World events & Geopolitics press review of week 02

1. World events & Geopolitics press review of week 02 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM

2. Some news of the Week 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM • Security concerns in the US • Body Scanners in many airports • The bug of the bank cards • Bernard Kouchner visits Africa • Automotive : Detroit

3. 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Security concerns in the US OBAMA GETS ANGRY

4. 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Security concerns in the US Flashback : December 25th, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab intending to attack the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit

5. NY Daily News, january 1st « Delta CEO says don't blame attack on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 - blame the feds » « The airline has complied with every government security rule since 9/11 to keep passengers safe.» 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Security concerns in the US

6. State Department failed to confirm terror suspect's visa CNN, 08/01 STORY HIGHLIGHTS State Department says it was unaware terror suspect had visa before attempted bombing. Terrorist’s father warned on November 19th Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab's misspelled name led to visa snafu. AbdulMutallab never made it to a no-fly list, says State Department  « US Official failed to connect the dots » 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Security concerns in the US

7. Obama needs to avoid Bush's Katrina error and fire someone now for airline terror debacle NYDN 01/08 « Yet not a single head has rolled. Not one midlevel bureaucrat. No a deputy secretary of antyhing » « Someday soon, Obama has to show the same cold willingness to kick people to the curb he exhibited when he campaigned for President. […] Now, the stakes are higher. He doesn't just have a campaign to win. He has a nation to protect. » 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Security concerns in the US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Deputy National Security Adviser John

8. 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Security concerns in the US PresidentObama must recognize the very real threat of terrorism(The Bluefield Daily Telegraph (01/11) How far down the followinglist do you have to readbeforeyourealizethat a terroristattack has been attempted? A passenger on a flight into Detroit triedunsuccessfully to blow up the plane witha bomb in hisunderwear The passengerboughthisone-way ticket to the U.S. in Amsterdam with cash, and hadno luggage Hisfatherhadcontactedauthorities to warnthemthathebelievedhis son wasdangerous He is a youngNigerianMuslim

9. Abdulmutallab pleads not guilty in Plane Attack (The Business Week 08/01) Barack Obama’s orders to federal agencies : to set clearer lines of responsibility for following up on leads on terrorist threats, to streamline criteria for adding names to watch lists to tighten airport security measures. 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Security concerns in the US

10. Body Scanners in many airports 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Sources : Le Figaro, Euronews, 20Minutes, Swissinfo • Allow to see under passengers clothes • Raises many questions • Security question, violation of privacy • Health question : radiations • Cost question : 150 000 € each

11. Body Scanners in many airports 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Sources : Le Figaro, Euronews, 20Minutes, Swissinfo • Already used in many countries • Netherlands / United Kingdom : tested over the past year • Italy / Germany / Switzerland : favorable • United States : 150 in 2010 • France : first scanners in Roissy • Benjamin Franklin (1775) : • Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

12. The bug of the bank cards Sources : Le NouvelObs, Le Monde, L’Express, Tagesspiegel, Handelsblatt, Boursier.com 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM • Bug of the 2000’ delayed • 30 million of cards over 119 million affected • Become mute during the transition in 2010 • No way to withdraw money • No way to pay by Credit Card • Failure comes from a faulty software : Gemalto • Solution : • update all the distributors • “System D”

13. Bernard Kouchner visits Africa 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM • Rwanda : improvement of diplomatic relations between France and Rwanda (stoped in 2006 after the parution of 9 warrants against Rwanda’s rulers). • Democratic Republic of Congo : discussion about the regional crisis, UN forces, but also global warming and forest protection • Burkina Faso • Togo • Guinée • Côté d’Ivoire (electory issues) The French Foreign Affairs Ministry did a 3-days trip in Africa.

14. Automotive : Detroit 2010 (1/2) 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Source : Les Echos « Detroit 2010 : Hopes of manufacturers » Situation : - Crisis : in 2009 sales fell of 21 % -US market is now lead by Asian Manufacturers due to the dramatic situation of GM and Chrysler In Detroit 2010 : only 100 % electric cars are really welcomed (no concept cars…) • Some manufacturers have been gathered in the « Electrical Avenue » of the saloon since they do not have enough money • « Center for Automotive Research » anticipate the sales of 2010 around 12,4 million cars in the US

15. Automotive : Detroit 2010 (2/2) 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM Source : The New York Times • “The internal-combustion engine seemed almost passé.” • This year : really open to electric • Thomas Weber (the head of R&D at Mercedes-Benz) : “Green technologies are the master key to the future of the automobile” • BUT : “The idea that people are going to immediately accept electric vehicles when hybrids are such a small part of the market is sort of dangerous” said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst of the research firm IHS Global Insight. Real Issue : find the good combination between the necessity of producing green energies and convincing the market with those new technologies.

16. Thank You For your attention ! Question ? 13/01/10 THE CEDAR TEAM