The Creation of The Department of Homeland Security. What Had to Take Place in Order to be Established

On September 11, 2011, The United States of America recently commemorated the ten year anniversary of the Al- Qaeda suicide attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and the crash of the fourth jet into a field in Pennsylvania. After the 9/11 attacks, lives were changed forever. Many people lived in fear, airport security regulations changed, a new federal agency was formed and most importantly, the war on terror begun, one that we are still currently fighting today. There is much unaccounted information that people are not aware of in regards to the history of terrorism. Listen below to former CIA counter narcotics agent Edward Macias comment on a Osama Bin Laden fact that can be taken back to the Clinton administration.

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"Back in the 1990's, the word terrorists was not used and these men were instead called insurgents until 9/11" ~ Edward Macias

 Many people just think about the September 11 attacks but terrorism has been an ongoing fight amongst countries in the world, particularly with Al-Qaeda. Before the 9/11 attacks, the United States fell victim in 1993 with the World Trade Center bombing which was led by Ramzi Yousef, whom had spent time at Al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan before planning the attacks within the US. Note: Yousef's uncle, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed Ali Fadden was considered the principal architect of the 9/11 attacks. He was arrested in Pakistan  on March 1, 2003. On October 12, 2000; there was the USS Cole bombing that occurred in Yemen. Al-Qaeda also claimed responsibility for the attack on the Navy fleet. Al- Qaeda has also targeted other countries including Spain and England with the 2004 Madrid train bombings and in 2005, targeting public transportation methods in London with bombing their underground trains and a double decker bus.

Former President George W. Bush declared war on terror on September 20, 2001.  The war in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001 when the United States and allies including Australia, the UK, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom against the Taliban Regime. On March 19, 2003 President Bush launched Operation Iraqi Freedom to end the regime of Saddam Hussein and its support of terrorism. 10 years later, U.S. troops are still overseas fighting which has expanded into Pakistan. The main goal was to destroy Al-Qaeda and to find its founder and leader Osama Bin Laden, who was eventually captured and killed on May 2, 2011 by U.S. Navy Seals and CIA operatives in a covert operation ordered by President Barack Obama.

On September 20, 2001 President Bush addressed a joint session of Congress in response to the 9/11 attacks proposing a new office of Homeland Security. One day after U.S. troops invaded Afghanistan, establishes the Office of Homeland Security in the Executive office of the President and appointed Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge as Director. On November 25, 2002, President Bush signed the Homeland Security Act of 2002, establishing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It was created in efforts to respond to the 9/11 attacks. Its responsibilities consists of protecting the territory of the United States, man-made accidents, and natural disasters. According to the DHS website, their mission is: "to secure the nation from the many threats we face." Mr. Macias, also Chairman of the Criminal Justice Department at Everest College and professor who teaches Department of Homeland Security course explain the national strategy of DHS.

 

 In addition to what Mr. Macias was able to share, prior to the 9/11 attacks, The Department of Homeland Security existed as a patchwork of efforts undertaken by disparate departments and agencies across all levels of government. When 9/11 happened, none of the agencies were cooperating with one another and important information was not being transferred which caused even more chaos then what was going on already.  They lacked a unifying vision and a cohesive strategic approach which now DHS makes up. All in all, The Department of Homeland Security developed a national strategy to better secure the United States. According to the 2002 DHS National Strategy, it includes applying a comprehensive approach to risk management, building a culture of preparedness, developing a comprehensive Homeland Security Management System, improving incident management, better utilizing science and technology, and leveraging all instruments of national power and influence. The Department of Homeland Security can be synonymous to an umbrella. Under its umbrella, it harbors the many different agencies that provides the safeguarding. These agencies include Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and The U.S. Secret Service (USSS).

Since its formation, progress has ensued. According to the National Strategy for Homeland Security, it has greatly increased worldwide counterterrorism efforts since September 11, which has constrained the ability of al-Qaida to attack the Homeland and has led terrorist groups to find that the homeland is a harder target to strike. These measures have helped disrupt multiple potentially deadly plots against the United States since September 11.