What do you believe the role of the Dept. of Homeland Security should be - Essay Example

Question: What do you believe the role of the Dept. of Homeland Security should be How might the role of this department differ from the role the military has always played in domestic issues The role of the military in domestic issues is completely downplayed by the role in international issues. "military force is always a central component of national power." (Lechner and Boli p 80) "Even when the direct use of force is barred among a group of countries, however, military power can still be used politically.

Each superpower continues to use the threat of force to deter attacks by other superpowers on itself or its allies; its deterrence ability thus serves an indirect, protective role, which it can use in bargaining on other issues with its allies." (Lechner and Boli p 80). The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. (DoD 101). As a citizen of the US, I believe the military's primary role is not domestic but for deterrence from invasion and war in other countries, if needed.

On the other hand, the Department of Homeland Security was established after a local terrorist attack, 9/11/01, on United States as a means to control domestic issues of danger posed by a foreign threat. It actually started as the Office of Homeland Security with an executive order of the president. Soon the media and members of congress were demanding to know more about what OHS was doing. Bush and the OHS involved executive privileges but after all the pressure, announced a proposal instead and signed a bill to enact the Department of Homeland Security.

"It will help us deploy nuclear detection equipment at our ports of entry, raise security standards at the nation's chemical plants, safeguard American cities against weapons of mass destruction, and stop terrorists seeking to enter our country. The bill will also help our government better respond to emergencies and natural disasters by strengthening the capabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This legislation will give us better tools to enforce our immigration laws and to secure our southern border.

" (Bush 2006) Today, the home pages of the Department of Homeland Security states that "Homeland Security leverages resources within federal, state, and local governments, coordinating the transition of multiple agencies and programs into a single, integrated agency focused on protecting the American people and their homeland." (Department Subcomponents and Agencies). I believe that purpose of DHS should be involved in domestic safety issues only, and if I understand President's Bush explanation of the Bill he signed to enable the DHS, that is what they do.

For something as important as peace and safety it seems better to have a department that handles the domestic safety (DHS) and a department that handles international safety (DoD). It is my understanding, however, that if needed the DHS could invoke the forces of the military in support of its mission domestically. That also seems proper that they should work together to support each other. Works Cited "Department Subcomponents and Agencies." Homeland Security. September 16, 2008 November 20, 2008.

http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/ "DoD 101 An Introductory Overview of the Department of Defense" U.S. Department of Defense Official Website November 20, 2008. http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/dod101/ Bush, George W. "President Bush Signs Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act." Office of the Press Secretary. The Camelback Inn, Scottsdale, Arizona. October 4, 2006. November 20, 2008. Lechner, Frank and John Boli. The Globalization Reader Hoboken, NJ : Blackwell Publishing, 2004 Magleby, David B. David M. O'Brien, Paul C.

Light, and JW Peltason Government by The People: National, State, and local. 21st Ed..: Prentice Hall 2006