The Homeland Security System

The homeland security system of the United States is a large machine. It is an all-encompassing machine that produces copious amounts of intelligence and information. How the information is processed, analyzed and distributed is another mechanism of the machine. There are many civil liberty issues that have recently arisen from post 9/11 policies set in place by previous and current administrations. These issues stem from intelligence collection methods in all facets of collection. The question is, how does protecting the homeland from domestic and foreign threats work without destroying the very fabric that the United States was founded on? How does the intelligence community avoid another 9/11? How does the intelligence community work

These five core missions of homeland security are: Preventing terrorism and enhancing security; Securing and managing our borders; Enforcing and administering our immigration laws; Safeguarding and securing cyberspace; and Ensuring resilience to disasters. How the mission is accomplished is through many separate, but interconnected missions. It is an ever-evolving cycle that continually changes and adapts to the changing threat environment. However, the rate at which the government can adapt and modify how it works is the first issue. The government has a very complex operating system that is full of bureaucracy and red tape that limits how fast changes can be implemented. This effects time sensitive information and adaptation to how the threat changes. As soon as a change is made to the system in order to adapt to an evolving threat, the threat has morphed, or modified itself in order to defeat the countermeasures in place. This would put the system one step behind the threat all the time. While there are ways to overcome the bureaucracy and red tape, there are short-term modifications that can be made as a stopgap in order to make the mission a success. While these short-term solutions may work, that is exactly what they are, short term solutions. There may have not have been sufficient time to allow for debate on the solution put in place. However, once the threat has subsided or mitigated

Even with the emergence of domestic spying and snooping on citizens of the United States, the country is relatively secure. There is a fine line that must be walked in order to meet the needs of providing security for the nation and providing the civil liberties that are afforded to the citizens of the country. This line has become blurred since the attacks of 9/11 with the addition of numerous laws and acts to assist the federal government in meeting the threats posed to the nation. The cost of some of these laws and acts will continue to be looked at for the foreseeable future, as they should be. Once the government starts taking away civil liberties in the name of national security and security for the population, the country’s foundation is all but lost and the oppression begins of the very citizens the system was designed to protect.
Given the robust nature of the homeland security system in the United States, the abilities to forecast and meet challenges that are presented to the nation will continue to be met. For all of the incidents that are prevented or dealt with in an acceptable manner, the incident that is most talked about is the one that slipped through the cracks. In order to prevent this from happening the homeland security machine needs to continue to be a well oiled machine that continually evolves and adapts to the changing