The National strategy of the USA - Research Paper Example

?Homeland Security Strategies Introduction In the wake of the 21st century, the United s is faced with a wide range of complex challenges that are related to national security. Homeland security traces its origin to traditional and historic functions of the government and society, for example emergency response, civil defense, law enforcement, border patrols, customs, and immigration. The national strategy was aimed at renewing American leadership so that the nation advances its 21st century interests. This strategy recognizes the basic connection between the states’ national competitiveness, national security, resilience, and moral example. This reaffirms that America is committed to pursue its interests by the use of an international system where all countries have specific rights and responsibilities. The paper will discuss the homeland security strategies focused on the safety and security of the citizens of America. This is attributed to the fact that there have been enormous threats to American citizens than weapons of mass destruction, especially the danger posed by the pursuit of nuclear weapons by violent extremists and their proliferation to neighboring states. As noted by Reddick (2010) the National Security Strategy which was released in May, 27 2010 rolled out a strategic approach for the advancing American interests including the security of the American citizens, improving American economy, and supports their values, as well as an international order that tackles the challenges of the 21st century. The strategies include: Defeating terrorism globally After the September 9/11, terrorism attacks the United States has made significant steps in ensuring the safety of the nation. It formed the foundation of Department of Homeland Security (DHS), whose functions took a new organization and urgency. Their approaches now included: restricting hostile actors the capability to operate within the American borders; shared efforts to determine and interdict threats; maintaining effective control of our physical borders; ensuring national resilience in the face of the hazards and threats; safeguarding lawful trade and travel into and out of United States of America. The DHS and many of its partners locally, regionally, and internationally as well as the communities have strengthened the homeland security enterprise to mitigate and defend against dynamic threats. Their core strategic objectives include: comprehending the threat, deterring and disrupting operations, protecting against terrorist capabilities, stopping the spread of violent extremism, and increasing community participation in order to deter terrorists and alleviate radicalization towards violence. According to DHS (2012) it reported that its efforts to prevent terrorism are centered on a layered risk-based approach to the security in the cargo and passenger systems of transportation, borders, and ports of entry.  It consists of new technologies to: help detect explosives and other dangerous weapons; aid in the protection of critical infrastructure and cyber networks from attack; build partnerships in information sharing. According to Guiora (2011) found out that DHS works in corporation with many partners in countering violent extremists. These extremists cause a great threat to national security. The DHS has initiated the following programs to counter violent extremists: international partnerships with other countries like Canada, Spain, Belgium, and Germany; conducting joint workshops and conferences of law enforcement agents; and provision of grants to the support of law enforcement efforts. Terrorist activities that may occur due to explosives are cut out by DHS’s work through enhancing the counter-IED capabilities of the nation and reduce the threat of explosive attack. Moreover, terrorist activities are prevented through: building of the homeland security enterprise which has fusion centers, nationwide suspicion activity reporting initiative, presence of homeland security information network, the see something say something campaign, and grant funding; improving the screening of passengers, through trusted traveler programs, pre departure vetting, and secure flight; prevention of terrorist travel through passenger name records (PNR) and immigration advisory program; enhanced screening of baggage and cargo made possible through enhanced explosives screening, air cargo screening, and maritime cargo screening (DHS, 2012). In the years to come, the American government intends to allocate $ 5 billion in assistance by means of the Shared Security Partnership which would improve the ability of the state’s partners to enhance their own security framework and work closely to the US government to defeat terrorism globally. Strengthening the Bio and Nuclear security Moreover, the DHS is also tasked with preventing the illegal acquisition or utilization of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) derived materials and capabilities. Specific attention has been given to the safety of malicious CBRN weapons, materials, and technologies. It does so by controlling access and movement of CBRN, protecting against hostile utilization of CBRN (Reddick, 2010). Attacks that emanate from CBRN weapons and outbreaks from pandemic diseases cause a serious and increases national security. This will aim on reducing the risk of high-consequence, non-traditional threats and hazards. The decision makers are equipped with the tools they require to manage disease outbreaks by connecting the medical care providers, public health agencies, and infirmaries. According to Koong, Merhi and Sun (2013) assert that by creating unmatched American talent and through global partnerships, this will enable the production of new drugs, diagnostic tests, and vaccines as well as manufacturing them faster and efficiently. Furthermore, reinforcements have been made to the states nuclear security by improving the nuclear detection architecture. By coming up with well-planned, well-practiced plans for coordinated response guarantees the ability to dramatically reduce the effects of CBRN incidents. Enhancing the capacity of intelligence and sharing of information A security sensitive nation like the United States gathering, analyzing and efficiently sharing the intelligence is crucial for its security purposes. So as to prevent threats such those posed by malicious actors or terrorists, there is need to strengthen the collection of intelligence to determine and interdict those who have the intention of doing harm to America (Bullock, Haddow, & Cappola, 2012). The collection of information to prevent terrorist attacks need to be analyzed and shared. As a consequence, there have been significant investments made in America’s analytic capabilities and their capacity to share intelligence to sections of the government. As the intelligence is grows in its capability, the President Obama’s administration is also committed to reinforcing efforts to protect the civil and privacy rights of all Americans (Caldwell, 2012). Through intelligence information critical infrastructure safety is guaranteed by the state as having them destroyed or incapacitated would have an adverse effect on the economic security and public safety. DHS protects the nation’s health security by providing early detection and warning any terrorist attacks (Dempsey, 2007). Creation of a secure global digital information and communications infrastructure In the last few years, the DHS has made significant steps in improving the security of the country’s critical infrastructure as well as its cyber networks and infrastructure. The Homeland Security strategy with regard to safeguarding and securing cyberspace is through creation of a safe and resilient cyber settings and promoting cyber-security innovation and knowledge (Shoemaker, & Conklin, 2011). Considerable efforts have been made in determining the critical infrastructure systems and assets, and comprehending the current, emerging, and future threats to those infrastructures. The DHS has prioritized risks to critical infrastructure, protecting critical infrastructure, making critical infrastructure resilient, and protecting special events, state leaders and facilities. Considered as a nations which have totally embraced digital technology, the United States’ strength, infrastructure, vitality to the economy, national security, and public safety have been founded on the basis of cyberspace (Koong, Merhi, & Sun, 2013). Inspire of all these efforts, the state’s security organs have pointed out that the global digital infrastructure, which is significantly dependent on the internet is not secure for current purposes. As a result, protection of the cyberspace needs strong vision and leadership and will need significant alterations in technology, policy, education (Reddick, 2010). Immediately President Obama assumed office, he called for a comprehensive review of the resiliency and security of the global digital infrastructure (Caldwell, 2012). Promoting the resilience of the physical and social infrastructure Ensuring the resilience of the state’s critical infrastructure is important to homeland security. By working in partnership with the private and public sector players at all levels will lead to the development of a holistic, effective, and protection of critical infrastructure plan that is focused on investments, technology, government, civil society, and business. There is also need to invest in the nation’s most important infrastructure needs namely: upgrading the transit networks, modernizing the electrical grid, and protecting the public transportation systems used by Americans (Caldwell, 2012). Reinforce comprehensive trans-border security In order to tackle the problems at the national borders, there is a comprehensive approach used to secure the borders. In addition to working with international and local partners, and the private sector, efforts are being made to develop and deploy technology to enhance port security without causing the disruption of the economy, and improving the security of core transportation networks that link America to the outside world. A strategic plan by DHS (2012) pointed out that the DHS border and security management efforts have been aimed at three interconnected goals: streamlining and safeguarding lawful commerce and transit activities; effectively securing and protecting the American air, land and sea borders; and disrupting and disintegrating transnational criminal and terrorist activities and organizations. This strategy has enabled prevention of unauthorized flow goods and people across the U.S land, air and sea borders, while at the same time expediting the safe movement of legal travel and trade. There also have been utilization of screening and identification verification methods, using advanced detection techniques, and utilization of ‘trusted traveler’ approaches, together with other security enhancement techniques. Effective resilience to disaster management The homeland security strategy include: mitigating hazards; enhancing national preparedness by means of a whole community approach to emergency management; ensuring effective emergency response; and improving the nation’s ability to adapt and recover quickly from catastrophic events (DHS, 2012). Besides, Koong, Merhi and Sun (2013) note that there is coordination at all sectors of the government. By so doing, there is creation of better evacuation guidelines, improved administration of medical care to the victims of disasters, and increase in Federal resources and logistics to improve the support of local emergency efforts. In addition, plans have been made to develop a comprehensive interagency contingency plans especially for high-risk attack and disaster scenarios and testing these plans via realistic exercises. Lastly, technical and financial support is being offered to the locals and significantly increasing the funding on reliable and interoperable communications systems. Strengthening and administering immigration laws The nation’s immigration policy plays a major role in the success of advancing homeland security. The DHS has been focused on effective and smart implementation of U.S immigration laws and regulations while streamlining and facilitating the authorized process of immigration. As a result, it has promoted legal migration, expediting governing of immigration services, and encouraging the integration of lawful migrants into the American society. The conditions that encourage foreign nationals to unlawfully enter and remain in the U.S have been reduced, while identifying and eliminating those who violate the immigrations laws (DHS, 2012). Provision of essential support to national and economic security DHS (2012) argues that the national security strategy identifies national defense and economic security as overall U.S national security. The DHS leads and supports numerous activities that offer support to economic and national security including: preventing children exploitation, maximizing customs revenue collection; provision of law enforcement training; maintaining the safety of marine transportation system; and lastly, coordinating the response of the Federal Government to global intellectual property theft. Conclusion Moreover, the DHS has established the following three core priority goals for FY 2012 and FY 2013 as Homeland Security Strategies. First, is reinforcing the aviation security counterterrorism capabilities by utilizing risk-based decisions and the intelligence driven information. Second goal in enhancing Homeland Security the efficiency of the process in order to arrest and detain all illegal immigrants in the U.S. Lastly, is making sure that there is resilience to disasters by improving disaster preparedness and response capabilities. Each state will be having a current Threat, Hazard, Identification and Risk Assessment certified by the DHS. The national security strategies have enabled the United States rebuild its economy as this will serve as an engine of opportunity for the American people and a source of American influence globally. The strategies have also ensured America has the world’s best-educated personnel, an innovation oriented private sector, and businesses and citizens can access affordable medical care. To sum up, Homeland Security strategies require a disciplined approach to setting priorities and making trade offs amongst competing programs and activities. All these efforts if summed up, they have been projected to position America for success in the global market place. Moreover, it will not only support the national security capacity, but also reinforce the intelligence information gathering and sharing, military intelligence, diplomacy and development, and the nation’s security and resilience. Reference List Bullock, J. A., Haddow, G. D., & Cappola, D. P. (2012). Homeland Security. Walthan, USA: Butterworth-Heinemann. Caldwell, S. L. (2012). Managing Fear: The Politics of Homeland Security. Political Science Quaterly , 126 (1), 77-106. Dempsey, J. S. (2007). Introduction to Private Security. Belmont, USA: Cengage Learning. Department of HomelandSecurity. (2012). Department of Homeland Security Strategic Plan. Washington D.C: U.S Department of Homeland Security. DHS. (2012). Homeland Security. Retrieved November 17, 2013, from Preventing Terrorism: http://www.dhs.gov/preventing-terrorism Guiora, A. N. (2011). Homeland Security: What Is It and Where Are We Going? Utah: CRC Koong, K. S., Merhi, M. I., & Sun, J. (2013). Push and pull effects of homeland information security incentives. Journal of Information Management & Computer Security , 21 (3), 155-176. Reddick, C. (2010). Homeland Preparedness and Information Sytems. New York: Greenwood Publications. Shoemaker, D., & Conklin, W. A. (2011). Cybersecurity: The Essential Body of Knowledge. Belmont: Cengage Learning. Read More