National Strategy For Homeland Security example essay topic

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, a good deal has been done to improve the safety of Americans, not only in the offensive war on terror abroad but in protecting the homeland as well. Ultimate success in protecting the Americans and their homeland depends on homeland security. Homeland Security is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur. To be comprehensive, the strategy must include steps to use intelligence asset or other means to identify attackers and prevent attacks before they occur, harden potential targets to minimize the damage from an attack, and effectively manage the consequences of an incident. However, the strategy should focus resources on areas of greatest need. Effective homeland security also requires international partnership to identify attackers, prevent attacks, and retaliate if there are any attacks.

The National Strategy for Homeland Security focuses on six critical mission areas: intelligence and warning, border and transportation security, domestic counter terrorism, protecting critical infrastructure, depending against catastrophic terrorism, and emergency preparedness. The first three strategies focus on primarily on preventing terrorist attacks. The next two mission areas focus on reducing our Nation's vulnerabilities. Lastly, the final one is on minimizing the damage and recovering from attacks that do occur in our homeland. To secure our homeland we must have intelligence and warning system that is capable of detecting terrorist activity before it reveals itself in an attack so that proper preventive and protective actions can be taken. For example, as a nation we must enhance the analytic capabilities of the FBI, build new capabilities, and implement a Homeland Security Advisory System.

Border and Transportation Security is vital as it connects with every community in America through global transportation. The network connects the world by seaports, airports, highways, pipeline, railroads, and waterways. These routes are critical as they import, export goods and move people in and out of the Nation. Therefore, Homeland Security urges to ensure accountability in the border and transportation security and create smart borders, increase the security of international shipping, implement powerful Aviation and Transportation Acts, and reform immigration services. Domestic Counter Terrorism must focus on objectives that redefine the mission of federal, state and local law enforcement authorities. This should include improving intergovernmental law enforcement coordination, facilitate apprehension of potential terrorists, continue ongoing investigations and prosecutions, complete FBI restructuring, target and attack terrorist financing, and track foreign terrorists and bring them to justice.

Also, we must protect critical infrastructures and focus on key assets. The United States cannot assume they will prevent all terrorist attacks, but as a nation we can significantly reduce America's vulnerability. However, Homeland Security will work with the federal department and agencies, state and local governments and private sectors to implement a comprehensive national plan to protect America. In addition to vulnerability, there is another critical program, Defending against Catastrophic threats. America must coordinate a national effort to prepare for, prevent and respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorist threats to the nations homeland. America must be capable to detect any of those particular agents.

Emergency personnel must be trained and equipped to respond quickly and treat contaminated people and areas. Lastly, Emergency Preparedness and Response helps America prepare and minimize damage and encourages our recovery. As a nation under endless threats, we must be relentlessly operational to protect out homeland at any time, any place. Our federal, state, and local governments will strive to create integrated national emergency response system that is powerful enough to deal with any attack, no matter how unlikely or catastrophic.

With a great deal of planning for homeland security, there involves a great deal of spending. The United States spends roughly $100 billion per year on homeland security. This includes the services of federal, state, and local law enforcements and emergency services. Technology, managerial expertise, capital and even labor are required resources to fulfill the needs of securing the homeland. However the investment in homeland security will economically boost our society as a whole as it ensures American safety. Organizing for a secure homeland requires a focused, organized response as well as collaboration and coordination in law enforcement, prevention, emergency cases, recovery, policy development and implementation.

This will contribute in organizing public and private sectors to secure homeland. Additionally, the economy may suffer as costs incur in the event of an attack or even a threat. The economic response and recovery efforts involve four central areas. A local economic recovery plan is being developed to improve federal support to state and local governments for incidents that may overwhelm the state, local and private sector resources. This plan will be more efficient and much more flexible.

Next, restoration of financial markets will effectively monitor the financial market status, identify and review impacts on the markets from direct or indirect attacks. This plan will also implement response decisions through federal, state, local and private sector units. National economic recovery includes economic impacts beyond the immediate area. This plan will ensure that government actions after an attack or threat will restore critical infrastructures, services, and our way of life as quickly as possible and minimize economic disruptions. Lastly, economic impact data will help develop more accurate national, regional, and local economic impact data.

It will provide reliable information concerning economic status of an area before the incident, evaluate the direct economic impacts of the incident, and estimate the total economic consequences more accurately. The strategy for homeland security has set a complex agenda for the United States. The strategy has defined many different goals that need to be met, programs that need to be implemented, and responsibilities that need to be fulfilled. However, Americans will never forget the brutal events of September 11, and the many wars that haunt the American history.

Our nation has suffered great harm for many years. The American people have been so courageous and compassionate through many hard times. Now we deserve an effective, permanent level of security to make the America a stronger, safer place. The importance of homeland security is for Americas people, for the men, women and children of today.