Defending the American Homeland 1993-2003 (Counterproliferation Papers, Future Warfare Series. Number 20)

摘要

Homeland security is the most complex endeavor this nation has ever faced. Some see this new mission as just an evolutionary step in the national security process. This is not the case--it is a change in kind, not degree. For most of our history, national security took place in Washington, D.C. and overseas. The key players were all in the federal government, most notably, the Departments of Defense, State, and the Intelligence Community. Today there are 57 federal agencies, 50 states, 8 territories, and 3,066 counties involved in U.S. homeland security. In fact, there are 87,000 different governmental jurisdictions that will play roles in homeland security Furthermore, the private sector will play a major role in homeland security, and this role will not be limited to logistical support. Corporate America will be required to play a major operational role in homeland security. The changes that have and will continue to occur make it difficult to even decide which questions to ask, much less, how to answer them. Perhaps the first step will be to change how we think about security in the twenty-first century. If we are to secure the American homeland from 21st century threats, we must learn to do something that is very difficult...we must change the way we think. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to help the readers change the way they think about homeland security, no easy task.