After 9/11, we created DHS and moved away from a Civil Defense paradigm. We also merged
FEMA under DHS. This was the largest shakeup and reorganization of the government since
WWII. Since 9/11, the world has changed even more.
What homeland security-related law or policy do you find most useful to the cause and why?
Should homeland security include what might be deemed emergency management functions or
should it only focus on terrorism, and why?
What do you see as the 3 biggest threats/hazards to our homeland and why?
What does the Bible tell us about such things?
The homeland security-related law or policy that I find the most useful is the USA Patriot Act
solely because it allowed information sharing throughout different local, state, federal agencies.
Before this was enacted, agencies just kept to themselves. Before the events of 9/11, there were
information-sharing barriers that obstructed key federal, state, and local agencies from sharing
information on potential threats. Sharing information throughout different agencies is one of the
most important ways to keep the nation safe from foreign and domestic threats. The purpose of
the Patriot Act was to punish and deter terrorist activity in the United States and around the
world. This was the most integral to capturing domestic attacks within the homeland. I believe
the Patriot Act was initially established with pure intentions to strengthen the security around the
nation. There has been a large debate over the balance between civil liberties and securities.
Since the act was passed, there have been divided opinions on whether it is more helpful or
harmful to the public (Boyer & Wallace, 2017).
Homeland security should include emergency management functions instead of solely focusing
on terrorism. Terrorism can be deemed an emergency because emergency management functions
may be needed for the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Emergency management is a discipline that
handles mitigating risks and potential disasters. At first, the emergency management planning
and response mentality focused on floods, fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes. However, terrorism
has changed how emergency management operates. “Slowly but surely, and with extraordinary
reservation, the FEMA model came to accept that the regimens and protocols for natural and
man-made disasters in the form of terrorism are relatively the same” (Nemeth, 2017, p. 317).
When we are experiencing an emergency-type situation, whether it’s a natural disaster or a man-
made disaster, our country is most vulnerable to attacks. So, it makes sense for emergency
management to fall under homeland security with different tiers of responders and response
systems.
The first biggest threat/hazard to our homeland are cyber threats such as cybercrimes,
cyberterrorism, and cyberwarfare. These are all major concerns for Western governments,
especially for the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Marsili, 2018). Most
attacks on the nation are borderless such as cyberspace. Cyberspace involves both military and
civilian security, as governments rely on the internet and telecommunication systems for a wide
range of critical services. Cyberterrorism has developed the potential to cause the same amount
of damage as conventional terrorism, especially when critical infrastructures are targeted. There
have been numerous US agencies that have been subject to hacking attempts and ransomware
attacks. Just last April, the US Treasury, Department of Homeland Security, State Department,
and Department of Defense were compromised in the SolarWinds hack. A senior cyber official at
the Pentagon recently quit his job because he thought the US couldn’t compete with China on AI.
It will be interesting to see how these cyber threats can be countered. The second biggest
threat/hazard to the homeland is the weak southern and northern border that can be easily
crossed. The US border is usually thought of as one of the more secured crossings in the world
but that is not the case. There are gaps in the southern border and there is nothing at the northern
border. Drugs, weapons, and human trafficking can be easily moved through the nation at both
the northern and southern border. The US and Canada border are the longest between two
countries in the world at roughly 5,500 miles. The Secretary of Homeland Security even said that
“if our borders are the first line of defense, we’re going to lose”. The last biggest threat to this
nation is the Taliban which falls in line with weak borders. Since the military withdrawal from
Afghanistan, it is possible that the Taliban would be motivated to strike back at the US. The
Taliban are more than capable of coming to the US through our borders. Individuals on the terror
watchlist have been caught trying to come into the US this year. There are tens of thousands of
migrants that cross the southern border every month and no one knows anything about their
identity or intentions.
As Christians, we are told to love our neighbor, to turn the other cheek when we are wronged and
to repay evil for good. We understand the Biblical definition of love to be: respectful, kind,
truthful and sacrificial towards others. However, the world has perverted the word love to mean
“anything goes” and “undeniable support/acceptance”. Now the Bible does not specifically speak
against terrorism; but it does speak against social injustice and mistreatment of our brothers and
sisters.
Proverbs 6:16-19 states: “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked
schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who
stirs up conflict in the community”. These verses in a way are descriptive of the characteristics of
terrorism. God hates when His creation participates in these acts, however, He still loves them
with agape love. While God hates the act of terrorism, He loves the terrorist. This is incredibly
difficult to do at times. But, this is the approach that Christians should have with those who do us
(and the U.S.) wrong. It is important for us to remember that we ourselves were participating in
detestable acts before we became a new creation in Christ and even after all that we were still
loved and forgiven. Even though the world does not agree with the Biblical definition of love, we
must continue to show others the love of Christ regardless of what they have done. Our ultimate
goal on this earth is to be the light of Christ so people can be drawn to Him. Only love has the
capability to drive out hate.
Boyer, A. M., & Wallace, L. N. (2017). US portrayals of the 2015 french surveillance laws.
French Politics, 15(2), 237-253.
ESV Study Bible. (2008). Crossway Books
Marsili, M. (2019). The war on cyberterrorism. Democracy and Security, 15(2), 172-199.
Nemeth, C. (2017) Homeland Security: An Introduction to Principles and Practice 3rd edition.
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