Contemporary Issues Concerning Security Issues as A Profession - Assignment Example

Issues Identified Two very critical issues of national security importance are reviewed to assess the impact that these issues have on security as a profession. The first of this is a more socio-cognitive issue of a balance between security and liberty. This issue is termed socio-cognitive because for several years running that the issue has appeared in contemporary discussion and in news articles, it has come as a highly technical academic debate as to whether liberalism means a categorization for liberty or for security. From the news item, an interview with security personnel is reviewed to outline the balance between security and liberty, of which the interviewee refuses to admit that there is any balance. Rather, it is said that liberalism thrives on the wings of security rather than liberty and that if the people are guaranteed of their security, they can champion the possibility of liberalism. The second issue on the other hand happens to be a more tangible and practical phenomenon that happens to be with us as a people on a constant basis. This is the issue of natural disasters and how the country has often been taken unawares by the magnitude and breadth of these natural disasters. In the news item, there is a reflection on one of the major hurricanes that was recorded in the history of the United States and this was Hurricane Katrina. Generally, there are questions of the role that the security professional can play in risk mitigation associated with such natural disasters. Arguing that the mere identification of the disasters and the warning of citizens to stay off are not enough, detailed remarks are given on how the issue impacts security operations and how it can be handled well in future. How issues impact security operations On the issue of balance between liberty and security, there can be several implications drawn on the impact that it has on security operations, though this contemporary issue is highly academic. In the first place, the vivid realization that the very liberties and freedoms of the people rests with the degree of security they have implies that security operations hold, and is responsible for the fundamental protection of the practice of liberalism in the country. If this is so, then there is the need to equip the security forces, and for that matter the security professional with adequate contingency preparations that will ensure that they are able to give maximum protection to the liberties of the collective people of the country. By this, an advocacy for a people centered security operations is admonished. This is because even though the liberties of the people are vested in the constitution of the nation, the actual practice of personal liberties is vested in the hands of the ordinary citizenry (Perkins and Perkins, 1993). On the issue of security risk mitigation in times of natural disasters, it clearly brings to fore, the need for proactive security operations. By proactive, reference is being made of the need to act ahead of risks and not on risks or after risks. A typical example of this could yet be linked or related to the Hurricane Katrina and how according to the news article, the security could have been more advanced in their rescue operations. Part of the rescue operation was identified as the relocation of people ahead of the hurricane. The issue of law enforcement by the security agencies was also mentioned. This is because in many quarters, the security agencies were blamed for refusing to enforce law, asking people to evacuate disaster prone areas. Proposals of solutions to the issues With an envisioned problem of lack of people centered approach to security operations, the news article actually proposes a solution to the issue, which is in the creation of a more open ended security outfit for the ordinary citizenry. Mostly, in the delivery of their roles, security professionals and security organizations are seen as living in a superficial world that is totally out of reach by the ordinary person on the ground (Takaki, 2008). To this end, most security organizations and institutions are seen as an enemy institution rather than a friend. Hitherto, it becomes so difficult for the people to easily in get into contact and interact with the security in their operations to know how best the security can help in protecting the liberties of the people and also help the people to protect their own liberties. With the issue of risk mitigation in times of major natural disasters, the solution that has been outlined or suggested for solving the situation is the use of ground operations strategy. It is often noted that even though some natural disasters are predicted and foreseen, the major weakness associated with them is in the rescue operations. The reason this is so is that there is often not a visible presence of the security force on the ground of disasters and so before a dispatch may even be done of security personnel to a particular security site, much of the harm that could be done gets done. With the ground operations strategy however, there will be a visible security presence in almost all suburbs, counties and villages to ensure that proximity to endangered people in times of natural disasters become enhanced (Doniger, 1999). Measures required for successful implementation For the solutions that have been outlined above to be successfully implemented, there are a couple of measures and factors that need to be considered and followed. In the first place, a people centered security operations can be achieved if security operations is taken down to the people. This means that there would have to be the creation of security support units in various security organizations where people can easily walk in and learn about basic issues of security and how they can protect their liberties and other human rights enshrined in the constitution of the nation. It has been said that where the populace are better involved, they have their rights and liberties better secured and so this should be the first approach to solving the problem of distant security operations (Alfredo, 2008). Because the support units will focus directly on human relations with civilians and other beneficiaries, the news article suggested the need for interpersonal relationship, communication skills, and social interactive skills of the security professional to be enhanced. As far as the improvement of security visibility as a way of enhancing proximity to handle unexpected natural disasters is concerned, it has been suggested that one important measure required for successful implementation is the decentralization of the security system (North West Provincial Legislature, 2012). By this, reference is being made to the need t give powers to local managers of security organizations and institutions to take major decisions that borders on the safety and welfare of the citizenry in times of disasters. Often times, centralization of security operations have meant that orders must come from above before basic rescue services can be given. This has however been said to delay the risk mitigation process (Alfredo, 2008). But to make the decentralization process possible, individual security professionals should be well equipped in training and competence to make decision making effective and result oriented. Reference List Alfredo A. F (2008). Premises of Case Laws of Intellectual Property. Ultimate Printing Press: New York Doniger, W (1999). Splitting the difference. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. North West Provincial Legislature, (2012). The 3 Arms of Government. Accessed September 14, 2013 from http://www.nwpl.gov.za/public/overview/arms_of_government/index.php Perkins, G. and Perkins, B. (1993). Kaleidoscope: Stories of the American Experience. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Takaki, R. T. A (2008). Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America, Revised Edition. Back Bay Books: New York. Read More