Homeland Security

What is homeland security and why do we need it? What was unique about the 9/11 attacks that prompted the largest reorganization of the Federal government since the end of World War II? What is the difference between homeland security and national security? Why is critical infrastructure protection so critical? Why is emergency management an essential mission area within homeland security? What is the relationship between homeland security and DoD, National Guard, FBI, and State and Local law enforcement? Explore these questions and the events that made homeland security what it is today. Find out why homeland security is an unprecedented historical challenge requiring an unprecedented government response. Review the homeland security mission areas and understand not only what is being done but also why. Discover “who’s who and what do they do” within the Department of Homeland Security and the greater Homeland Security Enterprise. This book provides the most comprehensive overview and most concise resource for understanding homeland security today. Within these pages you will find insight to the most pressing challenges of the 21st century confronting the nation, your community, and you.

Welcome to the third edition of our textbook. As indicated by the new title, this edition is significantly different than the previous two, and accordingly stocked with mostly new material. Whereas the first two editions described “what” was being done in the name of homeland security, this one explains “why”. In keeping with our previous approach, we do not ascribe ourselves as “authors” but “editors” because the bulk of material is drawn directly from government documents, either primary sources or publicly available derivatives. Two of our foremost derivative sources were reports published by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and Government Accountability Office (GAO). They have access to information, unclassified as it may be, well beyond the means of the general public. We would also like to acknowledge the many public websites that were also instrumental in completing this text. And while we were only “editors”, we think this book offers its own unique contributions to the field of homeland security. First, it delivers both a comprehensive yet concise treatment of a very broad subject spanning numerous separate fields, from national security to military operations to law enforcement to emergency management, to name only a few. Second, and most importantly, it offers insight into the exact nature of homeland security. Because it was brought to the forefront of national attention by an act of terrorism, homeland security has become confused with terrorism. While terrorism certainly remains a concern to homeland security, it is not the root concern. As we try to make eminently clear in this textbook, the homeland security concern predates 9/11, stemming back to the 1995 Tokyo Subway Attacks which saw the first employment of a weapon of mass destruction by non-state actors. As our title suggests, the homeland security concern is domestic catastrophic destruction. 9/11 demonstrated how it could be achieved by subverting critical infrastructure. Hurricane Katrina demonstrated how it could be accomplished without malicious intent. While we give due attention to the terrorist motive, we don’t give it the undue attention it has gained by becoming almost synonymous with homeland security. In this regard, we hope to set the record straight and make it clear what homeland security “is”, and what it “is not”. Homeland security is not terrorism, nor is it mass killings. While closely related, homeland security, terrorism, and mass killings are distinctly separate. We hope to demonstrate that in this book. More importantly, we hope to impart a clarity of understanding that will give you, the reader, a corresponding advantage in your academic and professional pursuits supported by this knowledge.