migrants are also fleeing from war ravaged Syria and Iraq.  Often, anyone who stays in their home town in these regions is forced to choose between supporting rival military factions or ISIS.  Instead, many choose to strike out on their own rather than get caught up in the cycle of destruction which has plagued the region.  This year alone, nearly 9,000 Syrians have already arrived in Europe.  Still others are traveling from all across the Middle East and Africa from countries such as Eritrea, Somalia, and Afghanistan.  In the chaos of its civil war, Libya is one of the easiest routes into Europe.  Migrants often end up flying to countries like Algeria, crossing the border into Libya, and then boarding a ship to carry them from Libya across the sea. 

The Current Status Of Libya

Even if the migrants reach the shores of Europe, their struggle is still far from over.  Backlash against immigration is strong in many parts of Europe.  In January, thousands of Germans attended an anti-immigration rally in Dresden, voicing strong anti-Muslim sentiments in the process.  France has also used its laws enforcing secular government to ban some Islamic clothing such as the burqa.  This isn't to say that everyone in Europe is hostile to immigrants, but their voice is often the loudest.  In addition to meeting an increasingly hostile society, immigrants have to fight for increasingly competitive jobs, housing, and access to government programs. 

These problems are not unlike those facing migrants to the United States.  One of the biggest concerns is that immigrants will take low paying jobs away from citizens and will contribute to rising unemployment rates (at least in Europe).  Also of concern is the possibility of extremists from the Middle East entering Europe via these illegal means.  Without meaningful regulation or oversight of this immigration, it is difficult to tell extremists looking to cause terror from refugees just trying to survive. Still, this shouldn't let us condemn all immigrants looking to find a better life.

Main Migration Routes In Africa And The Middle East

So what are the solutions to this impending immigration problem?  One possibility would be for European nations to greatly ease immigration restrictions and take a more active role to make the crossing much less dangerous.  If there is one way most people can help the oncoming immigrant population, it is through supporting these programs which are designed to provide the basic necessities of life to those who brave the difficult journey.  Some may call it amnesty, I call it basic humanity.

However, this is just a short term solution to a very long term problem.  Addressing the root causes of the region's security issues is probably the most effective, but also the most difficult solution. Stabilizing the countries with the highest immigration rates and increasing the standard of living is the only true long term solution for this problem.  A great example of this is Tunisia.  Immediately following the Arab Spring revolution in 2011, which saw the overthrow of former President Ben Ali, immigration to Europe from Tunisia quickly soared.  Now that the country is much more stable following its elections last year, this tide of illegal immigration has dropped off significantly. 

The Death Toll Continues To Rise Year After Year From This Crisis

In all, the people who are trying to migrate to Europe are simply looking for a better life and an escape from the difficulty of life in their home country.  They, like many who leave their homes for the promise of a better life, are risking death on these journeys every day.  America (and Europe to some extent) has always hailed itself as the land of freedom and the promise of a better life for those seeking it.  Perhaps it is time to start translating these words into actions.  Rescuing and providing assistance to those who make the journey is a noble solution to the immediate problems of immigration.  But only by investing in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in the Middle East and Africa can we hope to prevent people from wanting to escape the region in the first place.
 

TL;DR: Everyone wants to make their lives better.  You would probably risk your life to escape these conditions too.

Chechnya and the Boston Marathon Connection

This week's post comes from friend and colleague Chris Facer, who was just accepted into the graduate program in history at the University of Washington.  His specialization is Middle East History, with an emphasis in the Turkish language and Ottoman Legacies. 


When several homemade bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon two years ago, the devastation left three people dead and over 200 injured.  The subsequent manhunt and firefight left a police officer dead as well as Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of two brothers who carried out the attacks.  April 15th marks the two year anniversary of the start of these tragic events.  Just this week, a jury found the surviving brother Dzhokhar guilty of 30 criminal counts, many of which carry the possibility of the death penalty.  It seems that many Americans, and many people all around the world, are still confused as to why two Chechen brothers (Dzhokhar and Tamerlan) committed such a heinous crime.  Much emphasis has been placed on the fact that these men were of Chechen decent.  So why is this fact so important?  This is a crash course into Chechnya and its relation the Boston Marathon Bombing.  First, let's figure out where Chechnya is...

I’ll Give You A Hint Its Right Here ^^^

The majority population of Chechnya follows Sunni Islam, with most people following a particular school of Islamic thought known as the Shafi’i tradition. This school of Islamic thought is a very logical formulation of religious thought, which states that rules and religious laws must be founded on precedence of the Prophet Muhammad’s example, or those close to him.  The population of Chechnya and most of the greater North Caucasus converted to Islam during the 16^th-19^th centuries, believed by most historians as a combative measure against Russian imperialism during this time. Resistance movements in Chechnya and the greater North Caucasus are not a new attraction, quite to the contrary they have been steadily been going on since Ivan the Terrible attempted conquest of the region in the 1500’s.

However, increased encroachment into the region by Peter I in the Russo-Persian war (1722-1723) truly put the majority of this region in the hands of the Russian Empire. This reality constantly put Chechen culture (and the Caucasus cultures) under the scrutiny of the Russian Empire, leaving many people trying to undermine the imperialistic forces in their backyards. A constant cycle of undermining and revolt plagued much of this region into modern times. In more recent history, two important events have highlighted the oppression of the region; the deportation of many Chechen and Ingush populations after the Second World War, and the Chechen Wars that occurred in 1994-2009.

Quick Facts On Three Of Russia's Most Unstable Republics

After the Soviet victory over the Nazis, many Chechen and Ingush (another group of Caucasian people who live in and around Chechnya) people were deported to modern day Kazakhstan. Some estimates have been projected to just over 495,000 people forcefully deported to a foreign land under Soviet control.  This is exemplified by the fact that by 1944, over 60% of the populations of Chechen and Ingush people had perished during the war. To make matters words, even Soviet war heroes who had fought on the front lines against Nazi Germany ended up being deported.  This deportation has been classified as an act of genocide by the European parliament in 2004, emphasizing the atrocious circumstances placed on the people.


The reality of Chechnya by 1990 was a non-sovereign state under Soviet control.  However, the Chechens saw a window of opportunity as the world witnessed the impending collapse of the Soviet Union.  As the USSR began to lose strength in the region, many Chechen rebel movements gained strength and pushed against the Soviets, leading to years of conflict in the form of two wars.  The First Chechen War occurred in 1994-1996 and saw Chechnya become a more autonomous Russian Republic.  This war was not without its share of tragedies.  Many of the moderate Chechen leaders were assassinated by the Russian government under Boris Yeltsin. This is emphasized by American journalist Eric Margolis, who claims that in the assassination of moderate Chechen president Dzhokhar Dudayev, “All the moderate Chechen leaders were assassinated, leaving only a handful of extreme militants.” He continues by underscoring the fact that the technology used to kill Dudayev was developed and sold to Russia by the United States, even going so far as to say that the U.S. largely financed Russia for this war.  So now we have a country with an infrastructure in ruins, no remaining moderate political leaders, an economy that is rapidly recessing, growing militant Islamic factions, and encroaching Russian forces. These factors lead to the second Chechen war, less than five years since the end of the first war.

Abdallah Shamil, A Famous Chechen Islamist Commander Who Fought In Both Chechen Wars

The Second Chechen War had a distinctly Islamic flavor to it. In the Second Chechen War, the narrative is one of a religious call to "jihad” against opposition forces from both outside and inside the country. The Chechen people saw the rise of such Chechen Islamist militants as Abdallah Shamil, Doko Umarov, and Sheikh Abdul Halim Sadulaye. These leaders rose to positions of political power, calling for a unified Jihad on varying levels from within Chechnya, the North Caucasus, and even the entire world. These different flavors of extremist Islamic views combined into a figurehead government in the creation of the Caucasus Emirate, a Jihadist group that seeks to create an emirate in the Caucasus with six separate state divisions within. At the same time, the Chechen people witnessed Russia returning to claim control over the country in the ascension of the pro-Russian Akhmad Kadyrov as president of Chechnya. Akhmad was killed in 2004 by Chechen Islamists; currently Ramzan Kadyrov, the son Akhmad, is now the head of the Chechen Republic.

Putin And Ramzan Kadyrov, Seen By Many As The Puppet Leader Of Chechnya

 
Now that we have ventured into the setting and history of Chechnya, what does it all mean for the Boston Marathon Bombing?  The Tsarnaev family has been caught up in the historical turmoil of Chechnya for years. The Washington Post reported that the brothers were raised for a large part of their lives in Kyrgyzstan, where their family ended up during the Chechen Diaspora. They moved to the republic of Dagestan, which is next door to Chechnya, for a year before they were able to move to the United States as refugees with their immediate family.

In the United States, it has been reported through various news outlets that the brothers were very normal and fit in to U.S. society quite easily. However, Tamerlan became very discontent with his situation, and even more so the situation of Chechnya. He slowly became attracted towards radicalized political Islam, and in 2012 made a trip to Dagestan to meet his distant cousin. There, his cousin Magomed Kartashov encouraged his further radicalization. In 2012, he returned to the United States, and many family members said his attitude had changed dramatically.  Many of his statements now had strong religious undertones to them. His more extremist points of view can be highlighted by his regular disruptions of sermons at his local mosque which preached violent action. This behavior was repeated until the day of the bombings.

It should go without saying that such an act should be condemned and warrants no place in the 21^st century, but one can see the proverbial dominoes in a row of how these brothers were enticed by the path of violence in what they saw as a justified cause. Coming from a family whose lives were so disrupted,  and displaced with no perceived outlet for their anguish, extreme measures could be seen as a means to push back and feel empowered again.  When asked what provoked his nephews to commit these acts, the uncle of the two brothers replied, “Being losers — hated to those who were able to settle themselves. We are Muslim. We are ethnic Chechens. Somebody radicalized them…”

A Scene From The Boston Marathon Bombing

Perhaps this speaks to the story of Chechens, who were and still are caught in the cycle of violence, repression, extremism, and disillusionment.  The story of Chechnya has a similar ring throughout the North Caucasus, as does the story of the Tsarnaev brothers. When a people are pushed down so harshly for such a long time, harsh resistance in return is not uncommon.  Such resistance can be propagated through many different outlets. It just so happens that in this case, people have used Islam in this region to do so.  The history of Russian occupation has pushed many people towards jihadist methods to defend their homeland and has been a primary factor which makes the North Caucasus such a volatile region today.

What's next for Dzhokhar?  His trial now moves into the sentencing phase, where the jury decides the punishment which will be given for his thirty guilty charges.  Throughout the case, Dzhokhar's lawyer has been focusing almost exclusively on keeping him off of death row, opting instead for life without parole.  He pleaded guilty right away, and has since spent the majority of the trial being portrayed as merely a young follower of his brother's heinous plan.  Though many would say he deserves death for his actions, his execution would only serve to make Dzhokhar a martyr.  The financial, moral, and logistic issues of the death penalty aside, killing Dzhokhar would play to the arguments of terrorist recruiters, and would provide no opportunity for Dzhokhar to renounce his militancy later in life.  Now, the fate of his life, and the memory of the Boston Marathon Bombings, rests once more in the hands of twelve innocent Americans.  A courtesy not afforded to those slain by the Tsarnaev brothers.

TL;DR: Chechnya and the North Caucasus have been under constant pressure and occupation for over three centuries, leading some people to use Islam as a violent outlet against the occupation of their homeland

Sources:
 Peter Finn, Carol D. Leonnig and Will Englund. Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Were Refugees From Brutal Chechen Conflict. Washington Post. April 19, 2013.

Remembering Stalin's Deportations. BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3509933.stm  February 23 2004. 

Eric Margolis. Stalin’s Crimes Haunt The Sochi Games. EricMargolis.com. February 1, 2014. 

Simon Shuster.  Dagestani Relative of Tamerlan Tsarnaev Is a Prominent Islamist. Time. May 08, 2013.

Justin Worland.  Everything You Should Know About the Boston Marathon Bombing Trial.Time. January 5, 2015.