Homeland Security - Historical Trends - Essay Example

?Homeland Security: Historical trends Introduction The terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001 were a major catalyst in highlighting the importanceof homeland security, signifying the need to strengthen internal defenses against all possible threats. The ‘Department of Homeland Security’ (DHS) was carved out as a result of this incident and is now the third largest department under the office of the President of the United States (Sauter, 2005). The need for credible defense of the homeland is not a new or recent phenomenon. In fact, the issue has been at the center stage of US government policy since the foundation of the republic. The next section describes some of the issues, events and factors that have influenced the notion of homeland security over the past 200 years. Historical evolution of Homeland Security Prior to 9/11, homeland defense was the responsibility of the US military. The founders who framed the constitution regarded homeland security as a crucial obligation. In fact, it served as the basis for a ‘common defense’ mechanism that was constituted by President George Washington and tasked with protecting the nation against foreign invaders (most notably the English, French and the Spaniards) as well as native Indian tribes (Maxwell, 2008). Having fought against the English in their war for Independence, the leaders of the American republic were wary of another attempt by the empire and considered it as the greatest threat. In contrast, the US was embroiled in internal territorial conflicts with the French and Spanish. Besides disputes with France over ownership of a large swathe of land in the western United States, Spain’s occupation of the state of Florida and neighboring territories was another important reason for strong internal security (Maniscalco, 2010). Moreover, frequent conflicts with native Indians were delaying the country’s expansion into the west. Securing the sea-lanes was also another important element of this security framework, which led to the construction of several naval bases along the East Coast of the US (Maniscalco, 2010). Nevertheless, the Americans in those days were unable to match the superiority of the English. For instance, the latter captured and burnt the capital city of Washington during the Anglo-American war of 1812 (Maniscalco, 2010). A lack of skilled manpower was cited as the main reason for this mishap, which raised many questions on the nation’s ability to secure its borders1. The war of 1812 taught many a lesson and prompted the US Congress to allocate more budgets for securing harbor defenses. The US Military Academy was churning some of the brightest engineers and strategists who helped improve security over the years.2 The 1861 Civil war was a pivotal moment in the history of homeland security as it highlighted the importance of technological advancement within the security apparatus (Ball, 2005). The use of rifled canons by the Union Navy surpassed all traditional beliefs and was successful in penetrating all standing fortifications. Lack of any suitable response led to the occupation of New Orleans by the Union forces and the eventual conclusion of the war in 1865 (Ball, 2005). With the war behind, a new phase of reconstruction was undertaken with a view to strengthen homeland security. The Army provided security to former slaves in the country’s south and also established courts. The growing prowess of the US Military was evident during the 1898 Spanish-American War although glaring lapses were identified at numerous locations along the west coast3. The US was also rewarded with the territories of Puerto Rico, Philippines and Guam calling the need for a comprehensive defense mechanism that extended beyond traditional boundaries and helped secure crucial sea lanes (Ward, 2006). The US entered the Second World War with the 1941 Japanese bombing of its naval base in Pearl Harbor. The US government was quick to understand the importance of ships and aircraft in homeland defense (Sauter, 2005). The irrelevance of coastal artillery units during this period resulted in their redeployment for field operations. By adopting this strategy, the US Military was able to counter the threats posed by Japanese and German submarines and aircraft. Increasing range of German aircraft and the bombing of London by the Luftwaffe (Nazi Air Force) soon elevated the role of air defense in the equation of homeland security (Maxwell, 2008). The subsequent introduction of nuclear weapons prompted the infamous nuclear arms race, which shifted the threat to the skies. The US constituted the NORAD (North American Air Defense Command) for early air warning and control over the North American airspace (Maniscalco, 2010). Homeland security was also implemented at the local levels through numerous awareness and civil awareness initiatives. Most notably, families and individuals were educated on taking cover when necessary4. Building underground shelters below homes became a mandatory requirement. Cities often participated in air raid drills to train for potential bombing raids by hostile forces (Ball, 2005). Since the 1960s, the focus of homeland security has shifted from securing against hostile nations to issues such as terrorism and counterinsurgency. Incidents such as the hijacking of planes and the bombing of buildings (like the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 and the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1996) soon occupied the center stage of homeland security (Ball, 2005). The US Military cannot respond or contain these threats through large-scale military responses and has instead focused more on law enforcement5. Engagement with the Justice Department also gained prominence as a result. Conclusion Today, homeland security is organized as a separate wing of the US government. Other federal agencies such as the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) also work in conjunction to prevent future terrorist attacks while the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) assumes significance whenever such as attack does occur (Ward, 2006). The government can invoke the military to assist in all these activities wherever requires. Following the events of 9/11, the American public was highly skeptic of the ability of the military in containing internal terrorist threats. The failure of existing agencies in identifying and containing the threat forced President Bush to constitute the Department of Homeland Security as part of sweeping measures aimed at emboldening internal security6. While the threat to the United States has changed over the past 200 years, Ward (2006) expresses no doubt that the DHS, together with the Department of Defense, would play a crucial role in securing the nation over the years to come. References Ball, H., 2005. U.S. homeland security: a reference handbook. London: ABC-CLIO. Maniscalco, P., 2010. Homeland security: principles and practice of terrorism response. London: Jones & Bartlett. Maxwell, B., 2008. Homeland security: a documentary history. University of Michigan. Sauter, M., 2005. Homeland security: a complete guide to understanding, preventing, and surviving terrorism. New York: McGraw Hill. Ward, R., 2006. Homeland Security: An Introduction. New York: Elsevier. Endnotes Read More