Role of DOD in Homeland Security

Role of DOD in Homeland Security

Introduction

For people to live peacefully in their country, it is important for them not to hold any fear in their hearts with reference to homeland security. Homeland security comes under the national security law of the United States. This law was formed to protect the country against terrorist activities. This law helps the country in keeping itself safe from terrorist activities along the borders of the United States. It has helped the country from remaining vulnerable to terrorist attacks and to remain safe from the damage of the attacks. The main purpose of this law is to develop an understanding of the public policy. Homeland security act 2002 is one main public policy that the country had developed. It is an important policy for the safety of the country and has made sure that the country remains safe from the terrorists. It highlights the background and history of the security policies within the nation. The aim and objective of this paper is to talk about the role that the department of defense plays in homeland security.

Role of Department of Defense

By definition, Homeland Security is tasked to protect the homeland from any internal and external threats of terrorism either by deterrence, prevention, or pre-emption. It has been tasked to insure the safety and sovereignty of the homeland population, territory, and infrastructure. As the events of September 11, 2001 demonstrated, homeland security, as a concept, protection, or a security department did not exist. All that existed were several agencies to gather information but not really assigned to assimilate and act upon such security threat reports. On June 18, 2002, President George W. Bush sent a letter to members of Congress requesting that legislation be passed for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. In his letter, the president recognized the reality that terrorism was a real threat that affected not only our neighboring countries but the United States as well. Therefore, he recognized the need to protect the homeland in order to prevent a repeat of the events of 9/11. By proposing the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the president stated that he hoped to create a department that would have only one mission objective in mind; that is to protect the homeland. President Bush likened the creation of DHS to the National Security Council. For the first time we have a single Department whose primary mission is to secure our homeland. But the responsibility of this single department is so huge that it needs collaboration and support of other agencies and department (Kettl, 2002).

Homeland Security offers a process to enhance U.S. capabilities through a simple "course of action" analysis based on comparisons of known and perceived threats with strategies used by policy makers in recent history. The authors envision three possible categories of attacks against the United States. The first is a missile attack, from intercontinental ballistic missiles or cruise missiles; the second is covert attack or ...