Canadian Forces LOOSES CLASSIFIED INFORMATION identifying 500 intelligence and security personnel

CALGARY, Alberta - Oct. 9, 2013 - PRLog -- 9 October 2013, Wednesday – Calgary, Canada – A classified document has been missing since 2009 containing the identities of 500 actively serving and former intelligence and high risk personnel at Interpol, Europol, the US Department of Homeland Security, US Secret Service, military, immigration, customs, prosecution, security and law enforcement from 42 countries.

Summary

The admission was made by Peter McKay, the Ministers of National Defence on the 14 May 2013 during a direct request to his office and confirmed on 8 October 2013 in correspondence from the Canadian Forces ATIP office.

At this time it is uncertain if any personnel have been injured or killed as a direct result of the missing classified information. However an external investigation in now being undertaken to verify if the information affected any of the 500 personnel.

The document contained the identities of actively serving and former intelligence and high risk personnel at Interpol, Europol, the US Department of Homeland Security, US Secret Service, military, immigration, customs, prosecution, security and law enforcement from 42 countries working within a network to coordinate and counter terrorist and organized criminal activity around the globe.

The information was contained in a classified document from Glen Gieschen, a former Security Director of a global intelligence agency, who jointed the CF in 2008 and was working at CFB Borden at the time of the incident. The document was delivered to a Captain and Warrant Officer who advised it would be delivered to the Canadian Forces School of Military Intelligence (CFSMI) the following day. According to CFSMI, their is no record of the document, its transportation and delivery.

According to Mr. Glen Gieschen, “This is the worst case scenario for classified information as it is unknown whether it was stolen, lost or inadvertently destroyed. Anytime the identities of special operations personnel are disclosed you have a potential for serious injury or death to occur. Many of these personnel planned and conducted dangerous operations in areas such as the Tri-border region of South America to apprehend and disrupt terrorist and organized criminal activities around the globe. They take extraordinary precautions to protect their identities and operations. The Canadian Forces requested this information for evaluation purposes. I am very concerned that the CF is not taking this matter seriously as it has not initiated an internal investigation or ruled out the possibility it was stolen. This situation has placed many of my former colleagues at unnecessary risk. Although this is the most serious breach of operational security protocols I have witnessed while serving in the CF, there have been multiple occasions where protected information was lost or intentionally disclosed by senior ranking personnel.”

All federal government departments are required to follow special procedures which safeguard and protect information. This is accomplished through tracking and documentation procedures verifying the handling, storage, transportation and destruction of classified information in accordance with the Security of Information Act, Operational Security Standards on Physical Security, and Industrial Security Manual.

A request to investigate this situation has been sent to the Minister of National Defence. To date, the Ministers's department has not acknowledged receipt of the complaint or verified an internal investigation will be conducted.

For more information:

Glen Gieschen
Intelligence Officer (Retired G2, Head of Military Intelligence, 41 CBG)
Phone: 403-973-2196
Calgary, AB T0L 0X0
Email: Glen@Gieschen.com

About the Author:

Glen Gieschen is an internationally known spokesperson, intelligence specialist, and professional security consultant with 21 years of experience. Prior to joining the Canadian Forces, he was the Director of an intelligence agency between 2004 and 2008. Mr. Gieschen trained intelligence personnel for the Canadian Forces and retired in 2011 after serving as the head of military intelligence for the 41st Canadian Brigade Group.