US National Security Policy and Analysis - Essay Example

?US National Security Policy and Analysis National security is one of the most fundamental aspects and duties of the US federal government. It encompasses the provision of security to the US citizens in and out of American soil. This measure applies against local and international threats of security. In most cases, America has been a target to international threats of security that include individual terrorists and terrorist groups like the Al-Qaida. Although most attacks manifest on American soil like the 9/11 and The Cold War, there has been more attacks on the Americans in other countries like Iraq. For a fact, these may be general American citizens, dignitaries, or even American soldiers. As such, the issue of national security is very significant in the US and falls under the mandate of the US president and the US National Security Council. The National Security Council (NSC) offers the US president a principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters (Snow, 2010). Indeed, the Council's function has been to advise and assist the President on national security and foreign policies where the president chairs all NSC meetings (National Security Council, 2012). The National Security Act of 1947 established the NSC in 1947. This paper will address the National Security Act of 1947 and the fault lines in relation to US national security policy. Under normal and geographical circumstances fault lines refer to ruptures of physical fault lines on the earth’s surface that are usually caused by earthquakes. However, in context of US National security, we will refer to fault lines as the representative of the traumatic events that have shaped the environment we inhabit today. Indeed, the events tend to alter the environment and require adjustment in the posttraumatic period (Snow, 2010). How these fault lines changed US national security policy Fault lines have changed the US national security in many ways. Actually, fault lines define the security environment in the US. Additionally, the fault lines have forced the federal government to readjust itself towards handling these fault lines (Gallaher, 2003). The federal government security environment has shifted due to these fault lines that include Race, Class, and the American Patriot Movement (Snow, 2010). How the US has responded to those changes US have responded to these changes by forming the federal bureau investigation that investigates such fault lines, handles them, and draws the right preventive procedures. It is also working with nongovernmental organizations to minimize their effect (Snow, 2010). Reversibility of fault lines Indeed, fault lines are not reversible since they are natural and cultural occurring. As such, there is no way that the Federal US federal government can reverse fault lines. However, the government can initiate measures to combat these fault lines hence enhancing natural security in our environment (Snow, 2010). Predictability of fault lines In some cases, fault lines are predicable using detailed intelligence, and a lot of research. Indeed, where the government can see the faults via its agencies, it is always easy to show fault lines. However, where faults are not visible, it is equally hard to predict fault lines. Subject to the inability to predict the fault lines, it becomes challenging to denote the new fault lines the international system will encounter in the future. It requires professional knowhow and a lot of research to identifying “fault lines” when it comes to national security. At the same time, the identification of the fault lines may not be significant in matters of national security as by the time they become visible, national security is already at lapse (Snow, 2010). Summary of the National Security Act of 1947 The National Security Act of 1947 main aim was to mandate a major reorganization of the foreign policy and military establishments of the U.S. Government by formalizing the Department of Defense with Secretary of Defense who reports directly to the Commander-in-chief. The act created many of the institutions relevant to the formulation and implementation of the foreign policy, including the National Security Council (NSC), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the National Security Resources Board. Under the act, the NSC included the President, Vice President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency who addressed both long-term problems and more immediate national security crises. In addition, under this legislation, the Joint Chiefs of Staff consists of the senior officer from each branch of the armed forces. Moreover, the Act replaced the old Office of Strategic Services with a new Central Intelligence Agency to collect information from abroad about possible threats to the United States (United States Department of State 2012; Snow 2010). Additionally, under the act, National Security Resources Board composed of the Chairman of the Board and such heads or representatives of the various executive departments and independent agencies appointed by the President. The President shall appoint the chairperson of the National Security Resources Board from civilian life with the advice and consent of the Senate. In enacting this legislation, the Congress aimed at providing a comprehensive program for the future security of the United States, establishing integrated policies, and procedures for the departments, agencies, and functions of the Government relating to the national security (Snow 2010). Impact of the 1947 National Security Act It had far-reaching impact on the military establishment. The war department and the navy department merged to form the new department of Air force. The CIA was significant in collecting information from abroad on possible threats to the US thus becoming the primary civilian intelligence-gathering organization in the government. There was efficient coordination of homeland security and border security by the formed agencies (Snow 2010). Strengths and weaknesses of the 1947 National Security Act The Act has many strong points that include the ability to coordinate all homeland security issues and the centralization of border security. In addition, the act enables the detailed correction of intelligence information that may help in averting security crisis in US. The principle of the president chairing the NSC, being the appointing authority to the National Security Resources Board, and all security agencies reporting to him as the commander-in-chief centralizes all security operations hence authorization and better management of security issues in America (Snow, 2010). However, the act manifests various weaknesses in the order of authority and the coordination of the various security agencies. Indeed, this necessitated the amendment of the act in 1949 to allow the Defense secretary more power over individual services and their secretaries (Snow, 2010;Silverblatt, 2012). Moreover, the operations and implementation of the act largely relies on the personality of the President, as he is the commander-in-chief. This may lead to more conflicts and misunderstanding like in the President Bush administration. The legislation has however made the national security policy-making process more effective since it sets the standards for handling, discussing, and authorizing any security activities. Indeed, with the CIA collecting intelligence information, the NSC advising the president, the national security policy-making process can only become more effective due to the availability of information and requisite advice. The level of success attached to the legislation in relation to securing America varies from time to time. In some cases, the implementation of the act has succeeded in evading terror attacks and subsequently eliminating terrorists like Osama bin Laden. However, the act was insufficient to prevent major attacks on America soil and ally countries like the 9/11 attack and subsequent attacks on its offices in Kenya (Snow, 2010). In conclusion, I find that the US national security is very fundamental to its citizens and the entire globe. As a result, the federal government has initiated measures through the US national Security Council and other agencies aimed at averting security crisis. The impact of the US National Security Act of 1947 has been significant in addressing matters of security in US. However, the existence of fault lines and technological growth provide a challenge to the US national security policy. Moreover, the federal government is increasingly coming to task in handling matters of security for its citizens both in US and abroad. References Gallaher, C (2003). On the Fault Line: Race, Class, and the American Patriot Movement. London: Rowman & Littlefield. National Security Council (2012). National Security Council. White House. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/nsc Silverblatt, G (2012). The National Security Act of 1947. Central Texas College. Retrieved from http://www.texascollaborative.org/SilverblattModule/act2-1.php Snow, D. (2010). National Security for a New Era. New York: Prentice Hall. United States Department of State (2012). National Security Act of 1947. Office of the Historian. Retrieved from http://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/NationalSecurityAct Read More