Foundations of Modern Homeland Security
Where were you on September 11, 2001, when a major event occurred that changed the lives of Americans forever? Al-Qaida carried out the most devastating terrorist attack in U.S. history by hijacking four commercial airliners to use as guided missiles. Some called this domestic attack the second Pearl Harbor.
Many innocent lives were lost in the air and on the ground. Never before had America experienced such a major terrorist event within its borders.
The 9/11 Commission was formed to examine all aspects of the events, with the specific goal of identifying the failings of the federal government that enabled al-Qaida to carry out the attacks. Its final report highlighted numerous systemic failings at all levels of government. Many of these failings have since been corrected, mainly through the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the distribution of responsibilities and missions of its state offices. The Homeland Security Act (HSA) gave the U.S. government vastly increased powers to detect and defeat terrorist groups, both domestic and foreign, giving further powers to DHS and its state offices.
On November 30, 2017, then-Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke announced the transition of the Office for Community Partnerships (OCP) to the Office of Terrorism Prevention Partnerships (OTPP). The mission of OTPP is to enhance education and community awareness regarding the threat, provide resources as appropriate to terrorism prevention stakeholders, coordinate relevant DHS terrorism prevention activities, actively counter terrorist radicalization and recruitment, and promote early warning so that our frontline defenders can intervene to stop attacks and help prevent individuals from going down the path to violence.
Former U.S. Homeland Security Chief Elaine Duke warned that terrorists desire to carry out massive attacks similar to 9/11. However, in the meantime, they will carry out small attacks, like van or knife rampages, as a tool to retain money and followers (Ma, 2017). Recruiting is a crucial function to attract followers and raise money in the interim; knife attacks and vehicle ramming are quick and simple ways to increase terrorist profiles.
Ma, A. (2017, October 19). U.S. Homeland Security chief says terrorists want a new 9/11: Here’s how the U.S. is stopping them. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/elaine-duke-us-acting-homeland-security-chief-terrorists-want-new-911-2017-10
Case Assignment
What were some lessons learned from this attack? Be specific, give examples, and cite your sources. Briefly comment on interagency planning, interagency cooperation, and community partnerships.
Briefly summarize the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)’s significant roles and responsibilities regarding counterterrorism and preventing the next major terrorist attack against the Homeland.
Explain ODNI’s position on signals intelligence collection.
Assignment Expectations
Length: This Case Assignment should be 3-5 pages, not counting the title page and references.
References: At least two references should be included from academic sources (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles). Required readings are included. Quoted material should not exceed 10% of the total paper (since the focus of these assignments is critical thinking). Use your own words and build on the ideas of others. When material is copied verbatim from external sources, it MUST be enclosed in quotes. The references should be cited within the text and listed at the end of the assignment in the References section (preferably in APA format).
Organization: Subheadings should be used to organize your paper according to question.
Grammar and Spelling: While no points are deducted for minor errors, assignments are expected to adhere to standard guidelines of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence syntax. Points may be deducted if grammar and spelling impact clarity.
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