discussion responses

respond to two students 150 words each and 1 response to professor, (no word count for professor response)

Do not grade or critique students writing only add to the discussion as another student.

First reply to Dava

Private contractors can pose risks to the future of homeland security. According to Barry, Rothe, and Ross, the private sector can act outside of established government guidelines and polices. They are not beholden to the “same constitutional rules and regulations” as the government (White, 2017, p. 387). The government is relying more on and award more jobs to private contractors. Private defense contractors are providing services and/or defense activities that were once the responsibility of the government. This in turn allows private sector entities access to sensitive information; and they can often choose to cherry pick which information and/or data becomes available or known. The growing relationship trend between the private sector and government defense is “blurring lines between entities providing services [and] makes it difficult to determine if national interests are being served” (White, 2017, p. 388). This can hamper the flow of information needed as it relates to homeland security. One possible solution to minimize this issue is to hold private contractors who are awarded government jobs accountable and subject to the same rules and regulations as the government.

White, J. R. (2017). Terrorism and Homeland Security (9th ed.). Boston: Cengage Learning.

Second response to Kareema

1. According to Barry, Rothe, and Ross, (White) what is the dangerous trend in the future of homeland security with regards to private contractors? What do you believe are some solutions counter this trend?

Private companies are often circumvent constitutional constraints on government power (White, 2017). Private companies have the right to operate within their own operational systems and chose which information to report to stakeholders. Private corporations are doing the governments job. Contractors are given more freedom due to the DOD reduction of people who work to supply efforts and regulate support. Contractors have the ability to operate outside of the rules. Private sectors have control over any intelligence that goes to and from homeland security. They are the only ones who control what information is released about themselves and operate to their own self-interest. This problem can be stopped if the government holds corporations accountable for their actions. The government needs to take the responsibilities away from private sectors and keep the power within the government. If the relationship between the sectors focus on what is best for the community any risks between the government-private industrial relationship may be reduced.

White, J. R. (2017). Terrorism and Homeland Security (9th ed.). Boston: Cengage Learning.

Original discussion

The initiatives that help the local societies to diminish or prepare against the possible terrorist spells are as listed. First, is by training and educating the communities on how to use technology and other communication resources to report any suspects to the police (Ostadtaghizadeh, A et al. 2015). Communication facilitates the enhancement of the link between the public and the authority. This is important to the Home Land Security as they get a wider vision of the whereabouts of the community. Besides, it makes the community to partner fully with the security agencies to fight the terrorists. Also, there will be direct communication between the homeland security and the community where the reporting of any suspicious activity will be reported.

Secondly is the collaboration and partnership within the communities (Coaffee, J., & Lee, P. 2016). Here, the members of the communities are to acknowledge their neighbors and friends and any stranger to be reported immediately. Besides, the collaborations enable the facilitation of the other activities like the transport systems from other bodies. Hence the homeland security will get fast commutation together with direct assistance from the other collaborating partners during or at suspected attack.

Lastly, we have the creating means to transport to the most interior parts of the community (Paton, D., & Johnston, D. 2017). Even though the roads are not tarmacked, but they should be accessible to facilitated fast transport. The community should be preparing the roads always to ensure they are in good conditions. This type of preparedness to the community is essential as the homeland security will have quick access to all the community places for patrol and whenever called up for emergencies.

References

Coaffee, J., & Lee, P. (2016). Urban resilience: Planning for risk, crisis and uncertainty.

Ostadtaghizadeh, A., Ardalan, A., Paton, D., Jabbari, H., & Khankeh, H. R. (2015). Community disaster resilience: a systematic review on assessment models and tools. PLoS currents, 7.

Paton, D., & Johnston, D. (2017). Disaster resilience: an integrated approach. Charles C Thomas Publisher.

Professor response to original response (reply to this response)

As demonstrated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, federal and state resources are staged in strategic locations to ensure reasonable response times and delivery of needed resources, above and beyond those possessed by the local emergency management authority. A community can't just make sure the road is clear for these resources to arrive in a timely manner, they have to ensure they can adequately respond themselves and keep situations from rapidly deteriorating while they await state and federal assistance. How would this level of preparation fit into the generalized plans you propose in your response?