Homeland Security
Question
Instructions
Please complete each of the essay questions below:
Essay 1: The basic equation for risk is defined as R = ƒ(C*V*T) where R is the level of risk, C is the consequences (public health, our economy, government action, public confidence in our institutions) of an attack, V is an assessment of the vulnerability of a potential target (how hard or easy it would be for it to be hit by terrorists) and T is the threat or the likelihood that a specific target will suffer an attack or disaster from a specific weapon. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that it will apply risk management principles to homeland security operations and has stated that "Ultimately, homeland security is about effectively managing risks to the Nation's security" (DHS, 2010, p. 2). Drawing upon your class readings and additional research examine how risk management is used by the homeland security enterprise and how that use benefits such aspects as resource allocation, strategic planning, grant award, or any of the multitudes of other homeland security issues or operations.
Essay 2: In your readings you have been provided a variety of definitions for the term homeland security. Additionally, the national strategies and readings have talked to the difference between homeland security and homeland defense. Drawing upon your readings and other class materials, craft two columns; one labeled Homeland Security and the other Homeland Defense. Under the headers of each column list those missions, tasks, duties, responsibilities, operations, etc. which are identified from the national policies, strategies and readings. Some tasks may be listed under both columns. Where this occurs, be sure to identify if there is any element of that item that is specific to either homeland security or homeland defense. Lastly, drawing upon the list you developed, provide a definition of homeland security.
Essay 3: Critical infrastructure is defined in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan as "Systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital that the incapacity or destruction of such may have a debilitating impact on the security, economy, public health or safety, environment, or any combination of these matters, across any Federal, State, regional, territorial, or local jurisdiction" (DHS, 2009, p. 109). From this definition, one can reasonably presume that protection of these assets is vital to the well-being of the United States and as such is an essential element of homeland security. Drawing upon the readings provide your assessment of the capability of the nation's infrastructure protection program to ensure the survivability of its critical infrastructure.
Essay 4: Provide an examination of the various elements that comprise Homeland Security and Homeland Defense. This should include a description of major laws, programs, and activities post 9/11. Evaluate their impact on civil liberties within the United States. Lastly, your examination of the question should include a fact based analysis of overall positive or negative impact on the nation.
Technical Requirements
• Your paper must be at a minimum of 8-12 pages, or 2-3 pages for each question (the Title and Reference pages do not count towards the minimum limit).
• Scholarly and credible references should be used. A good rule of thumb is at least 2 scholarly sources per page of content.
• Type in Times New Roman, 12 point and double space.
• Students will follow the current APA Style as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework.
• Points will be deducted for the use of Wikipedia or encyclopedic type sources. It is highly advised to utilize books, peer-reviewed journals, articles, archived documents, etc.
• All submissions will be graded using the assignment rubric.


Solution
Homeland Security
Essay 1
The Secretary of Homeland Security established a policy for
Integrated Risk Management in 2010. The most important aspect of the policy is
that risk management can be achieved effectively through working together.
Besides, it also states that management capabilities ought to be established,
sustained, and integrated with the Federal, state, territorial, private sector,
and nongovernmental homeland security partners. According to Decker (2001),
successful integration requires implementation across the entire Homeland
Security enterprise. Therefore, the department plays a crucial role in leading
a unified effort to manage risk for the nation's benefit from a complex and
diverse set of hazards such as natural and artificial disasters, acts of
terrorism, transnational crimes, pandemics, and cyber-attacks. The initial step
in ensuring effective integration of risk management is to establish guidance
and doctrine. Accordingly, the department has established Risk Management
Fundamentals as its doctrine that provides a structured approach for employing
and distributing risk information and analyzing the enterprise.
Whereas the doctrine is an important effort by the department
to achieve its risk management objectives, risk management requires a unified
effort of the components to formulate and implement essential risk management
practices and methods. The D.H.S. risk management efforts, have been a positive
movement towards strengthening and maturing its ability to deal with homeland
security issues. The homeland security environment of the United States is
characterized by complexity and is full of competing interests, requirements,
and incentives that need to be managed and balanced effectively to ensure the
achievement of crucial national objectives. The ability to identify complex
opportunities and challenges is the gist of risk management (Decker, 2001).
Risk management is a strategy for formulating and implementing better homeland
security decisions. Improving homeland security requires the connection of
information about activities, risks, and capabilities and using the information
for guiding prevention, recovery, and response efforts.
The process of risk management, as implemented by D.H.S.,
defines the sequence for planning and analyzing the risk context and is marked
by different steps. First, it defines the context of risk (D.H.S., 2011). The
step involves identifying the context for the decision that needs to be
supported by the risk management process. The second step is to identify the
potential risks through the consideration of the risks in a holistic manner to
support decision making, institutional risk, operation, and focusing on
strategy. The assessment and analysis of the risks is the next step. The step
involves selecting the most appropriate methodology for assessing risk
depending on the decision that the assessment ought to inform. The process also
includes gathering data based on all the crucial aspects of the decision. After
that, the risk management process moves to the development of alternatives.
Then the decision is made on the risk management strategies to be employed.
Evaluation and monitoring is the next step where performance measurement is
built to determine whether the implemented risk management actions have
effectively achieved the stated objectives and goals. Finally, D.H.S. embarks
on a risk communication process involving internal and external audiences
depending on the timeframe and requirements.
Risk management plays a crucial role in homeland security.
First, numerous cases of uncertainty in the recent past have had dire impacts
on homeland security. Risk is the main cause of uncertainty in security, and
thus, the department has to focus on how to identify and manage them (D.H.S.,
2011). Second, the management of risks ensures that the department function
more effectively in deciding the future. Knowledge of risks that it faces
provides it with different options for dealing with potential problems. Third,
risk management is a way of understanding that homeland security is not
certain, and there are various aspects of life. Fourth, risk management enables
the department to narrow its focus based on quantifiable information. Risk
management also enables D.H.S. to identify real-world events' potential
outcomes, hence better decision making. Finally, the decisions concerning
resource allocation and strategic planning are key in ensuring security.
Essay 2
Homeland
Security |
Homeland
Defense |
1. The mission of
homeland defense is to uphold and preserve the nation's prosperity and
economic security (Reese, 2012). 2. Homeland security
refers to the collective efforts to prevent terrorist attacks, reduce the
nation's vulnerability to terrorism, minimize the damage and recover from
terrorist attacks. 3. Another important
mission of homeland security is to enhance security and manage and secure the
nation's borders (Reese, 2012). 4. Homeland security also
operates on administering and reinforcing immigration, ensuring disaster
resilience, and administering cyberspace. 5. Whereas D.O.D plays a
support role in homeland defense, it plays the lead role in homeland
security. 6. Homeland security is
also concerned with the National Guard's state activity duties and ballistic
missile defense. It also deals with airport security, maritime security, and
D.O.D community relations. 7. Homeland security
provides warning and intelligence of possible attacks, defends the nation
against catastrophic threats, and ensures emergency preparedness and response
(Reese, 2012). 8. Homeland security is
conducted through a coordinated effort of the state, federal, and local
governments to ensure protection against disasters and respond to threats. 9. Homeland security is
also involved in investigating people suspected to be engaged in child
pornography distribution, biodefense, and detection of radiological and
radioactive materials. 10. It is also concerned
with researching next-generation security technologies and investigating
transnational crimes, including extortion and money laundering. 11. The Federal government
carries the cost of homeland security operations and reviews by Congress. |
1. The homeland defense
forces provide capabilities for life-saving during national emergencies. They
are professionals trained in treatment, identification, decontamination, and
containment of potential threats, including search and rescue. 2. The Department of
Defense protects the nation from threats through two interrelated missions,
including civil support, which deals with the support of other agencies and
departments, and homeland defense, dealing with protection from attack
threats. 3. D.O.D also protects the
nation through military services, functional and geographic commands, and
defense agencies working to ensure stability through participation in
conflicts worldwide. 4. Homeland defense
pertains to protecting territory, critical infrastructure, homeland
population, and sovereignty from aggression and outside threats. 5. Functions through the
direction of the president through the United States Department of Defense,
which, together with other departments and agencies under D.O.D, leads the
mission of homeland defense (DeMaso, 2004). 6. Responses to external
threats affect the international environment of the United States through the
application of economic, diplomatic, information, and military means. 7. D.O.D is equipped with
numerous guidance, policies, and strategies in interagency coordination for
homeland defense and missions for civil support. 8. D.O.D plays the
support role in homeland defense (DeMaso, 2004). 9. The National Guard
operates through the command of the U.S Defense Secretary but is divided into
54 different National Guard organizations. 10. When the National
Guard forces are mobilized, they operate under the State Active Duty (S.A.D.)
commanded by the Governor with missions specific to the states' needs and
guidelines of statutes and laws. 11. The states carry
operational costs unless the president declares the disaster event. 12. States can operate a
different homeland defense besides the D.O.D and operate distinctly from it. |
From the information, homeland security can be defined as an
entity charged with protecting the United States by countering terrorism,
securing borders, and preventing and recovering from disaster, among others,
for prosperity.
Essay 3
The ability to protect critical infrastructure and other
crucial resources is important to the public health, safety, and security of
the United States. Such protection also contributes to the nation's economy and
has been regarded as a way of life. U.S policy is based on enhancing critical
infrastructure protection to ensure that key government missions, economic
functions, and public services are maintained in events such as terrorist
attacks. According to the Department of Homeland Security (2006), the
protection is also aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the resources during
natural disasters and other incidents. The element of critical infrastructure
ought not to be used as weapons of mass destruction against the population of
the United States. Through the president's direction, the Secretary of the
Department of Homeland Security is required to develop a national plan and
coordinate and implement national initiatives that can unify and enhance the
protection of critical infrastructure.
The Department of Homeland Security achieves the objective of
protecting critical infrastructure through an unprecedented partnership that
includes Federal, state, tribal, and local governments and the private sector.
The current National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) developed by the
department meets the set by the president in the Homeland Security Presidential
Directive 7 (HSPD-7), Prioritization and Protection, and the Critical
Infrastructure Identification. The plan gives the overarching approach of
integrating the numerous critical infrastructure protection into one national
effort. NIPP ensures a coordinated approach employed in establishing national
priorities, requirements, and goals for protecting critical infrastructure
(Department of Homeland Security, 2006). The fundamental purpose is to ensure
that the federal government's resources and money are put to the best possible
use to deter threats, reduce vulnerability, and mitigate the effects of attacks
and other catastrophes. The plan also identifies the overarching concepts
relevant to critical infrastructure sectors as identified under HSPD-7 and
addresses physical, human, and cyber considerations required for the effective
implementation of comprehensive programs.
The plan also identifies the essential initiatives, metrics,
and milestones needed to achieve the critical infrastructure protection mission
of the nation. The plan is characterized by a comprehensive risk management
framework defining the roles and responsibilities of the Federal, state,
tribal, local, the Department of Homeland Security, and other partners in the
security sector. Some of the sectors that form the country's critical
infrastructure include information technology, banking and finance, and public
health (Moteff & Parfomak, 2004). The sectors rely heavily on computerized
systems and information to provide public services. To fulfill the requirements
outlined in the comprehensive plan, which include cyber aspects, D.H.S. has
issued a national plan to be applied by these sectors in enhancing critical
infrastructure protection. The lead Federal agencies are responsible for
coordinating the protection efforts of critical infrastructure, including developing
plans that are specific to each sector. The extent to which these sectors
address security aspects in their respective plans varies greatly.
A total of 16 critical infrastructure sectors offer vital
services to the economy of the United States through their systems, networks,
and assets, either virtually or physically. The destruction or incapacitation
of such infrastructure would create debilitating consequences to security,
safety, and national economic security. Therefore, Presidential Policy
Directive 21 (PPD-21) requires that the Critical Infrastructure Security and
Resilience create a national policy to strengthen and maintain secure,
resilient, and functioning critical infrastructure. The directive supersedes
HSPD-7 (Moteff & Parfomak, 2004). Nonetheless, although successes have been
identified in protecting critical infrastructure, it is clear that sustained
collaboration and coordination among and between the security partners is
crucial to the successful implementation of the plan. Therefore, NIPP also
provides certain implementation guidelines for the Federal agencies and
departments and recommendations for implementation to other security partners.
Essay 4
The Departments of Homeland Security and homeland security
mission emerged as a reserve of the Americans following the 9/11 attacks.
Americans witnessed selfless service, unified resolve, and true heroism. The
reason is that the nation rallied together for a common defense with the pledge
to remain together against any threats to the nation. Therefore, the department
was created to develop resilience against threats of attacks and ensure that
American dwell in a safe, prosperous, secure environment. According to Morreale
& Lambert (2009), the core values of homeland security include integrity,
vigilance, and respect. Integrity pertains to self before service, which
entails that each individual serves in a capacity far beyond their interests.
The second core value of vigilance means guarding the nation through relentless
identification and deterring o threats that create dangers to the population of
America. The department will be on constant guard against threats, dangers, or
hazards that threaten Americans' way of life and values. Finally, respect means
honoring America's partners by valuing the relationships created with
stakeholders, partners, and customers. The value also means honoring the
concepts such as democracy and liberty, which America believes in.
Homeland security also has certain guiding principles,
including championing relentless resilience to all hazards and threats. The
second principle is to reduce the nation's risk of homeland security danger.
Promotion of the engagement of citizens and strengthening and expanding trusted
relationships is the third principle. The fourth principle upholds
transparency, civil rights and liberties, and privacy. Finally, homeland
security also strives to ensure mission-driven management and integration. From
the values and principles, the Department of Homeland Security has also
established six core missions for its operations (Morreale & Lambert,
2009). First, to counter-terrorism and homeland security threats. Secondly, to
secure the American borders and approaches. The third mission is to secure
critical infrastructure and cyberspace. Fourthly, to uphold and preserve
America's economic security and prosperity. Fifth is strengthening resilience
and preparedness. The last mission is championing the D.H.S. workforce and
supporting all departments.
The D.H.S. must work under certain featured laws and regulations
to achieve these missions. For example, the Homeland Security Act 2002 carries
all the department's mandates, including terrorist attack prevention, reducing
the nation's vulnerability to terrorism, and investigating and prosecuting
terrorists. In addition, Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction
Prevention and Return Act of 2014 (Pub. L. No. 113-150) were formed under the
act and deal with compliance with the international child abduction by
countries that partner with the United States (Wong & Lovelace Jr, 2004).
Other important laws include the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.)
and the Accuracy for Adoptees Act (Pub. L. No. 113-74), both pertaining to acquiring
a certificate for citizenship.
Experts often differ in considering the level of civil
liberties and national security. Moreover, there is a need to consider a
balance between these competing goals. The lawyers who advocate for civil
liberties often argue strongly for the need to safeguard individuals' rights
(Wong & Lovelace Jr, 2004). One of the reasons given for these requirements
is that it is a key to winning the fight against terrorists. However, the fight
against terrorists has seen numerous occasions of excessive force by law
enforcement, including the shoot to kill order. As a result, it has violated most
of the rights under the First Amendment, most importantly, the right to life.
Therefore, there is a need to emphasize the safeguarding of human rights in all
the works done by D.H.S. Nevertheless, the department's mission has benefitted
the nation by fostering security and economic prosperity. Besides, the work
done by the department is still in the early stages and is expected to become
better moving forward.
References
Decker, R. J.
(2001). Homeland security: key elements of a risk management approach.
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON DC.
DeMaso, W. C.
(2004). The Relationship between Homeland Defense and Homeland
Security: US Northern Command's Rubik's Cube. AIR UNIV MAXWELL AFB AL.
[D.H.S.] U.S. Department
of Homeland Security. (2011). Risk Management Fundamentals: Homeland Security
Risk Management Doctrine.
Department of Homeland
Security. (2006). National infrastructure protection plan.
Morreale, S. A., &
Lambert, D. E. (2009). Homeland security and the police mission. Journal
of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 6(1).
Moteff, J., &
Parfomak, P. (2004, October). Critical infrastructure and key assets:
definition and identification. Library of Congress Washington DC Congressional
Research Service.
Reese, S. (2012, April).
Defining homeland security: Analysis and congressional considerations. Washington,
DC: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Wong, L., & Lovelace
Jr, D. C. (2004). Homeland Security and Civil Liberties. ARMY WAR COLL
STRATEGIC STUDIES INST CARLISLE BARRACKS PA.



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