Ed Fuller and Gary Grossman talk about “RED HOTEL”

Q.  Your book starts off with a bang. Literally, when the Kensington Royal Hotel in Tokyo is bombed. As in real life, hotels are now ideal targets for terrorists. Why?

Ed Fuller:  Hotels are called “soft targets” when compared to Embassies, military bases, etc. In international countries, American branded hotels become targets. Condoleezza Rice commented recently that, after 9/11, hotels became known as “soft targets” as they are unable to be hardened much like a U.S. embassy. Many times, they don’t have the stand-off distance or the physical security measures in place such as an embassy.

Gary Grossman:  With more Americans traveling and International travelers coming to the US in record numbers, hotel security must be a top priority. RED Hotel deep dives into a plot that shows just how important safety must be and what we can do to become more aware of our surroundings.

Q.  The character Dan Reilly visits Capitol Hill to lobby the government about intelligence sharing with US corporations. Why is this so important, both in your book and real life? Does the government share intelligence with US companies?

Ed Fuller:  Several countries, including the United States, work with hotels and other industries, as well as agencies like the FBI, the military and the CIA to gain information about guests. These agencies also provide security information to companies doing business globally. After the bombing of Pan Am 103 in 1988, the U.S Congress passed legislation mandating that the Intelligence Community warn U.S. citizens if the IC becomes aware of threats to Americans. These warnings are channeled through the U.S. State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). Many hotel companies have their own intelligence operations within their security departments (Condoleezza Rice calls it “mini CIA’s). These intelligence operations use a combination of “open source intelligence” (Opsint) and “human intelligence” (Humint). Additionally, some of the security departments have staff with Top Secret security clearances which gives the access to U.S. Government classified intelligence.

Gary Grossman:  I learned firsthand from Ed Fuller that we’re safer when critical information is shared between intelligence agencies and hotel businesses. Moreover, with active, open relationships comes increased speed in communicating potential dangers. Speed and information allow potential targets advance time to bolster security measures. In the case of RED Hotel, these measures are based on Ed Fuller’s actual work in the field. The basic rule—make a soft target less attractive with stepped-up visible, “hardened” security measures in place and terrorists are more likely to walk.

To read the full interview, click here.

RED HOTEL PBS TV interview with Gary Grossman on “Between the Lines with Barry Kibrick”

A re-airing of the interview with Gary Grossman. Previous air dates included: 4/27, 4/28, 5/1. It re-aired on May 6, at 12am.

To watch the full interview, click here.