Module 1: Discussion Board – Understanding Homeland Security (250 words – Due
06.23.22)
Based on your readings thus far from the text and your research, write an initial thread
discussing:
What is the nature or purpose of homeland security?
What are the mission areas of homeland security?
What are the major disciplines involved in homeland security?
What role does emergency management play?
Should homeland security focus on terrorism or all hazards, including terrorism? Why?
Liberty University
HLSC 610-D01: Understanding Terrorism and Homeland Security
Week 1 Discussion Board
Professor Richards
June 22, 2022
What is the nature or purpose of homeland security?
The United States is no stranger to acts of terrorism. The catastrophic outcome of the September
11th attack led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS is a cabinet-
level department whose core responsibility is to keep the nation safe (DHS, 2022). DHS (2002),
as cited by McEntire (2018), defines homeland security as “a concerted national effort to prevent
terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and
recover from and minimize the damage that [does] occur” (p. 12). In other words, prevent,
detect, and eliminate the threats posed by terrorists and successfully recover from their impact
should they occur.
What are the mission areas of homeland security?
While homeland security may conjure multiple meanings, its core missions remain constant
despite minor textual revisions. There are six core mission areas of homeland security— (1)
intelligence and warning, (2) border and transportation security, (3) domestic counterterrorism,
(4) protecting critical infrastructure, (5) defending against catastrophic threats, and (6)
emergency preparedness and response (McEntire, 2018). “The first three mission areas focus on
preventing terrorist attacks; the fourth and fifth missions on reducing the Nation’s vulnerabilities;
and the final mission on minimizing the impact and recovering from attacks that occur”
(RESDAL.org, n.d., para. 25). Proverbs 3:26 (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016) is a
reminder that in times of crisis, trials, and tribulations, the nation must remain steadfast in its
commitment to protecting all lives and to have confidence and trust in the Lord.
What are the major disciplines involved in homeland security?
The four major disciplines involved in homeland security are (1) international relations, criminal
justice, public administration, and public health (McEntire, 2018). These disciplines are
interconnected to the core missions of homeland security. For example, the study of international
relations explores why terrorism occurs and what actions governments have taken to address this
issue. Criminal justice expounds on concepts of gathering intelligence and investigating and
prosecuting terrorists. Public administration “directs attention to the formation and
implementation of policies [that aim] to identify or establish organizations that can address the
security of the nation” (McEntire, 2018, p. 16). Public health provides a wealth of information on
diseases and their treatment. This discipline plays a vital role in preparing for medical treatment
for “nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological” injuries resulting from a terrorist attack
(McEntire, 2018, p. 16).
What role does emergency management play?
According to McEntire (2014/2018), emergency management is “a discipline and profession that
address how to prevent or react successfully to various types of disasters” (p.17). The disaster
life cycle—mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery are four significant aspects of
emergency management designed by the National Governor’s Association to enable emergency
managers to cope with disasters (Sawalha et al., 2018). Sawalha et al. (2018) emphasized that
“mitigation aims to reduce vulnerability to disaster impact; preparedness aims to create a state of
readiness at all levels; response aims to minimize the threats created by disasters, and recovery
aims to neutralize the short and long-term impacts of a disaster to restore the affected community
to pre-disaster living conditions” (pp. 181-182). These concepts are essential and applicable to
the study of terrorism and the homeland security profession.
Should homeland security focus on terrorism or all hazards, including terrorism? Why?
Homeland security should focus on all hazards, including terrorism, because emergency
management is an essential component of homeland security; hence, it should not be treated like
silos. Isolating crisis and consequence management functions hinder coordination and
collaborative efforts necessary to protect the nation from terrorism. Proverbs 6:16-19 assert that
“there are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a
lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that
make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among
brothers” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016). Homeland security is a complex mission;
therefore, efforts from all levels of government, the private sector, and citizens are crucial in the
fight against terrorism.
References:
Department of Homeland Security [DHS]. (2022). 2022 priorities. Department of Homeland
Security. https://www.dhs.gov/2022-priorities
English Standard Version Bible. (2016). EVC Online. https://esv.literalword.com/ (Original work
published 2001)
McEntire, D. A. (2018). Introduction to homeland security, 2nd Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf
version]. Retrieved from vbk://9781119430636
RESDAL.org. (n.d.). United States. The national strategy for Homeland Security -Introduction.
RESDAL - indexRed de Seguridad y Defensa de América
Latina. https://www.resdal.org/Archivo/usa-home-intro.htm
Sawalha, I. H., Shamieh, J. M., & Meaton, J. (2018). Little details that make a difference: A
value-based approach to disaster management. Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency
Planning, 12(2), 180-192. https://www-ingentaconnect-
com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/content/hsp/jbcep/2018/00000012/00000002/art00009;jsessionid=1kfss
b98sjjwv.x-ic-live-03#
Discussion Responses:
Hi Tania,
Great post on this week’s discussion topic. I agree with your assertion that homeland security and
terrorism are not new concepts but were brought to the forefront due to 9/11. Homeland security,
as defined by DHS (2002) and as cited by McEntire (2018), is “a concerted national effort to
prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism,
and recover from and minimize the damage [if and when it does] occur” (p. 12). Great emphasis
is placed on the disaster life cycle—mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Hence,
homeland security should emphasize an all-hazard approach that includes terrorism. All acts of
terrorism significantly impact lives directly or indirectly. While local first responders typically
handle emergency management at the local level, the impacts of terrorism may, at times, require
collective efforts from all branches of government, public and private organizations, nonprofit
organizations, faith-based organizations, and citizens. As such, everyone must do their part “to
build, sustain, and improve the capacity of [communities] to mitigate against, prepare for,
respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism” (FEMA-EMI, n.d., p. 1).
References:
FEMA - Emergency Management Institute [FEMA-EMI] | National Preparedness Directorate
National Training and Education Division. (n.d.). Emergency management: Definition, vision,
mission, principles. https://training.fema.gov/hiedu/docs/emprinciples/0907_176%20em
%20principles12x18v2f%20johnson%20(w-o%20draft).pdf
McEntire, D. A. (2018). Introduction to homeland security, 2nd Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf
version]. Retrieved from vbk://9781119430636
Hi Elizabeth,
Great discussion post on this week’s topic. While I agree that terrorism will continue to evolve
and require extensive resources depending on the magnitude of the impact, DHS should still
consider taking an all-hazard approach. Some may argue that FEMA, under the umbrella of the
DHS, addresses natural and man-made disasters, and thus DHS should only concentrate on
terrorism. In essence, the act of terrorism is also a man-made disaster. Since its inception,
homeland security has focused most of its attention on crisis and consequence management
(McEntire, 2018). Auf der Heide (1987) and Mileti (1999), as cited by McEntire (2018), argued
that “leaders failed to recognize that the United States is prone to many different types of hazards
[…]; [and have since] ignored the research that suggests that coordination with others is of
paramount importance if responses to disasters are to be successful” (p. 19). Hence, homeland
security should take an all-hazard and all-inclusive approach to mitigate against, prepare for,
respond to, and recover from events and man-made disasters.
Reference:
McEntire, D. A. (2018). Introduction to homeland security, 2nd Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf
version]. Retrieved from vbk://9781119430636
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