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Michael S. Smith II

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Michael S. Smith II
Smith in 2008
NationalityAmerican
EducationBatchelor of Arts; GC, Intelligence Analysis[1]
Alma materCollege of Charleston
OccupationTerrorism analyst[2]
Years active2005-present
EmployerKronos Advisory
Political partyRepublican

Michael S. Smith II is an American counter-terrorism analyst. He is a co-founder of Kronos Advisory, a U.S.-based firm established in 2011 that is owned by James E. Livingston and Smith, and has served as an advisor to members of the United States Congress.[4] A Foreign Policy magazine report describes Kronos Advisory as “a leading open source intelligence consultancy.”[5] Foreign Policy magazine also designated him one of the "100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2016."[6] Also in 2016, Smith was ranked 14 on Fast Company magazine’s annual list of the 100 most creative people in business.[7]

According to The New York Times, Smith is authoring a book on the Islamic State Group’s external operations.[8]

Career

A January 2017 Voice of America report notes Smith is "a terrorism analyst who has consulted in the past with both the White House and members of Congress." [9] A profile of Smith published in July 2016 by Charleston’s daily newspaper, The Post and Courier, notes Smith’s work collecting and analyzing information about the Islamic State “has made him a go-to commentator on cable news and an oft-quoted source in major publications, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.”[10] (Media Coverage details below.)

Smith’s work monitoring Islamic State supporters’ activities on Twitter was covered in an April 2016 Wall Street Journal story that included excerpts of his exchanges with Islamic State propagandists on Twitter and photos of Smith in his office in Charleston, South Carolina.[11] A March 2016 report on the Islamic State’s attacks in Europe by New York Times reporter Rukmini Callimachi notes the firm “began briefing the United States government in 2013 on ISIS’ aspirations to strike in Europe.”[12]

In February 2015, Bloomberg reported Smith was collaborating with former DIA Director LtGen Michael T. Flynn, USA (Ret).[13] Concerning a meeting they held at the State Department in December 2014 with Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL General John R. Allen, USMC (Ret), Eli Lake reported that Smith explained, "We held a meeting with General Allen to discuss the strategy for countering the Islamic State and the ways it could be supported by outside advisers."[14] In May 2015, Smith, Flynn and Livingston published an oped at CNN.com, in which they criticized the Obama administration's counterterrorism policies and warned about the Islamic State's intentions to conduct terrorist operations in the West.[15]

In 2011 Smith produced a report on Iran’s ties to Al-Qaeda that was distributed to members of the Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus.[16][17][18][19] Titled "The al-Qa’ida-Qods Force Nexus: Scratching the Surface of a Known Unknown," a redacted version of Smith’s report is available online via the blog site owned by American military geostrategist and The Pentagon's New Map author Thomas P.M. Barnett.[20] The report’s Issue Summary section explains: "This report focuses on the history of Iran’s relationship with al-Qa’ida, and briefly addresses potential implications of these ties. Additionally, its author provides a list of recommended action items for Members of the United States Congress, as well as a list of questions that may help Members develop a better understanding of this issue through interactions with defense and intelligence officials."

Smith has played the role of intermediary between the U.S government and pro-social hacker organizations such as the Ghost Security Group (GSG) and CtrlSec. facilitating their provision of threat information on the Islamic State group.[21] One such tip disrupted a plot for a terror attack at a Tunisian resort, resulting in the arrest of more than a dozen terror suspects.[21]

In 2017 Smith entered into a conflict with former Breitbart editor and Donald Trump advisor, Sebastian Gorka, questioning Gorka's experience and expertise with respect to international terrorism. Gorka responded by allegedly threatening lawsuit over Smith's remarks on Twitter and inviting Smith to have coffee with him at the White House.[22]

References

  1. ^ .Alison Graham. “Charleston man on front line of intelligence monitoring by tracking ISIS social media.” The Post and Courier. July 30, 2016.
  2. ^ Rukmini Callimachi. “How ISIS Built the Machinery of Terror Under Europe’s Gaze.” The New York Times. March 29, 2016.
  3. ^ .Alison Graham. “Charleston man on front line of intelligence monitoring by tracking ISIS social media.” The Post and Courier. July 30, 2016.
  4. ^ Dun & Bradstreet Business Information Report Synopsis, Accessed July 18, 2011
  5. ^ David Francis. “Twitter Just Suspended 235,000 Extremist Accounts. It’s the Ones Still Open That Are the Problem.” Foreign Policy. August 18, 2016.
  6. ^ "100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2016. The Moguls: Michael S. Smith II". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  7. ^ “The Most Creative People in Business 2016.” Fast Company. See also “Michael S. Smith II: For helping to hack the bad guys.” Fast Company.
  8. ^ Eric Schmitt and Anne Barnard. “Senior ISIS Strategist and Spokesman Is Reported Killed in Syria.” The New York Times. August 30, 2016.
  9. ^ Jeff Seldin. Trump Administration Pushes Back on National Security Council Shake-up.” Voice of America. January 31, 2017.
  10. ^ Alison Graham. “Charleston man on front line of intelligence monitoring by tracking ISIS social media.” The Post and Courier. July 30, 2016.
  11. ^ Christopher S. Stewart and Mark Maremont. “Twitter and Islamic State Deadlock on Social Media Battlefield.” The Wall Street Journal. April 13, 2016.
  12. ^ Rukmini Callimachi. “How ISIS Built the Machinery of Terror Under Europe’s Gaze.” The New York Times. March 29, 2016.
  13. ^ Eli Lake. "U.S. Relies on Iraqis to Interrogate Jihadis." Bloomberg View. February 13, 2015.
  14. ^ Eli Lake. "U.S. Relies on Iraqis to Interrogate Jihadis." Bloomberg View. February 13, 2015.
  15. ^ Michael Flynn, James Livingston, Michael Smith. "Retired generals: Be afraid of ISIS." CNN. May 11, 2015.
  16. ^ Ambassador plot casts light on Iran's strike force. The Associated Press. October 13, 2011
  17. ^ Report highlights alleged Iran forces al-Qaeda links. AFP. May 4, 2011
  18. ^ US congressional report: Iran offering support to al-Qaida. The Jerusalem Post. May 5, 2011
  19. ^ Report from Congressional panel says Iran’s Revolutionary Guard helps Al-Qaeda. Al Arabiya. May 5, 2011
  20. ^ The al-Qa’ida-Qods Force Nexus
  21. ^ a b Segall, Laurie (20 November 2015). "The secret hackers trying to bring down ISIS". CNN. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  22. ^ "Listen to controversial White House terrorism adviser Sebastian Gorka's angry call to a critic". 23 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
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