Speaker and Meeting Recap:
Our speaker this month was Joan Neuhaus Schaan, Texas Security Forum, Fellow for Homeland Security & Terrorism Programs, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University. She spoke on the topic of why terrorists would be attracted to Houston.
What makes Houston a great entrepreneurial city also makes it an ideal operating environment for organized crime and terrorists. From an illegal activity perspective, the nature of the city provides anonymity, ease of entry and exit, readily available resources and robust commercial trade in which to mask other activities. To these characteristics, one can add southern hospitality and a multitude of ethnic groups that make it easy to remain anonymous and blend in.