| Many who have
studied and experienced history are concerned about today's homeland security
issues. The 1930's and WW II demonstrate that even when many people are unconcerned
about present dangers, bad people are gaining power and preparing to use it in evil ways.
By now the federal government's Office Of Homeland Security should have
established an organized framework for citizen volunteers across the nation. Had
that happened, its framework could now be used as a prototype in every community.
Our objective is to assist in volunteer preparedness efforts and help fill needs in the
event of an emergency.
If federal, state or local agencies request volunteers, we
may pass those specific needs on to our volunteers who can then choose to assist in
prevention, rescue or self-defense. |
| Homeland Security Can Be Secured By Achieving Global Security |
Findings from within terrorist
cells and captured top leaders indicate terrorists continue planning to use relatively
simple tools and methods to inflict damage upon civilization. Reports indicate that
in addition to airplanes and car bombs, terrorists are planning to use cell phones,
cameras, radios -- electronic devices of all sorts -- modified to perform as weapons
and destructive tools. Terrorists see the obvious fact that in today's
technological, chip-filled world it is possible to turn almost any common device into a
bomb or debilitating tool.
People responsible for homeland security
functions must realize that these devices can not be stopped. Terrorists so bent
upon using their minds to convert a cell phone into bomb and their bodies into homicide
bombers will not be stopped. There are too many terrorists and too many devices.
There are too many vulnerabilities in our open civilized society.
The magnitude of damage that terrorists can
inflict upon civilization is measurable in buildings, airplanes, infrastructure elements,
dollars and deaths. However the actual damage and real destruction terrorism will
inflict upon civilization goes far beyond that calculus. Civilization is now being
distracted, expending resources, and importantly its people -- especially the young -- are
being psychologically damaged. Civilized people are impacted daily with warnings and
overhanging fears that erode their ability to work and produce efficiently. The
magnitude of this destruction is exponentially damaging over years. Too large a
percentage of each civilized person's day is filled with life-threatening concerns.
Children are maturing with dark, overhanging distractions and fears. This is an
inhibiting force causing a deceleration of potential progress.
Civilized people want to achieve maximum
production with high efficiency. To reach these goals civilization must prioritize
objectives and:
1.) Cleanse each nation of infiltrated
terrorist operatives. Use domestic forces, policies and laws. Act
expeditiously and with thoroughness;
2.) Reach into all terrorist enclaves everywhere and eliminate the root
forces that direct and motivate global plotting, planning and implementation of terrorist
activities;
3.) Apply reasonable amounts of security to the homeland efforts.
Suppress what can reasonably be suppressed without allowing terrorists to cause us
to put ourselves in overly secured boxes.
Implementation of this plan will greatly reduce
terrorist destruction within civilized nations, stop terrorism at its bases and most
importantly, free civilized people from the daily burdens associated with terrorism
threats. Civilized people will then be able to live civilized, productive and
satisfying lives. They should be allowed to plan and worry freely about progress,
education, work and life instead of negative forces. |
| For The Homeland Security Director's Desk |
Homeland Security Is Not A Desk Job... Nor A Job For
A Novice |
President
Bush established the Office of Homeland Security and appointed Pennsylvania Governor Tom
Ridge to the top position. Today there is a cabinet post building and managing
homeland security. Homeland Security should be active and provide adequate
information, yet not unduly alarm the public. Secretary Ridge's successor, Michael
Chertoff, may someday learn how to adequately defend us and arm us with insight and
the high-level
perspectives needed to avert terrorist attacks. He may also someday
learn, staff, and effectively manage US defense resources in concert
with the Defense Department.
However, the Department of Homeland Security appears functionally
and operationally inadequate in light of hurricane Katrina's
aftermath and the failure of FEMA to effectively motivate the clean
up of New Orleans. Most optimistically we speculate with pathetic
excuses that the people of New Orleans and their officials are
uniquely incapable of recovering -- even with massive federal
assistance.
The Department of Homeland Security must be more effective in its
prevention of further terrorist attacks than it has been in its
efforts in New Orleans. |
| Secretary
Chertoff and his top level managers should: |
1.)
Perform operational inspections of airport facilities as they arrive and depart.
This will keep local workers on guard watching for the big inspections;
2.) Monitor representative main streets of major cities, reviewing potential danger
locations such as high-rise office buildings and tourist stops, and leaving instructions
for owners and management of buildings about specific changes to make to bring their
properties up to terror-resistant status;
3.) Monitor the length of the Mexican and Canadian borders to witness first-hand the
open gaps in our unprotected frontiers and specify improvements;
4.) Mandate changes be implemented to correct specific problems;
5.) Ensure that plans are implemented appropriately and operating as planned. |
|
| For example, a potential problem is: |
|
Placement,
configuration and installation of concrete barricades cannot be left to those whose
primary interest is the appearance of the structure to be protected whether it is a
shopping mall, office or residential building. Many barricades are being installed
without adequate vector, friction and mass analysis. Placement, configuration and
installation of these barricades will determine how effectively they withstand forces
applied to them if rammed. |
|
Barricades
should only be placed using on-site direction of engineers who understand the laws of
vectors mechanics, momentum and the force of friction. These people should be
knowledgeable and able to identify a configuration, optimal placement and effective
installation methods. |
|
|
| The
Department of Homeland Security should be the clearing center for all information
announcements including warnings, thwarted attacks, arrests, and implementation of
significant changes in procedures such as airport security. |
| The
Department of Homeland Security needs to upgrade the image, prestige and remuneration of
airport and related security workers. These jobs should be positioned as the key
homeland security roles they have become. These jobs are no longer resting posts for
uncaring, inept, unconcerned individuals. The Department of Homeland Security must write
job descriptions and promote public discussion of the critical nature employees in these
positions fulfill. Airline and building security jobs can only be filled by
individuals who comprehend their role in prevention of catastrophes and the security of
each human being they are guarding. |
| The
Homeland Security director and staff cannot afford to simply hold hearings in Washington
to review and discuss issues. This should be a mobile group whose mission is to
prevent death and destruction by terrorists. |
|
Judgment Is Critical For Success & Survival |
| We
hold fast to our editorial of March 12, 2002 published on WarInformation.com
--- Domestic Security Chief Tom Ridge announced an alert system intended to convey
more specific meanings and guidance to people regarding terrorism alerts. The system
uses five colors: the lowest status warning is green, followed by blue, yellow,
orange with red indicating that perceived dangers are intense. |
| Secretary Ridge
said the multistage alert system will provide a common vocabulary of danger to help
communities respond to threats. |
| We ask, "Why
colors?" There is no logical or instinctive progression directly relating a
given danger level to a given color. Yes, red is intuitively 'most severe' but why
would Ridge expect people to memorize and then, while under stress, to instinctively
calculate, comprehend and act according to a specific color code? |
| This color system
is a formula for confusion. Colors codes attempt to quantify qualitative
judgments. |
| We ask Secretary
Chertoff to understand what is going on in the lives of hundreds of millions of Americans
of all ages and educational levels. Do not add to their stress by requiring them to
translate colors in order to comprehend a subjective scheme to then learn how dangerous
each day is. That will implicitly force people away from paying any attention to the
warning level scheme. People inherently tend to shy away from confusion.
Accordingly, they will disregard warnings. |
| We say, "Use
numbers." Simple... Most everyone can count. Use five (5)
levels. Level 5 is the least severe. Level 1 indicates perceived dangers are intense. |
|
|
President Bush's State of the Union Address, January 29, 2002 |
| A
part of President Bush's 2001 State of the Union Address included a call for
volunteers. He said, "My call tonight is for every American to commit at least
two years -- 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime -- to the service of your
neighbors and your nation." |
| President
Bush suggested joining a new umbrella organization, USA Freedom Corps, that will enhance
existing volunteer corps and help with homeland security. The president said,
"America needs retired doctors and nurses who can be mobilized in major emergencies,
volunteers to help police and fire departments, transportation and utility workers
well-trained in spotting danger." |
| USA
Freedom Corps is hoping to include another 200,000 volunteers to expand the two groups
that operate domestic service projects, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. |
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