The Development of Technology - Essay Example

The development of technology has made the world increasingly integrated. Finding the answer to any question and getting connected with people around the world is becoming easy. People have access to mobile phone, computers and other communication systems such as TV that relay instant information all over the world. The access of modern technology was the beginning of regrouping of terrorist groups to raise and plan their first attack on American. Al-Qaeda melted a well-planned attack on 9/11 that choked the intelligence community around the world (Koestler-Granck). As a result, the Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S) was established in 2002, to protect the American citizens from terrorist threats (Koestler-Granck 67). However, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 the definition of threats shifted from focusing merely on terrorist threats to include the threat of catastrophic natural events (Koestler-Granck 55). Therefore, the DHS works with other agencies to ensure that all American safety is assured whether emanating from natural calamities or threats from terrorism. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security multitasking mission and with it different agencies that come from a different culture, aim to protect, reduce and recover American from unsafe conditions. Indeed, the Department of Homeland Security became the heart and the mind that deal with issues of national security. This paper illustrates the reason the United State is attached to DHS by demonstrating the important role DHS plays in protecting the U.S from threats (terrorist attacks and natural disaster). Homeland security strategy: (Mission of human land and risk management) The Department of Homeland Security contains 22 federal entities. Therefore, despite their different duties and tasks, these entities are tasked with specific roles that help prevent, counteract and mitigate terror threats (Koestler-Granck 67). Based on the activities each entity performed in the past and the event of 9/11, the DHS role was identified to assist national effort to prevent, minimize and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States. Moreover, DHS is tasked with reducing the U.S weakness against terrorism. Later on, and specifically after Hurricane Katarina in 2005 the role of DHS increased to include protecting the homeland from terrorism, human made calamities and natural disaster. In fact, the DHS role focused on five main missions, which include, preventing terrorism, enhancing security and securing and managing the U.S borders. Moreover, the body also enforce and administrate immigration law, safeguard and secure cyberspace and ensure resilience to disasters (Koestler-Granck 67). A wide range of entities the HDS contain and the different missions it has been not the only reason that made the U.S view it importance. The U.S considered the DHS having its lenses because it was established on the concept of risk management, which is protecting, preventing and preparing the U.S from threats. Indeed, the concept of risk management contains three main parts; understanding the risk, crises and consequences that are linked with each other. In order to protect the U.S from future threats, it’s important to understand the risk the country is facing. Failure to understand and manage the risk due to lack of intelligence, shared information or any other reason can lead to the crisis. In addition, the failure to manage any crisis can then lead to serious consequence, which can include, health, economical, political, security and social issues. A good example is the country failure to protect against the 9/11 attack. Due to the failure of intelligence and lack of cooperation the U.S failed to encounter the terrorism. This lead to serious economic, political, social and health consequences that might also need a lot of resources. Thus, DHS concept of risk management helps the U.S government to create a better strategy to protect its homeland and its citizens. In addition, strategies are built upon the vision, missions, policies and programs within a set out budget. Not only that, but once the risk is understood, the U.S need to be able to create an effective strategy that would prevent the crisis (Koestler-Granck 123). Terrorism: The DHS played a major role in encountering the terrorism and protecting the U.S and other countries from terrorism. The failure to manage a crisis such as 9/11 was the basic reason for U.S government to establish the DHS. Small terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda were able to empower themselves by recruiting individuals from the U.S and other foreign countries to join them to fight against their enemy. In fact, Al-Qaeda unique strategy was based on supporting individuals instead of harming them in order to convince them to join their group. In addition, Al-Qaeda focused on using suicides attacks against the U.S and Arab governments that support the U.S. Furthermore, Al-Qaeda are viewed uniquely because of their ability to carry out operation with limited and large resources, tactical intelligence, being successful public diplomats, advanced in technological and many other factors. The DHS and with the cooperation of other departments such as the Intelligence community were able to kill Osama bin Laden. After the death of Osama bin Laden Al-Qaeda leader, Al-Qaeda activities decreased, and they lost their training base in Afghanistan. However, terrorist groups started to operate in different ways, and more groups were rising. In fact, this made the U.S recognize that terrorist groups are organized on a horizontal order and not in a vertical order. Indeed, more cells have been operating under Al-Qaeda and causing a serious threat to the U.S. More recent the rise of new groups such as ISIS in Iraq that are viewed as a new threat to the U.S. Natural Disaster The DHS play an important role in protecting America and its citizens from natural disasters. The federal government’s emergency management and preparedness agency (FEMA) focuses on protecting the American society from natural disaster and terrorist attacks. Indeed, FEMA mission in providing a wide-ranging emergency management system to reduce and protect the American citizens from damages caused by natural disasters. Due to the damages Hurricane Katrina caused in 2005, the DHS focus shifted from terrorism to include natural disasters (Koestler-Granck). According to researchers on natural disaster, the DHS was aware that the Hurricane would heat New Orleans. Thus, some of the pre-storm activities the DHS was involved in was informing the major command centers to move out of the threat area, providing assists and crews to support the civilians. Even though, assistance and several rescues operation were sent to New Orleans, the DHS did not predict the amount of damage the Hurricane that was experienced. The ports and waterways were polluted due to the distraction of one of the oilfield and had to be closed. In addition, there were serious damages in bridges as many of them were destroyed. Not only that, but also many of the coast guards were suffering emotional problem as they lost their machineries and infrastructure, yet they had to focus on rescuing the people. The serious threat of terrorism and natural disasters that the United States faced in the nation history emphasized the role of the Department of Homeland Security perceiving it as an important national security guard for the United States. The DHS role focuses on protecting the United States and its citizen from all hazards and being able to manage risk by preparing, protecting and preventing present, future threats. However, even when planning to prevent and prepare the United States for future threats the DHS did not predict the scale of damages and consequences. Indeed, the threat of terrorism and natural disaster forces the U.S affect the American in home and abroad through loss of life and property. Even with the unpredicted outcomes that the U.S suffer from these threats, the DHS always aim to improve its strategies and manage risk effectively by learning from its previous lesson. However, there are always a new lesson for the DHS to learn now and in the future. The United States will always its guard and protect its homeland and citizens from the serious threats that it might face in the future. Works Cited Koestler-Granck, Rachel A. The Deaprtment of Homeland Security. New York: Infobase, 2007. Print. Read More