Preventing Terrorism through Providing Nuclear Security
The Department of Homeland Security was initiated as a result of the worst terrorist attack in United States history, September 11th, 2001, with the purpose of providing protection for the American people from a wide variety of terrorist threats. On March 24th and 25th, 2014, President Barack Obama along with 52 other world leaders travelled to The Hague, Netherlands for the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit. While there the President stated in the U.S. National Progress Report, “Nuclear terrorism represents the most immediate and extreme threat to global security, requiring a strong and enduring commitment to domestic and worldwide action.” (Department of Homeland Security 1, 2014,
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Nuclear Forensics and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
Nuclear forensics is one of the two key elements of nuclear security. Nuclear forensics is the analysis of seized contraband nuclear or radioactive material and any corresponding material in order to provide evidence that will assist in identifying the source of the nuclear or radioactive material and determine its point of origin (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2006). Nuclear forensics also covers the use of the information gathered by the original analysis to determine the routes of transit and any corresponding equipment. The process of nuclear forensics and evidence gathered can ultimately to be instrumental in the prosecution of all those responsible (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2006).
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office is the primary entity for nuclear detection in America. Detection is another of the key elements the Department of Homeland Security focuses on improving constantly, through the use of its Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, in order to continue to strive towards fending off terrorist attacks, and providing protection for the American people as well as assist in the international effort to enhance global nuclear security (Department of Homeland Security 2, 2016). The DNDO’s mission is to, “Prevent nuclear terrorism by continuously improving capabilities to deter, detect, respond to, and attribute attacks, in coordination with domestic and
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was formed more than a decade ago with a very significant mission of safeguarding America's homeland from hazards, threats, and national disasters. This department conducts its mission through securing the country's borders, preventing terror attacks, and responding to incidents or threats to its citizens (Miller, n.d.). Generally, the most important roles of the Department of Homeland Security are to lead a concerted national effort in securing the United States and preserving the American way of life. The department was established in 2002 in reaction to the 9/11 terror attacks and has since developed a nationwide strategic plan for evaluating and updating its mission statement and effectiveness of operations. These plans can be updated and transformed to accomplish the needs of the Department for Homeland Security and the American people.
The creation of the Department of Homeland Security was a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. “The establishment of this organization provided this nation with a real opportunity for making vast improvements within our communities social and economic infrastructures to combat all threats, mainly terrorism” as stated by Bullock, (2013, P. 1). The 9/11 attacks exposed a
The homeland security is a department responsible for developing various mechanisms aimed at ensuring that the country is safe. The main focus of homeland security is to shield or reduce the cases of terror attacks. The prevention and response to both manmade and natural disasters also fall under homeland security (McElreath, Jensen, and Wigginton, 10). The Department of Homeland Security, therefore, has a broad range of responsibilities. At its formation in 2003, the department was composed of twenty-two federal agencies with over 180,000 employees. Homeland security’s formation was necessitated by the September 11th attacks in United States. Today, the Department of Homeland Security
Homeland Security is a relatively new concept that became a national issue following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. There are multiple definitions that define what Homeland Security is. According to Defining Homeland Security: Analysis and Congressional Consideration, “Homeland Security, regardless of the definition or strategic document, is a combination of law enforcement, disaster, immigration, and terrorist issues. It is the responsibility of civilian agencies at all levels. It is a coordination of efforts at all levels of government” (Reese, 2013). The 2010 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review and Report defines Homeland Security as” a concerted national effort to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards where American interests, aspirations, and ways of life can thrive”. (Homeland Security, 2010) There are multiple Federal, State and Local agencies involved in
Only eleven days subsequently the September 11, 2001 acts of terrorism, George W. Bush, who was the president at the time, made an announcement. As reported by Elizabeth C. Borja, the announcement was that he would “…create an Office of Homeland Security in the White House and appoint Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge as the director” (Borja 4). About one month after the attacks, Senator Joseph Lieberman introduced a new bill meant to establish a Department of National Homeland Security. This again followed the same recommendations of the Hart-Rudman Task Force on Homeland Security. This bill was intended to establish a Cabinet-level department and to unite certain agencies that were vital in critical infrastructure protection. Again, there were hearings held for this specific bill as well, and once more there was no action taken upon it (Borja 5).
In response to what marked the United States forever, the September 11 attacks, the federal government procreated what is known as The Department of Homeland Security. The main responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security consisted of having to protect the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to terrorist attacks, man-made accidents, and natural disasters. In another words, the existence of the Department of Homeland Security is to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards. Though many different government agencies see and define Homeland Security accordingly to their protocol, the National Strategy for the Department of Homeland Security was able to
First article I selected was written by Columbia University Press (2012), Homeland Security, United States Department of. The author’s research was taken from The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition. Columbia University Press conducted a tremendous research that provides readers clear insight on how and when the Department of Homeland Security was established and under what circumstances. The author indicates that DHS was established in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on Pentagon and World Trade Center. The
After the attacks on September 11th, 2001 the United States was forced to reassess its policies over the defense of the country within its borders. Until that time the United States’ homeland security was under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice (Masse, O’Neil, & Rollins, 2007). After the attack the Executive branch of the government created a new organization that would be responsible for deciding where the biggest threats to the country were. This was the birth of the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for assessing all risk to the Nation within its borders and developing way to mitigate these threats before a disaster can take place. One of the documents that the Department of
Perl, R. (2017). The Department of Homeland Security: Background and Challenges. Retrieved from The National Academies Press: https://www.nap.edu/read/10968/chapter/24. The issue of the creation and impact of homeland security laws and presidential directives and executive orders was bringing up the concern of the attacks in 2001. The president acted quickly to put in place and believed would address security issue on the home front.
The Homeland Security Division was formed in the wake of terrorist attacks and implemented by President Bush after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. This policy was formed to place a national policy into place for Federal departments and local agencies to identify and protect the United States from additional terrorist attacks. What many don’t know is that this plan defines orders and roles for local state and governmental agencies as well, in order to carry out the goal. I will explain how six sub-groups come together to form the Department of Homeland Security’s one enterprise operation.
Fifteen years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks there has been adjustments made since then when protecting the nation from threats that are unknown. In 2001, President Bush proposed a new department that will be in charge along with other government agencies to work together to make sure threats don’t get out of hand (Tom Ridge). This new department,The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their main job is to protect the people. In order to execute this goal the Department of Homeland Security must “secure the nation against terrorist attacks, to protect against and respond to threats” (Andrew). Eleven days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks Tom
The Department of Homeland Security was made by President Bush, in response to the terrorist attacks that occurred on 11 September 2001. The main responsibility of this Department is to monitor the activities of incoming travelers and cargo. This can lead to stopping the smuggling of contraband and even nuclear weapons. A subordinate agency of the Department of Homeland Security is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA. FEMA is responsible for coordinating a response to a disaster on U.S. soil; this includes a nuclear detonation (DHS).
After the tragic event of 9/11, Bush wanted to make sure that another incident similar would not transpire, and he had a duty to keep America safe. To complete that assignment, Bush signed a law, known as the “Homeland Security Act”, to create the “Department of Homeland Security” (DHS) to combat the possible threat of terrorism. The strategic plan for the DHS is for an intergovernmental interaction; federal, state and local, to cooperate with one another and divulge any information that would be deemed a terroristic act. Any information that is shared will go to the office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP), a single point department for the DHS, for the intention of exchanging information with personnel associated with all subnational governments. The ultimate goal of the DHS to have better communication with all intergovernmental entities to prevent another 9/11 attack from occurring.
Since 9/11, our country has become more aware of our surroundings. Americans are aware that there are groups that exist who want create havoc on our daily lives. They desire to kill those who do not want to be under the religion of Islam or have the same beliefs. After 9/11, the homeland security department was created. Homeland security’s major goal is to intercept and reduce the possibility of terror related attacks. It is involved in both domestic and international intelligence. Homeland security is not only for terrorism, but for natural and man made
Nuclear forensics is the investigation of nuclear materials to find evidence for the source, the trafficking, and the enrichment of the material. The material can be recovered from various sources including dust from the vicinity of a nuclear facility, or from the radioactive debris following a nuclear