Securing America and Private Sector Role In National Security - Term Paper Example

Securing America: Private Sector Role in National Security Since the terrorist attack of the September 11 2001, the law enforcement and the law enforcement agencies have been increased tremendously compared to the traditional crime response and prevention mechanisms (Cussler and Cussler, 2006). Notably, the homeland increased its security work within counties, cities, and states. The private security organizations have been put under the same pressure to ensure that people and information are protected with the collaboration with the homeland security. Such security measures are spread across the country. The main function of the private security organization has since been to protect the homeland from internal and external threats, but ensure such private organization remain profitable. Despite protecting the same people, and properties of the United States, the private security organizations, and homeland security have rarely collaborated (National Research Council (U.S.) and National Academies Press (U.S.), 2011). For instance, through the community policing, the private law enforcement agencies have collaborated with other private security agencies but with the homeland security. However, statistically, nearly over 85 percent of the United States’ infrastructure is under the protection of the private security (Bullock, 2006). Therefore, with the increasing complexity in insecurity especially following the 9/11 attack, special resources, and extra staffing are vital for the adequate prevention and response as well as partnership between private and public policing security agencies. Private security and law enforcement are different entities but with similar goals. Moreover, they have different approaches to their operations as well as different sphere of influence. Homeland or the public law enforcement incorporates the tribal, local, and state police departments (Jackson and Schaefer, 2009). On the other hand, the private security is made up of corporate security departments including alarm companies, guard companies, armored car businesses, security equipment manufacturers, and investigative firms among other departments (Cussler and Cussler, 2006). The private security agencies provide professional security at different levels or in places that they are required. Some of the security measures that they provide include cyber crime or skilled computer crime investigations. Before the 9/11 terror attack, the private security and public security agencies had less corporation; however, after the attack, these security bodies deemed necessary and vital for increased and Effective Corporation in providing the public with security that they need (Jackson and Schaefer, 2009). This attack exposed the United States’ vulnerability to numerous security threats including the security of civilians as well as the security of the cyber and physical infrastructures (Cussler and Cussler, 2006). These aspects are known to be vital to the prosperity and well-being of the United States’ economy. In particular, the 9/11 events led to the need for rethinking on the role of the private sector on the newly created security environment. With the increasing private ownership of the infrastructures, the private sector is therefore becoming increasing vital in providing security to these infrastructures. It should be noted that before 9/11 attacks, government and independent advisory agencies warned the state of possible attacks to the United States thereby called for the need of the private and public sectors working together towards addressing such risks. The effort for these agencies to work together started in late 1990’s; however, such efforts were delayed by lack of perceived threats that targeted mainly the private sector (Dalton, 2003). Therefore, the aftermath of the 9/11 increased the need of the government and the private industries or sectors to work their security mechanisms together. Among the most significant step was to initiate the Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs). These centers were intended to increase liaison and information sharing between private industries (through their security details) and the government security agencies. The intended information sharing was in line with looming threats. The private sector is noted to have perfect means and ways of operation especially due to its elaborate disaster planning and response (Jackson and Schaefer, 2009). It effectively operates under these standards because it has its own apparatus and operates with an overwhelming majority of local, state, and national critical resources and key infrastructures. The most critical role of the private sector is the provision of critical infrastructure protection (CIP). This role includes vital federal planning directives, legislation, documentation, and regulations. While planning and executing this role, private sector and individuals work on the business protection and continuity planning (Cussler and Cussler, 2006). Despite these arrangements, a successful disaster response especially often depend on individuals, communities, companies, and governments commitments to intend attacks before they happen. The nation’s cyber, financial, and physical security depends on adequate and effective critical infrastructures. According to the Congress, the critical infrastructures include ‘‘Systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of these matters” (Sturken, 2007). The fact that individuals and the nation cannot function without infrastructures including power plants, emergency and hospital rooms, air and rail transportation systems, automobiles, financial networks, internet, and telecommunication makes them critical. Hence, it is through these critical infrastructures that the private sector require to provide effective and essential goods and services that make life possible (Scahill, 2011). The damage to these infrastructures makes live difficult and nearly impossible; therefore, private sector often provides security to them to ensure smooth life. For example, cyber-attack will cripple the internet. The country uses internet intensively that interference with the internet supply will have a drastic effect on commerce across the country. For instance, business that depends on internet for order delivery may be affected with internet interference that will slow down their business (Bullock, 2006). Most of these critical infrastructures are privately owned; hence, there are needs for the private sector to heighten security on the same towards reducing interference on their usage that may affect the operation of a state or a country (Sturken, 2007). The private sector is bound to monitor the usage of the Internet towards identifying and immediately preventing the misuse of the Internet that may lead to threats including terror attacks. Protection of the critical infrastructure of the nation have since evolved especially following the 9/11 terror attack (Bullock, 2006). Different private and public organs have been tasked with different mandates in coordinating, directing, regulating, and overseeing the security procedures that will ensure that nation’s critical infrastructures are protected from any threat or attack. The private and the public security agencies use the national infrastructure protection plan (NIPP) that provides process to organize the private sector and the government towards addressing any threat especially terror threats urgently particularly in line with CIP (Dalton, 2003). The private security sector and government agencies are currently applying emerging legal measures to establish litigation measures and standards to handle previous terror acts and future threats of terrorism (Sturken, 2007). Other than the private sector working on the mechanisms towards establishing the preparedness to threats and terror attacks, the homeland security is also establishing the same but with partnership with private sector by establishing a clear information sharing mechanisms between them. Some of the congress or homeland concerns on the terror attack include threats associated by chemical terror attacks. It should be noted that the private sector’s role in protecting the critical infrastructures is purely voluntary. The effectiveness in achieving maximum protection of these physical assets was forged through adequate information sharing and setting up analysis centers (Cussler and Cussler, 2006). After the 9/11 attack, there was an immense need to protect the homeland from any other terror attack and the need became the private sector’s vital role. It the critical infrastructure protection did not start after 9/11 attacks, but it was a post-cold war phenomenon. Before the 9/11 attack, several events had taken place in the United States. These 1990s phenomena had forced the policy makers to think of ways of protecting the homeland (National Research Council (U.S.) and National Academies Press (U.S.), 2011). Therefore, it is worth noting the major reasons that led to the formation of the CIP were the several terrorism attacks that had targeted the United States and its affiliated nation and citizens abroad. Therefore, there were needs to initiate measures for the United States to protect its population and their assets. Nonetheless, after the 9/11 terror attack in the United States, the critical infrastructure protection increased by first initiating the national strategy especially towards effective operation of homeland security in protection American population and its property against future terror attacks(Cussler and Cussler, 2006). One of such strategies were formulated in the 2002 with the main strategies including prevention of terrorism attacks in America, reduce vulnerability of America to terrorism, and to minimize damage in case of attack and quicken recovery in case of attack(National Research Council (U.S.) and National Academies Press (U.S.), 2011). The strategies of homeland security following the 9/11 terror attacks created close relationship with the private sector to help in identifying the vulnerability of the United States to terror attacks and help in eliminating them as quick as possible (Dalton, 2003). This policy mandated the private sector with risk assessments on properties and investing in systems that would protect the key assets. This was set to ensure that the private sector corporate with the citizens in identifying and eliminating any terror threats towards safeguarding economic assets of employers, shareholders, and the nation. The main reason for the government partnering with private sector was the fact that despite the government’s ability to protect the private sector from attacks and threats, the industries are in better positions to assess potential to the threats, own vulnerability, deploying technology, recommending resilient strategies, implementing protective measures, and conduct cost-effective evaluations. In 2003, the federal government initiated cyberspace protection that was formulated under the cyberspace strategy (Bullock, 2006). In curbing any threat or handling after the terror attack, the private sector are expected to provide welfare and protection of the employees at the workplace of attack or otherwise. It is also expected to provide emergency measures in some cases including provision of water, network, means of communication, transportation, security, and medical care among other services (National Research Council (U.S.) and National Academies Press (U.S.), 2011). These are the currently provided response and recovery strategies that are provided for by private security agencies in case of any attack. Other current preparedness measures undertaken by private sectors include planning to protect employees, facilities, and infrastructures; planning to protect information and smooth operation as well as continuity of the business operation; respond and recover from accidents that affects own facility and infrastructure; and liaising with emergency team personnel. Security is vital for every individual, state, and nation; hence, it is vital that security is provided to the citizens at all time. Terrorism is an international threat and wrecks economies; therefore, it is vital that the government to apply all necessary measure to ensure such threats and attacks are reduced. The aftermath of 9/11 created a perfect a platform that the government and private sector equally utilized towards increasing the security by eliminating possible threats that may lead to terror attacks either on the physical infrastructures or in the cyberspace (Alexander and Alexander, 2002). Therefore, the collaboration between the homeland security and the private security agencies following the 9/11 attacks has boosted security of citizens, physical infrastructures, and cyberspace in the United States. ReferencesTop of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Alexander, D. C., & Alexander, Y. (2002). Terrorism and business: The impact of September 11, 2001. Ardsley, NY: Transnational Publishers. Bullock, J. A. (2006). Introduction to homeland security. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann. Cussler, C., & Cussler, D. (2006). Black wind. New York: Berkley Books. Dalton, D. R. (2003). Rethinking corporate security in the post-9/11 era: Issues and strategies for today's global business community. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann. Jackson, B. A., & Schaefer, A. G. (2009). The challenge of domestic intelligence in a free society: A multidisciplinary look at the creation of a U.S. domestic counterterrorism intelligence agency. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corp. National Research Council (U.S.)& National Academies Press (U.S.). (2011). Building community disaster resilience through private-public collaboration. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press. Scahill, J. (2011). Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army. London: Profile. Sturken, M. (2007). Tourists of history: Memory, kitsch, and consumerism from Oklahoma City to Ground Zero. Durham: Duke University Press. Read More