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OPSEC, Islamic literalism presentations

  • Published
  • By Kurt Tempel and Herb Henderson
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Wing Plans
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Operations Security Threat Awareness Training will be conducted by Ray Semko at the base theater May 19 from 7:30 to 9:45 a.m.

Semko is a security educator and a professional public speaker who is nationally known for his popular and motivating security awareness briefings he's been providing to American audiences for more than 20 years. Semko has more than 40 years of valuable security and counterintelligence experience through his years of government service in the military and intelligence community, primarily as a counterintelligence special agent.

Anyone who wishes to increase their security awareness of threats from: espionage and the recruitment of spies, economic espionage from competitors or foreign countries, terrorism and domestic threats to homeland security, hackers and cyber warfare from other countries and the disgruntled trusted insider is encouraged to attend.

His rapid-fire, no-nonsense approach focuses on the message: "Americans need to be constantly vigilant and responsible for their own protection."

Following the first briefing, from 10 a.m. to noon, Joseph Butta will provide a discussion on Islamic Literalism. It places the subject matter, unfamiliar to most westerners, in chronological sequence and historical context. His presentation exposes listeners to the Qur'an, and to the traditions of Muhammad, as they occurred in the 6th and 7th centuries. His presentation provides analysis from both an Islamic literalist and a Western perspective. It aims to give the listener an awareness of the ideology and behavior of 7th century Muslims and to help provide insight into contemporary Islamic literalism and its implications for the Western world.

Butta specializes in issues related to the Middle East including the three great monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, that originated in the region. Butta is an independent analyst, author and instructor.