Department of Homeland Security Con’t.

Department of Homeland Security Con’t.

All dark text is directly out of the textbook –

blue text are 23’s from programming or thoughts

Terrorism Today 3^rd edition

Clifford E. Simonsen

Jeremy R. Spindlove

As a result of the Homeland Security Act of 2003, the responsibility for protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure lays in the hands of DHS’s IAIP Directorate.

[I don’t know if Directorate is Spanish or French or what. I know the name Zimmerman is a big deal. It was a spy that got caught attempting to get a message to Mexico about teaming against the USA. We have been invaded by Mexicans. Wow the ‘torture memos’, huh,, thanks for the feedback,, il try to be better. Both WWI and WWII were started by the Nazis seeking genocide or ruling status or whatever. Twins is an important word. Maybe comparing the Vietnam and Iraq wars?]

Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP) coordinates infrastructure coordination activities and directs resources and efforts to reduce vulnerability of our nation’s infrastructure to terrorism. [lie] The 2005 budget included $864 million for IAIP activities.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure

IAIP (est. Feb. 2003) has sought to implement the President’s National Strategy for the Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets and the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace. Critical Infrastructure (CI) includes banking and finance, energy and chemical sites, transportation, telecommunications, government facilities, dams, national monuments, and icons.

In, 2004, IAIP focused on identifying key assets, determining vulnerabilities, performing risk analysis, and implementing protective measures. Most critical infrastructures are not federally owned or operated, requiring cooperation from all levels of government and private industry for effective protection. Therefore, IAIP works with state homeland security advisors, owners and operators of CI’s, public safety personnel, and other federal agencies.

In 2005, IAIP continued to identify and map critical assets. IAIp teams conduct site visits to assist operators and owners in identifying and reducing vulnerabilities. IAIP personnel also continue to recommend measures to better protect critical assets against terrorists. [lie] For example, in 2003, IAIP developed a comprehensive vulnerability assessment methodology that has been distributed across the petroleum industry.

Cyber Security is another key element of infrastructure protection. The consequences of a cyber attack could cascade across multiple infrastructures and the resulting disruption could damage our economy as well as imperil public safety. The 2005 budget increased funding for IAIP’s National Cyber Security Division (NCSD), which was established to improve security across the federal government and work with industry to secure the nation’s major networks. NCSD will deliver a thirty-minute investigative response time to cyber threats and improve coordination of warning [buzz] and response information.

[cyber harassment is against the law in the state of Missouri but the state’s Courts couldn’t help for advise me]

Enhancing Intelligence Sharing

“Our responsibility at the DHS is equally clear… we must create new ways to share information and intelligence both vertically, between governments, and horizontally, across agencies and jurisdictions.”

Secretary Tom Ridge, October 2003

IAIP serves as the lead intelligence arm in DHS. On a daily basis, IAIP compiles and synthesizes terrorist-threat information into briefings and analyses for the secretary and DHS leadership. IAIP also leads DHS efforts sharing relevant information and recommended protective actions with state, local, and private entities. As part of its anti-terrorism mission, DHS will continue to be a partner in the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC). The TSC, est. Dec. 2003, will maintain a single, consolidated watch list of terrorist suspects to be shared with federal, state, local, and private entities in accordance with applicable law.

Enhancing Public Warning

Currently, information is disseminated through the homeland security advisory system. IAIP has issued over 50 advisories and information bulletins covering physical and cyber threats. DHS has been studying ways to better coordinate these multiple systems so that notification occurs at the federal, state, or regional level in a matter of minutes. While some warnings are based on old technologies, such as television or radio, modern technologies such as PDAs and cell phones have not been integrated into our public warning efforts.

[they can spy on us using those items though, and a meeting that Viet Dinh was at when 1^st plane hit twin towers – everyone’s pager went off at the same time, like a warning.]

DHS is determining which systems could be effectively used to improve public warning. The 2005 budget provided funds to enhance existing systems and to continue linking different systems to better target [buzz] warning information toward persons at risk as quickly as possible.

[this is a joke – the whole situation – I’ve been chatted a few times by Scoobydooxxx (x arbitrary placeholder) and MSNBC just busted someone on TV with similar userID on To Catch a Predator. Are the good people the persuasive perverted-justice.com? is that homeland security? [buzz] Total setup crap. We don’t get to see all the chat between the two people meeting. Its B/S as Nancy Crapface likes to say. Total Entrapment and I’m not even close to a lawyer – hell, I don’t even get the Bill of Rights.]

Advancing and Harnessing Science and Technology

New technologies to detect and counter potential chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cyber threats and attacks, as well as analyze threats and share information, are critical to help prevent and minimize the damage from future terrorists attacks. With over $1 bullion requested, the 2005 budget almost doubled the 2003 budget of the Science and Technology Directorate.

Improving Bio-surveillance

In 2005, the Administration launched a bio-surveillance initiative that brings together information across the federal government to improve surveillance and its capacity to identify a bioterrorist attack. Within DHS, IAIP and Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate will expand monitoring and improve analysis tools that are used to detect and respond appropriately to possible attacks.

A component of this initiative is the expansion of BioWatch, which currently protects many US cities by continually monitoring the air for biological agents that could be released by terrorists. The 2005 budget provided an additional $47 million to expand BioWatch by adding scores of sensors in the top-threat cities and at high-value targets such as stadiums and transit systems to increase the chances of detecting the release of biological pathogens. The budget also included $31 million in new resources to develop the next generation of biological sensors.

[biological sensors have to be related to the food we eat. So that people can be tracked and x-rayed by satellite. I’ve been watching these Disney videos about space travel and/or some science and they mentioned using radioactive elements in crop fertilizers. That stuff causes cancer huh? Haven’t the annual number of cases of cancer increased by like 10 million or something? These color Disney videos are from the 1950s but they also mentioned radioactive elements in our medications. I saw McCain bashing Social Security today and I also realized why government (medicare) picked up medication part-D, so that they can take away when they are ready.]

In addition, IAIP will collect and analyze data from many federal agencies, not only DHS, but also HHS and the US Department of Agriculture. In conjunction, with the expansion of BioWatch, the 2005 budget provided $11 million to enable IAIP to integrate, in real time, bio-surveillance data collected from sensors throughout the country [buzz] and fuse this data with information from health and agricultural surveillance and other terrorist-threat information from the law enforcement and intelligence communities. This will enhance homeland security decision making and the federal response in the event of an attack by minimizing the gap between the time the event occurs and the time when federal, state, and local response protocols are implemented.

Another element of the Biosurveillance Initiative, funded within the S&T Directorate, is the R&D of next-generation biological sensors and the development of a model to enable better synthesis of biological incident data when assessing the extent of an actual attack.

R&D to Create New Capabilities –

Homeland Security Centers of Excellence

The first Homeland Security Center of Excellence was established at the University of Southern California and is known as Homeland Security Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events. The new center will study the targets and methods of terrorism, with emphasis on protecting the nation’s CI systems, such as electrical power, transportation, and telecommunications. It will also develop tools for planning responses to emergencies, to minimize the threat to human lives, and reduce the economic impact in the event of an attack.

As a component of the S&T Directorate, the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency engages existing capabilities to identify and develop revolutionary technologies and satisfy DHS’s operational needs for advanced technology. Additionally, it works to solicit proposals and seeks to engage our nation’s R&D communities, including academia, not-for-profit organizations, and industry in the fight against terrorism. S&T has separate program areas dedicated to addressing each major category of WMD, such as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high explosives.

Supporting Additional Responsibilities

Though its primary [buzz] mission is to protect the nation from terrorism, DHS’s responsibilities are diverse. The ships that interdict threats to our homeland are also used to help mariners when they are in distress and protect our marine resources from polluters. Our nation’s immigration system must be administered to ensure that those who legally come to this country are welcomed. And while we must be prepared to respond to terrorist attacks, we are more often called upon to respond to natural disasters.

Maintaining Effective Maritime Search and Rescue and Upgrading Key Assets

The Coast Guard has maintained its commitment to the accomplishment of the full range of its missions, including traditional missions such as search and rescue, aids to navigation, fisheries enforcement, and environmental protection. Over 50% of the Coast Guard’s 2005 budget funding was dedicated to those traditional missions. Building on the 2005 PART of the search and rescue program, the budget continues support for the Coast Guard’s initiative to increase staff for search and rescue boat stations. Funding is also provided for “Rescue 21”, the modernized maritime 911 system to enable the Coast Guard to receive and respond to calls for help.

The 2005 budget also continued support for the Deepwater Acquisition Program, through which the Coast Guard is modernizing and replacing its ships, aircraft, and communications systems. The budget included $678 million for Deepwater in 2005. As new assets are delivered during this long-term acquisition, Coast Guard’s capacity to fulfill its homeland security and traditional missions will increase.

The Coast Guard’s work to protect the homeland extends beyond port security. Over 1,100 Coast Guard men and women served in the Persian Gulf and in the Mediterranean [buzz and copter] in Operation Iraqi Freedom, representing the service’s largest overseas deployment in support of military operations since the Vietnam [Iraq’s twin] War. Closer to home, the Coast Guard cooperates with CBP and ICE to prevent illegal drugs and undocumented migrants from reaching US shores.

[I bet they tag aliens with some kind of biological gps identifier to become documented and allowed.]

Providing Quality Services to the Nation’s Immigrants

The Administration is committed to maintaining America’s cherished identity as a nation of immigrants. Within DHS, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) has improved the administration of immigration benefits to the more than seven million annual applicants. The mission of CIS is to provide information and benefits in a timely, accurate, consistent, courteous [lie], and professional manner while ensuring national security [lie] and preventing ineligible individuals from receiving benefits.

• President Bush has proposed a new temporary worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing US employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs [say what?]The Administration will work with the Congress to achieve these goals. As outlined by the President on Jan. 7, 2004, the Administration is committed to achieving significant immigration reform that:
• Protects the homeland by controlling the borders;
• Serves America’s economy by matching a willing worker with a willing employer [isn’t this against the law – employment agency – Anchor Services Inc. has a flyer in the Mexican grocery down the street. I forget where else Anchor is used but its important.];
• Promotes compassion for unprotected workers [lie];
• Provides incentives for temporary workers to return to their home counties and families; and
• Protects the rights of legal immigrants while not unfairly rewarding those who came here unlawfully or hope to do so.

For more information on the President’s proposal, see the White House website at www.whitehouse.gov

Reducing the Application Backlog

The 2005 budget proposed an increase of $60 million for backlog reduction as part of the President’s multi-year initiative to reduce the backlog of applications and ensure a six-month processing standard for all applications. By 2006, the Department will achieve the President’s six-month processing goal by eliminating the application backlog. In addition to its focus on the backlog, CIS will work over the coming year to transform the application process with its emphasis on service [slave camps]. DHS will also establish clear performance milestones, actively monitor progress, and ensure integrity by establishing comprehensive quality assurance measures.

In 2005, CIS continued the focus on quality improvements and expanded national security checks, such as background name checks on all applications before approval. Although the checks have initially meant longer processing times, enhanced security will help ensure that only eligible applicants are approved. In addition, CIS implementing significant information technology improvements including electronic filing (E-filing) for certain immigration applications.

Securing the Immigration System

In September 2003, Secretary of State Colin Powell and DHS Secretary Ridge signed an agreement under which Department of State and DHS employees will work together to process visa applications [buzz]. The agreement established the framework to improve cooperation in creating and maintaining an effective and efficient visa process that secures our nation’s borders from external threats while maintaining open borders for legitimate travel to the United States. Both departments will work to ensure that the policies for issuing visas to visitors are consistent with national security and foreign policy interests. DHS employees are now stationed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to work with State Department Consular Officers in screening visa applications. In 2004, the Department established a plan for furthering its role as selected posts overseas.

Providing a Place to Turn

In spite of efforts underway to improve immigration services, applicants continue to wait in limbo for months and, in some cases, years. [where?] Because applicants need an advocate [unfair holding] when something goes wrong in the process, the Homeland Security Act established the Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman to aid immigrants throughout the application process. In 2004, the Ombudsman’s office began to assist individuals and employers in resolving problems with CIS, identifying areas where individuals and employers have problems dealing with CIS, and, to the extent practicable, proposing changes in the administrative practices of the CIS to or resolve or mitigate problems. The Ombudsman will assist in meeting the Administration’s goals of changing the character of CIS to be more welcoming [lie] to new immigrants and their families, improving CIS customer service and performance, and reducing unacceptable processing times for services.

The new RED

Providing Assistance in Times of Need

When a major disaster strikes, assistance is necessary to meet the emergency needs of families and individuals, and to help pay for the rebuilding and repair of critical community infrastructure. DHS has continued to assist states in response and recovery after a disaster. In 2003, there were 62 major disasters and 19 emergencies, in addition to the continued response to previous disasters. This included recovery of [buzz] Space Shuttle, Columbia, response to the Northeast blackouts, and relief from hurricane Isabel and the California wildfires. The 2005 budget provided $2.9 billion for disaster relief – a level consistent with the average, non-terrorist disaster costs over the past five years. This includes over $2 billion in new funds, which is over $300 million more than the 2004 appropriation, as well as money expected to remain available from prior years.

The department continues to work toward protecting people and property from damage due to disasters. The Pre-disaster Mitigation Program, which helps to minimize the devastation caused by natural disasters, will continue to support well-designed mitigation projects through a competitive grant process. Additionally, DHS is working to replace and modernize the Nation’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

Ensuring Protection of Our Leaders

The US Secret Service plays a unique and critical role in DHS by protecting the President, the Vice President, their families, candidates campaigning for the offices of President and Vice President, visiting heads of state, and other designated individuals. It also provides security for the White House, the Vice President’s residence, foreign missions, and other buildings within the Washington, D.C. area, and designs, plans, and implements security fordesignated events of national significance. In addition, the Secret Service protects our nation’s currency and financial system integrity through its investigation of counterfeiting, electronic crimes, and identity theft. The 2005 budget supported the Secret Service in accomplishing these core missions by providing $1.2 billion for the organization.

Performance Evaluation of Select Programs

The budget continues to focus on improving program performance. Nine of DHS’s programs were assessed using the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART), which evaluated each programs design and purpose, strategic planning efforts, how well they are managed, and whether they are generating positive results for taxpayers. Table 1-1 lists some of the highlights and recommendations from the PART evaluations.