January 3, 2007—Increased political radicalism, rising crime and corruption, pirating of intellectual property and military conflict were among the top security challenges US businesses and organizations operating globally faced in 2006, according to year-end analysis by the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
“2006 was a defining year for the American private sector abroad,” said Doug Allison, a special agent with the Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security and executive director of OSAC, in a prepared statement. “The threats from traditional sources — such as crime, terrorism and political instability, as well as from non-traditional, non-routine sources — such as acts of nature and potential global pandemics, have demonstrated that firms must incorporate security and risk management into their core business operations if they are to overcome these threats.”
Over the past year, OSAC analysts recognized an increase in political radicalism throughout Europe, fueled by Islamist extremism, and neo-Nazi-related and other right-wing and nationalist movements.
In Africa, analysis showed increased challenges to US businesses due to corruption at ports, product counterfeiting, theft and violent crime against employees. And in the Middle East, the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon led to an unforeseen evacuation of thousands of US citizens and significant consequences for US organizations and firms operating there, as well as in neighboring countries.
For more information, see the OSAC Web site.
