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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 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’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 January 2012, Fox News’ chief intelligence correspondent, Catherine Herridge, reported on a report Smith produced for policymakers on the rising influence of extremists linked to al Qaeda in post-Qaddafi Libya.[16] Herridge reported: “An advance copy of the report entitled ‘A View to Extremist Currents In Libya’ and obtained by Fox News, states that extremist views are gaining ground in the north African country and suggests a key figure emerging in Libya formerly tied to al Qaeda has not changed his stripes.”

In 2011 Smith produced a report on Iran’s ties to Al-Qaeda that was distributed to members of the Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus.[17][18][19][20] The report was entered into the Congressional Record.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23] 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.[23]

Media Coverage

Major publications and news organizations, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, BBC, Al Arabiya, Fox News, and Voice of America have covered Smith’s work assisting policymakers and referenced his comments in reports about terror-related developments.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] During 2015 and 2016, Smith conducted television and radio interviews concerning terror-related issues with NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, France 24 and NPR, and he was cast as a terrorism analyst in a documentary about ISIS produced for The History Channel by NBC’s Peacock Productions unit, titled "The ISIS Storm: America on Alert."[50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58]

Miscellaneous

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.[59]

In 2010, Smith served as a member of the transition team of South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis.[60]

According to information published by Wikileaks, Smith previously worked as a special assistant to the late L. Ronald Scheman (d. 2013), who, according to information published by The Washington Post and United States State Department, was a senior advisor to Kissinger McLarty Associates and former US executive director of the Inter-American Development Bank.[61][62][63]

Smith is also a founder of The Charleston Meeting, an invitation-only center-right political forum hosted in Charleston, South Carolina.[64][65][66]

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. ^ Catherine Herridge. “The Islamist Winter: New Report Suggests Extremist Views Winning in Libya.” Fox News. January 4, 2012
  17. ^ Ambassador plot casts light on Iran's strike force. The Associated Press. October 13, 2011
  18. ^ Report highlights alleged Iran forces al-Qaeda links. AFP. May 4, 2011
  19. ^ US congressional report: Iran offering support to al-Qaida. The Jerusalem Post. May 5, 2011
  20. ^ Report from Congressional panel says Iran’s Revolutionary Guard helps Al-Qaeda. Al Arabiya. May 5, 2011
  21. ^ "The Al Qaeda-Qods Force Nexus." Congressional Record. September 23, 2011.
  22. ^ The al-Qa’ida-Qods Force Nexus
  23. ^ a b Segall, Laurie (20 November 2015). "The secret hackers trying to bring down ISIS". CNN. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  24. ^ Rick Gladstone. "Activist Links More Than 26,000 Twitter Accounts to ISIS." The New York Times. March 31, 2015. See also Rick Gladstone. "Behind a Veil of Anonymity, Online Vigilantes Battle the Islamic State." The New York Times. March 24, 2015. See also Rukmini Callimachi and Eric Schmitt. "Iran Released Top Members of Al Qaeda in a Trade." The New York Times. September 17, 2015.
  25. ^ Rukmini Callimachi. “How ISIS Built the Machinery of Terror Under Europe’s Gaze.” The New York Times. March 29, 2016.
  26. ^ Eric Schmitt. “Al Qaeda Turns to Syria, With a Plan to Challenge ISIS.” The New York Times. May 15, 2016.
  27. ^ Kareem Fahim, Marc Santora and Nicola Clark “Data Points to Rapid Loss of Control Aboard EgyptAir Jet.” The New York Times. May 20, 2016.
  28. ^ Tim Arango, Sabrina Tavernise and Ceylan Yeginsu. “Istanbul Airport Attack Leaves at Least 41 Dead.” The New York Times. June 28, 2016.
  29. ^ Rukmini Callimachi. “Turkey, a Conduit for Fighters Joining ISIS, Begins to Feel Its Wrath.” The New York Times. June 29, 2016
  30. ^ Melissa Eddy. “Afghan Teenager Spoke of Friend’s Death Before Ax Attack in Germany.” The New York Times. July 19, 2016.
  31. ^ Eric Schmitt and Anne Barnard. “Senior ISIS Strategist and Spokesman Is Reported Killed in Syria.” The New York Times. August 30, 2016.
  32. ^ Natalie Andrews. “Islamic State Hackers Take Aim at Facebook’s Zuckerberg, Twitter’s Dorsey.” The Wall Street Journal. February 24, 2016.
  33. ^ Christopher S. Stewart and Mark Maremont. “Twitter and Islamic State Deadlock on Social Media Battlefield.” The Wall Street Journal. April 13, 2016.
  34. ^ Christopher S. Stewart and Mark Maremont. “Twitter Bars Intelligence Agencies From Using Analytics Service.” The Wall Street Journal. May 8, 2016.
  35. ^ Elias Groll and Dan De Luce. “Are There Any More ‘Lone Wolves’ in the Age of the Islamic State.” Foreign Policy. June 13, 2016.
  36. ^ Elias Groll. “Suppressing Extremist Speech: There’s an Algorithm for That!” Foreign Policy. June 17, 2016
  37. ^ Elias Groll and Dan De Luce. “Why Isn’t ISIS Claiming the Istanbul Airport Bombing?.” Foreign Policy. June 29, 2016.
  38. ^ Elias Groll, Dan De Luce and Reid Standish. “Istanbul Attack Shows the Dangerous New Face of the Islamic State.” Foreign Policy. June 30, 2016.
  39. ^ Siobhán O'Grady. “French Officials Want to Destroy Footage of the Nice Attack. They’re too late.” Foreign Policy. July 22, 2016.
  40. ^ Siobhán O'Grady “Islamic State Announces New Leader of Boko Haram, Who Vows War Against Christians.” Foreign Policy. August 3, 2016.
  41. ^ David Francis. “Twitter Just Suspended 235,000 Extremist Accounts. It’s the Ones Still Open That Are the Problem.” Foreign Policy. August 18, 2016.
  42. ^ Brian Murphy. "Ambassador plot casts light on Iran's strike force." The Associated Press. October 13, 2011.
  43. ^ Josh Rogin. "Islamic State Tightens Its Grip on Shaky Libya." Bloomberg. February 4, 2015. See also Eli Lake and Josh Rogin. "U.S. Exaggerates Islamic State Casualties." Bloomberg. March 13, 2015.
  44. ^ Phil Stewart. "In Twitter hack, Pentagon learns perils of social media exposure." Reuters. January 12, 2015. See also "U.S. Central Command Twitter Feed Appears Hacked by IS Sympathizers." Reuters. January 12, 2015.
  45. ^ Agence France-Presse coverage referenced in "Wednesday: As it happened." BBC. May 4, 2011.
  46. ^ Unattributed. "Wednesday: As it happened." BBC. May 4, 2011.
  47. ^ Abeer Tayel. "Report from Congressional panel says Iran’s Revolutionary Guard helps Al-Qaeda." Al Arabiya. May 5, 2011.
  48. ^ Unattributed. "CIA chief says ISIS has ‘snowballed’." Fox News. March 14, 2015. See also Catherine Herridge. "Western-raised jihadists pouring into Syria could threaten US in future." Fox News. November 13, 2013. See also Catherine Herridge. "The Islamist Winter: New Report Suggests Extremist Views Winning in Libya." Fox News. January 4, 2012.
  49. ^ Mehdi Jedinia. “IS Followers Flock to Telegram After Being Driven from Twitter.” Voice of America. August 28, 2016.
  50. ^ “Terror in Orlando: Omar Mateen.” Dateline. NBC. June 12, 2016 3:08-3:57
  51. ^ "The secret hackers trying to bring down ISIS." CNN. November 20, 2015.
  52. ^ Transcript “ISIS Says It’s Behind Attack, Hostage Siege Unfolding Now; Ongoing Hostage Standoff at Cafe One Mile From U.S. Embassy”. Erin Burnett Outfront. CNN. July 1, 2016
  53. ^ Fox & Friends. "How Anonymous’ attack on ISIS is counterproductive." Fox News Channel. November 23, 2015.
  54. ^ ”How authorities missed signs ISIS wanted to strike Europe.” Happening Now. Fox News Channel. March 30, 2016.
  55. ^ Francois Picard. “Turkey targeted: Islamic State group blamed for Istanbul attack, Part 1.” “Turkey targeted: Islamic State group blamed for Istanbul attack, Part 2.” The Debate. France 24. June 29, 2016. See also clip posted to YouTube by France 24 titled “Erdogan ‘accommodating jihadists’ in proxy war against Assad.”
  56. ^ “War in Syria: Turkey calls on Russia for joint operations against the Islamic State Organization.” France 24. August 12, 2016.
  57. ^ Robert Siegel. “Terrorists Escape Detection Using Common Encryption Tools.” All Things Considered. NPR. March 25, 2016.
  58. ^ "The ISIS Storm: America on Alert." Internet Movie Database (IMDb).
  59. ^ "Listen to controversial White House terrorism adviser Sebastian Gorka's angry call to a critic". 23 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  60. ^ Transition Report of The Honorable Curtis M. Loftis, Jr, Treasurer, South Carolina (See Organization Chart, page 7) Official Website of the South Carolina Treasurer’s Office. Accessed July 18, 2011
  61. ^ Wikileaks. The Global Intelligence Files. "Breaking Point -- Information Request" (August 2006). Published September 15, 2013.
  62. ^ Obituaries. "L. Ronald Scheman, trade and development specialist." The Washington Post. April 16, 2013.
  63. ^ United States Department of State. Public Schedule, October 16, 2012.
  64. ^ Charleston Meeting organizers aim to shape national debate as invitation-only group meets again today. The Post and Courier. January 24, 2011
  65. ^ (Rand) Paul’s Charleston visit draws positive reviews. The State. March 27, 2011
  66. ^ The Monday Meeting, A Right-Wing Cabal Ready to Convert N.Y. The New York Observer. February 9, 2004
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