Memo to Intelligence Department of Homeland Security - Critical Thinking

This memo is a recommendation in paper to the homeland security enterprise purposely written with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of using intelligence at their disposal. Thwarting security concerns is a challenging activity which requires proper and calculated decisions based on information obtained regarding the potential terrorist attack or any other security concern in the country. Basing on this issue it is essential that homeland security accepts some recommendations on how they can use intelligence by incorporating some ideas on how well they can use intelligence information.

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In the modern world terrorism seems to be a problem facing various countries and source distraction gave the anonymity and increase in a number of sympathizers for their actions. The homeland security being an independent institution means they get their own intelligence on various security threats. The ability to obtain intelligence is not an issue the problem is how effectively they can use it to prevent the most probable security concern. To effectively use this information, it important that homeland security agency should share the information obtained with other agencies such as CIA so they can cooperate and work together in preventing the task force. Security agencies have had a problem collaborating a case for example is the September 9/11 terrorist attack where there was enough information about terrorists but failure to work together led to the attack happening. The mission for all security institutions is to protect the nation by using intelligence information

Fusion of information collected by the international security agencies and domestic security firms makes it easy to obtain the pattern of intelligence and make a valuable decision that can prevent the terrorist attack. To do this I believe the homeland security center can focus on being part of a pool of America security networks who work together in gathering the intelligence necessary. Creating this central center is important in ensuring that the culture of restricting intelligence information by one security organization makes it hard to use intelligence. Focusing on a mechanism that can lead to these professionals in homeland security working with other such as CIA and FBI according to me is a great step in solving this issue. However, I know that the boundaries that exist between these agencies are in good fate I think it is doing more harm than the good intended to (Dillon, 2017).

Access to intelligence information is another problem that needs to be monitored given that in this era terrorist is within our own communities. Access to intelligence thus requires homeland security in sharing sensitive intelligence information must scrutinize those with access to use the available information. Setting up the structure on people who can have access is essential to ensure this kind of information does not fall into the wrong hands thus jeopardizing the operation.

Threat assessment is another issue about intelligence that I would love homeland security to relook. Identifying the threat then analyzing it based on the context it tries to bring out the security around them and people it might probably affect. Threats vary and the difference in handling the differs as well as the extent to which it can impact the people. governors in various states play a role in ensuring this threat are addressed by choosing the homeland security to deal with them in their own state. The intelligence of issues such as terrorism however falls in the national intelligence making it a barrier especially when the homeland security is the first to have access to the intelligence data.

Engaging the public also is another way through which intelligence information can be used effectively. In the event that the department of homeland security gets information about a potential terror attack in certain community alerting the public is good. Before alerting them, it is necessary that they educate the public on how to identify suspicious individuals and activities they might encounter in their daily. By doing so they are doing this job of maintaining safety within the society by effectively involving members of the public in aiding them ("Strengthening the Homeland Security Enterprise | Homeland Security", 2017).

The private sector is another area that can aid the homeland security enterprise in effectively using the intelligence information. Private firms especially those in the technological sector can be of great importance as they can use the available data to aid in foiling any terrorist attacks that could arise as a result. Identifying programs that involve the private sector plays a huge role in ensuring that they are actually chipping in some way to thwart the problem at hand.

Homeland security just like any other firms across any country is bound to be a topic of discussion among politicians who might want to influence its operations (Mayer, 2017). This includes restricting intelligence information that might be of interest to some politician against the activities done by homeland security enterprise. Eliminating the chance of politics coming into is crucial for ensuring intelligence is well used by the agency without any influence from powerful politicians.

Constant training of officers and accepting failure in past that have resulted in misuse of intelligence is a basis for determining whether. In attaining that they can focus on adopting procedures that involve judicial representatives, intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies to facilitate the appropriate and fast use of this data. Homeland security from this training will benefit from having staff who can work with other agencies and positive contribute to the protection of human rights as well as maintain security levels. After training also officers in homeland security will have the skills to process the gathered information very fast by following the available legal procedures needed for that moment. This kind of knowledge is crucial in ensuring that the agency does not face any legal implications because of operating under the set laws (Rosenbach, 2008).

Aside from just obtaining information from their sources homeland security should not easily use this as the basis for conviction but rather a way of making their investigation simple and concentrated on a certain area or individual. By using this data to gather evidence individuals needs to be given a proper hearing before being judged on sight. This helps in maintaining the legal process fair and ensures that officers in homeland security as well as other agencies understand their duties, requirements and legal issues involved especially when handling intelligence data.

Conclusion

In the current state of the world security is paramount with an increase in the techniques employed by the terrorist. Terrorism is evolving daily and as intelligence departments such as Homeland Security also need to work on ways to mitigate this problem. Intelligence gathering and use are crucial in averting the potential loss of innocent lives. By using intelligence effectively and in a respectable manner we promote the essence of maintaining safety within our society.

References

Dillon, D. (2017). Breaking Down Intelligence Barriers for Homeland Security. The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 26 May 2017, from http://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/report/breaking-down-intelligence-barriers-homeland-security

Mayer, M. (2017). Homeland Security 4.0: Overcoming Centralization, Complacency, and Politics. The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 26 May 2017, from http://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/report/homeland-security-40-overcoming-centralization-complacency-and-politics

Rosenbach, E. (2008). The incisive fight: Recommendations for improving counterterrorism intelligence. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 618(1), 133-147.

Strengthening the Homeland Security Enterprise | Homeland Security. (2017). Dhs.gov. Retrieved 26 May 2017, from https://www.dhs.gov/strengthening-homeland-security-enterprise