4 responses

A good response to others is not something like "I agree." Please find something that you can analyze, add to, critique, explain, disagree with, or something. It should be a few cogent sentences. It should contain something that shows your knowledge of the subject, as well as additional materials you might bring from the web and elsewhere. Apply relevant professional, personal, or other real-world experiences. Supports position with applicable knowledge

You should create substantial responses to your peers. Think of this as your opportunity to teach. Create substantial responses which expand on a point and present information on the topic. Your responses should demonstrate your critical thinking on the topic.

Respond to the following discussions (4X). Write how you would respond to their discussions. (No word count.) Be thoughtful and insightful and it must demonstrate critical thinking and analysis.

Read the following and respond

1. I believe the threat of catastrophic terrorism is a real threat that deserves attention. In fact, a Bedard (2015) survey found that 74.2 percent of likely voters feared an attack against U.S. targets by Islamic State affiliated terrorists using chemical or biological weapons if action was not taken to stop them. I feel that today the threat of catastrophic terrorism comes not from just chemical and biological weapons, but also from technology and infrastructure vulnerability. A catastrophic terrorism event could kill, sicken or create havoc in the lives of thousands of people. I do not believe that catastrophic terrorism is preventable. At best, catastrophic terrorism can be mitigated through proactive intelligence gathering warning of a potential event. Further mitigation requires prevention and deterrence, and crisis and consequence management (Carter, Deutch & Zelikow, 2007). These are actions that have picked up by the Department of Homeland Security which deals with risk reduction, science and technology research, budgeting and procurement, policy formulation, medical response, intelligence analysis (Martin, 2016).  Another important role that DHS takes on is resilience as it relates to catastrophic attacks. DHS works with all levels of government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and individual citizens to make our nation more resilient to acts of terrorism, cyber attacks, pandemics, and catastrophic natural disasters (U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS], 2018). I feel the more resilient the country is the less the effects of an attack cripple society. Unfortunately, terrorists have shown they are persistent and patient in their attempts to attack the United States. Because of this, I believe a catastrophic attack is inevitable and all steps to mitigate an attack must be taken.

2. After reading this week’s module, I believe that the the possibility of “catastrophic terrorism” is still a valid threat that our national security and we must contend with from now on. I feel this way because “as the twentieth century comes to a close, all these weapons [of mass destruction], particularly biological/chemical, or so-called B/C weapons, are increasingly available to more states and, what is more frightening, to small groups, even individuals.” (Laqueur, 2002, page: 42) Due to the fact that state sponsored terrorism is still being conducted, Pakistan and Iran being the biggest culprits, the possibility exists that they could purposely supply a terrorist organization or individual to attack America. Our fears of this possibility occurring is not far flung, due to the fact that “Some Members of Congress have expressed frustration that DHS has made little progress toward implementing 100% scanning.” of our porous ports. (Congress, 2012, website) Our Congress has been unable to implement a 100% scanning requirement of inbound cargo to the United States and this does not take into account our north and south borders, where things are continuously smuggled across everyday. This to me means that a “catastrophic terrorism” is only "mitigatable" and not completely preventable. However, the type of attack that led to 9/11, is preventable in my opinion, this is due to all the safeguard measures implemented by Congress as part of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “While recognizing that numerous other terrorist groups may wish to harm U.S. global security interests, the Administration primarily focuses on addressing threats from Al Qaeda, its affiliated organizations, and adherents to its violence-based philosophy.” (Painter, 2013, page: 4 & 5) This comes in the form of interagency surveillance, background checks, and stricter security at airports for potential terrorist with nefarious ideas. The creation of the DHS has synergized the efforts of the local law-enforcement, federal agencies, and the Intelligence Community, in order to not only try and prevent terrorist attacks but deter and disrupt them as well for our national security. 

3. Many people see the U.S. PATRIOT Act as an attack on the civil liberties of Americans. The act has allowed for the U.S. government to spy on the communications of Americans. Upon the PATRIOT Act expiring the U.S. Freedom Act was signed as a replacement and billed as providing some safeguard against civil liberty attacks in the PATRIOT Act. Some see this act as an improvement with an increase in civil liberties and other their civil liberties equally jeopardize under this act. However, both acts have allowed for intrusions into civil liberties. Using the U.S. PATRIOT Act and Freedom Act the government has conducted surveillance and investigation of electronic communication media including the internet using bulk surveillance (Richardson, 2013). I believe the culture of homeland security provides protection for all law abiding Americans. I say law abiding Americans because if citizens are not engaging in nefarious activities they have no worry.  Unfortunately, there are some persons, American citizens included, who wish to do harm to the country. For this reason, some intrusion into mass communications is needed in order to protect the greater population. However, the case of Brandon Mayfield can be used as example of what can happen of if the government oversteps its bounds in the use of these acts. Mr. Mayfield was an attorney for Oregon who the FBI said was a   possible match for one of the fingerprints found at the scene of the 2004 Madrid train bombings (ACLU, 2007). Mr. Mayfield was arrested by the FBI and later released when it was show he had no involvement in the bombing. Speculation by some, was that Mayfield became a person of interest to the FBI because he married an Egyptian woman and had converted to Islam (ACLU, 2007) Either way, this serves as a cautionary tale of what can happen to people if there are abuses of the PATRIOT Act or Freedom Act.

4. With the implementation of the "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001" (USA Patriot Act) (US Congress, 2001, website) it was a step to ensure that America never again fell victim to terrorism. However with this new law several civil liberties have been infringed upon in the name of security, the most prevalent being the "Enhanced Surveillance Procedures” which impedes on Fourth Amendment of the Constitution which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. The almost unchecked ability of "Enhanced Surveillance Procedures” has allowed the Local and Federal Law Enforcement and the Intelligence Community (IC) to look into anyone they feel is a threat to are National Security, regardless of actual evidence to the contrary. This leads to the answering of the second question, which is “yes” homeland security is supposed to be applied to everyone in America, “one of the greatest challenges brought on by the war on terror is to ensure that, while we increasingly secure our nation from terrorist attack, we also preserve America's way of life.” (Sutherland, 2005, page: 2) However, this does not always seem to be the case, due to the perception that all Muslims are extremist, they face “racial profiling, which has been an issue in the law enforcement arena for many years.” (Sutherland, 2005, page: 6) This sort of discrimination could have lasting effects on Muslim citizens and their families. As well as the thought of federal government always possessing the ability to peek into their lives just because of their religion, could almost feel like a totalitarian regime to them, when most Muslims immigrants left their former country for a better life for their families or freedom to worship how they wanted to in life. In a way it could seem like they traded one devil for another, an the feeling may never leave them.