Comments on: Homeland Security – What Is it?

By: Pharmacy News

Pharmacy News — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:44:51 +0000

The WTC construction parcel is straightaway crosswise Faith Street. But somehow the sounds are dramatically softened beneath the high Light Oaks. Decapod apples and new maturation trees are in flush. The necropolis is mantled with knock and colour petals.

By: Armed Security Companies

Armed Security Companies — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:29:41 +0000

Security of our country is top priority, homeland security is an effort in the right direction to protect our land from all possible attacks.

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:49:50 +0000

In September 2006 Dan Prieto gave testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on the subjects covered by this post and comments. I think it might well be of interest to the readers of this blog.

Unfortunately not knowing how to get it to this blog I posted it on my own at http://vlg338.blogspot.com

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:40:17 +0000

In September 2006 Dan Prieto gave Senate testimony on the subject of this post and comments. I find it particulary useful to point out that even if organization structure is perfect and management is great success is not always achieved. Just as determiniation and motivation does not always lead to a win in sporting events or even military engagements.

The testimony is posted on my blog at http://vlg338.blogspot.com

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:02:27 +0000

Organizational design and management competence may assist in reaching various goals but never guarantees success. Just as motivation and determination never are the sole determinants of a sporting events outcome. Same with HS and defining HS.

I posted on my blog at http://vlg338.blogspot.com testimony delivered by Dan Prieto that covers some of the same ground as this post and comments. I think it sets a high standard for discourse on these subjects. Just as this post and comments.

By: Philip J. Palin

Philip J. Palin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:23:43 +0000

Il Vecchio’s distinction between homeland security, as a field or discipline, and the Department of Homeland Security is important. I am usually more concerned about homeland security.

But I find the gatekeeper and coordinator frames very helpful for the Department. I wonder what he might make of gatekeepers and facilitators?

To me a coordinator needs some semblance of accepted order. I don’t think we’re there (yet). A facilitator on the other hand is attentive to the needs/wants of the various players and works to make achievement easier… often by exposing shared needs/wants… and organizing around those potential sources of common order.

See: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/facilitate

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 06:03:35 +0000

Thanks Cosmo! I think the last sentence is the operative one in your post. Thus, the citizens are ulitmately the most important gatekeepers and coordinators IMO. To be i that role they need technical assistance. How much technical assistance to citizens is given by DHS on HS? That also would be another interesting metric? And how do you best support the development, adoption, and operation of the “sinews of HS”? Are some missions, goals, programs, functions, and activities of DHS adverse to building, adopting, operating these “sinews of HS”? You could go policy by policy, or program by program as an example and analyze how HS is impacted positively or negatively? For example does the presence and entry into the US of large numbers of undocumented people aid HS or detract from HS? I don’t believe that answer is a simple one. Related for example–is the existence of dual citizenship as a US legal policy something that aids or detracts from HS? Does an open and largely unregulated INTERNET aid or detract from HS? The list is endless. But a start would be what was mandated by statute for the QHSR and not yet provided–the origins, development, policies, adoption and implementation of each DHS component and whether it adds or detracts from HS? Another example, does the organization of Congress promote or detract from HS, and if either is analyzed, why or why not? This question has been answered in the negative in many many major reports and studies, all of them of course ignored by Congress.

By: Cosmo deMedici

Cosmo deMedici — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:58:57 +0000

There is a difference between “homeland security” and the Department of Homeland Security. Statute tells you what the Department is and is not, by the authorities (aka mission, power, and roles) granted.

In simple terms, the Department of Homeland Security is the nation’s “gate-keeper” and its “coordinator” in times of domestic need (think all-hazards). I know that sounds overly simplistic but look at the agencies that came to DHS. Customs, Border Patrol, USCG and TSA are guarding gates (both at the border and internally). ICE investigates threats to the gates, and CIS brings in new citizens through the gates. DHS’s cyber mission is gate keeping, as is Infrastructure Protection’s mission. The entire Department, except for FEMA, is involved with watching a gate (in the broadest sense of the term), and we could argue that even FEMA has gate duty with some of its missions (think flood mapping).

FEMA is a special star in DHS as the coordinator, and there are other pockets of DHS that do this as well (think Fusion Centers with I&A, or even emergency communications in NPPD). FEMA would like to think of themselves as “large and in-charge” for Federal mitigation and response to all hazards (which they have a huge role in), but really they coordinate the entire response to all-hazards and particularly for the Federal government. The advantage of FEMA being in DHS is that there are other Departmental assets they can tap for immediate response via the Secretary. So FEMA’s coordination and action strength is exponentially increased.

Before anyone starts asking or saying something doesn’t fit the “gate-keeper” and “coordinator” roles – think broadly. Also, look at the QHSR. There is a page (call out box) that shows the history of DHS components being in one federal department before. Also, every federal agency has some “extra” mission that makes the most cost efficient basis to place with another agency due to existing assets (USCG is a great example with buoy tending).

The challenge is that in a free and open nation as the U.S., there are a lot of gates and threats, but there will never be enough formal “gate-keepers” and “coordinators”.

By: bellavita

bellavita — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:28:38 +0000

Thank you for providing me with outstanding perspectives I will be able to use in class next week. Let’s see what 32 other folks say about this issue. I will report their findings.

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:43:18 +0000

Great post and comment by Jessica and Phil. Personally I have given up with attempting to define HS. Why? The theory of DHS was to make for more effective and efficient HS! That reorganization has not only done neither but detracted from what might have been success. First let’s review the three priorities that led to the formation of DHS! First, domestic INTEL and integration of various domestic systems that might just might prevent another 9/11! Second, cyber security and its increasing impact on American society and its economic and political sinews. Third, more effective leveraging of existing systems for many purposes. Basically NADA has really been accomplished. Now each new threat or alleged threat or actual or threatened incident/event causes all to challenge DHS choices over its priorities. To me, DHS should have two and only two priorities and this is fact is what Homeland Security is all about at the bottom. And note for the record the Department of Civil Security would have hammered home the federal system and non-military preparedness that is in fact what my two priorities represent. First, WMD policy and issues and efforts. Second, cyber security with its subset of computer security. Perhaps a third of creating domestic INTEL arrangements that preserve privacy, civil liberties, and the Constitutional restrictions on search and seizure and due process.
My guess is none of my priorities can be accomplished or put forth as the mission without significant casting off of non-related missions to other Executive Branch organizations. Nor can they be furthered by current organizational arrangements. It has been reliably reported that FEMA was the subject that consumed the time and effort of Secretaries Ridge and Chertoff to the extent of 50% of their managment and policy time. This is ridiculous since FEMA has nothing or almost nothing to do with the three priorities identified above. And now of course funding for the “day jobs” of the DHS components is threatened even while the priorty areas are understaffed and underfunded. A huge Secretarial operation and management operation has burdened both command and control systems when needed and burdened the flattened management and organization that has been the hallmark of modern business practice since at least the 20′s and 20′s with Mary Follette (Parker?) and other business theorists. Let’s get rid of the lawyers as managers and get people in DHS that understand either public administration, wicked issues, or modern business methods. This largely second tier and poorly run operation is no longer the drive sprocket envisaged by some, in particular Senator Lieberman but in fact the leading factor in preventing effective and efficient HS from taking place. My problem is that the right event could in fact end our democracy (Republic) just as 9/11 resulted in complete disarray and feeble efforts that resulted largely in more militarism and muscular foreign policy for the US. Even now we are seeing serious erosion in the W. Hemisphere of American hard and soft power. China, Cuba operating in Haiti more effectively than the US. Russian and China asserting an interest in Venzuela and Mr. Chavez. And highest priority of all the collapse of the Mexican economy and polity as the cartels effectively overcome Mexican governmental efforts to police them. The MONROE Doctrine should be replaced completely and repudiated outright publically and in writing by the US. We seem to have total incoherence in framing domestic policy and its impact on the world. And yes if Greece does go bankrupt from the machinations of US wall street slicky boys it will again be made clear to many that NO one is in charge of the Ship of State or HS. WE have created a largely fragile system and reinforced that fragility with a ponderous, non-learning heavily lobbied by contractor organization like DHS. It is no longer possible to argue in any way shape or form that HS is furthered by the continued existence of DHS in its current configurations. My first step at reform would be to pinpoint exactly which personnel in DHS are accountable for the performance and success of each of the DHS programs, functions, and activities. The current system seems brilliantly designed to avoid accountablilty. $50B wasted on IT contracts since March 2003. Wow. Other areas equally likely to have accomplished only achieving WASTE, FRAUD, and ABUSE. And are career military officers and enlisted ranks the only option for recruiting for a substantial portion of DHS staff? The academic studies of second career organizations are legion and while there are exceptions, many of these people are not in learning mode but just serving time until their military and civil service pensions are united into a larger federal pension. Have you ever seen a real demographic of the DHS workforce?And culture–how many DHS personnel have been killed in the line of duty and therefore are entitled to retire after 20 years since March 2003? Hello is anyone home? Each position in DHS should be identified with a special code if the person holding the positon interfaces with the public or interfaces only with other DHS bureacrats? That would be an interesting metric.