Homeland security is the combined efforts of many different state, local and federal agencies, and departments. Civilian organizations and religious groups can also play a significant role the practice of homeland security. Homeland security should not be confused with the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security plays a vital role in the mission of homeland security, but they are only one piece of many. The mission of homeland security is the protection of United States citizens and property from enemy threats and emergency management through mitigation, risk assessments, preparedness, and recovery.
It is hard to measure the success of homeland security because it depends on the definition of success. Success can be defined through the separate lenses of mitigation, preparedness, and recovery. Protective barriers in front of a government building that mitigated the number of casualties can be defined as success, but it can also be defined as a failure because the attack was not stopped before it even began. Also, how many attacks were prevented just because protective barriers were in place? These protective barriers sometimes deter attacks. Politics play a big role in public perception of efficiency when it comes to recovery efforts after catastrophic events such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Maria.
I am a counterintelligence specialist in the Marine Corps. What interests me the most about homeland security is deterring, preventing, and stopping terrorist threats and objectives. I understand all aspects of homeland security are equally important, but I have worked with the terror threat for over 15 years. This is my first homeland security class because I have a BA in history, and I am currently studying international relations. I do not feel I understand what could or should be fixed in homeland security at this point in my studies. I know there is a debate in what should or should not be federalized. I feel there could be better coordination and less finger-pointing between state and federal governments in disaster relief efforts.
In Matthew 5:9 Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” I picked this verse because I feel there will never be a world without war, but I believe diplomacy and conflict resolution are two especially important tools towards a better and safer world.
References
Nemeth, C. P. (2017). Homeland security: an introduction to principles and practice (Third). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Fox, J. (2020, May).
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