Role of Homeland Security

Running head : Homeland Security

Role of Homeland Security

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Abstract

The United States Department of Homeland Security was created as a response to the September 11 , 2001 terrorist attacks . This department sought to centralize all the efforts of various agencies and organizations in pursuit of national security . National security means protecting those which are referred to as critical infrastructures - facilities which are of importance to the state and whose destruction could prove detrimental to the nation . Majority of these critical

infrastructures are owned by the private sector . Thus , this question arises : should the government be involved in protecting these facilities , or should security matters be dealt with by the private organizations ? This states that the federal government must assume protective duties of these said facilities

Role of Homeland Security

The United States Department of Homeland Security was created as a result of the September 11 , 2001 terrorist attacks . The department was established to unite all agencies and organizations involved in national security . Since then , it has been actively responsible for all efforts to maintain peace and in the United States and to prevent future terrorist attacks from occurring . Now critical infrastructures within the United States are a federal responsibility , even if these are privately-owned . However , when it comes to securing these infrastructures , does the responsibility fall under the Department of Homeland Security or is it purely a private concern ? This research aims to assert that the Department of Homeland Security should assume protection duties for critical , private-sector infrastructure facilities

President George W . Bush released an updated version of the National Strategy for Homeland Security on October 9 , 2007 this strategy included the guidelines to centralize and manage the efforts in securing the homeland (White House , n .d . This strategy is not merely a federal effort , but a national project . In terms of homeland security , the strategy and the department have four objectives . First , they seek to avoid and interrupt acts of terrorism in the United States . Second they aim to protect the United States - its people , resources and critical infrastructure ( Strategic Plan ' 2008 White House , n .d Third , they seek to immediately act in response to problems which may occur . Lastly , they aim to maintain homeland security in the long run (White House , n .d

According to the four objectives , the protection of critical infrastructures is part of the responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS . What exactly are critical infrastructures Two decades ago , the word infrastructure ' was classified in terms of public works (Parfomak , 2004 . However , as terrorism became prevalent in all parts of the world , its definition changed in relation to homeland security . In Section 1016e of the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (P .L . 107-56 , the definition of critical infrastructure ' is as such

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...