Critical Releases in Homeland Security: December 16, 2009

"The 2009 Annual Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission sets forth the Commission's analysis of the U.S.-China relationship in the topical areas designated by the Commission's Congressional mandate. These areas are China's proliferation practices, the qualitative and quantitative nature of economic transfers of U.S. production activities to China, the effect of China's development on world energy supplies, the access to and use of U.S. capital markets by China, China's regional economic and security impacts, U.S.-China bilateral programs and agreements, China's compliance with its accession agreement to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the implications of China's restrictions on freedom of expression. The Commission's analysis, along with recommendations to the Congress for addressing identified concerns, is chronicled in the Report and summarized herein."

"The International Law Department of the Center for Naval Warfare Studies at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, conducted a counter-piracy workshop on 7 and 8 April 2009. Comprising [of] fifty legal and policy experts from across the globe, the workshop captured a number of findings and vetted recommendations for continuing the effort against maritime piracy. The participants "took away" four major findings. First, it was apparent to them that piracy in the Horn of Africa has emerged from a complex political, economic, and cultural milieu. No single response will solve the problem. Second, regional capacity building and collective maritime action will be required to contend with the challenge of piracy so long as pirates enjoy sustained sanctuary in Somalia. Proposals to stop piracy by "fixing" Somalia, however, beg the question of how to go about the task, as it is doubtful that the international community has the capability or will to transform Somalia quickly into a stable and viable state. Third, the participants were convinced that only the major maritime powers have the skill and resources to help the regional states expand coastal and littoral maritime-security capability rapidly. Security assistance to the regional states, including training and provision of patrol craft, can shift responsibility for counter-piracy to the states of the neighborhood. Eventually, these states should acquire and operate offshore patrol vessels, even corvettes. Shifting responsibility for maintaining rule of law at sea to the regional powers, the workshop felt, benefits everyone. Finally, the civil shipping industry should take a greater role in protecting merchant vessels, including integrating passive design measures that make it more difficult for pirates to board a ship. In some cases, this means that provision of private armed security may be appropriate. The workshop was designed to take a fresh look at the threat of maritime piracy off the Horn of Africa, assess the tremendous progress in international law and diplomacy that has transpired to address the problem, and consider the way forward."

"One of the core missions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to enhance the ability of state, territory, local and tribal governments to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks and other disasters. DHS's comprehensive suite of homeland security preparedness grant programs are an important part of the Administration's larger, coordinated effort to strengthen homeland security preparedness. These programs implement objectives addressed in a series of post-9/11 laws, strategy documents, plans and Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs). Together, DHS grant programs may fund a wide range of preparedness activities, to include planning, organization, equipment purchase, training, exercises and grant management and administration costs. These programs support objectives outlined in the National Preparedness Guidelines and related national preparedness doctrine, such as the National Incident Management System, the National Response Framework and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan."

From the White House Press Release (December 9, 2009): "Today, President Obama released the National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats. This Strategy outlines the President's vision for addressing the challenges from proliferation of biological weapons or their use by terrorists. It highlights the beneficial nature of advances in the life sciences and their importance in combating infectious diseases of natural, accidental, and deliberate origin. It also outlines how the risks associated with misuse and potential consequences of a biological attack require tailored actions to prevent biological threats. The Strategy emphasizes the need to (1) improve global access to the life sciences to combat infectious disease regardless of its cause; (2) establish and reinforce norms against the misuse of the life sciences; and (3) institute a suite of coordinated activities that collectively will help influence, identify, inhibit, and/or interdict those who seek to misuse the life sciences. Through this Strategy the United States Government will work with domestic and international partners on the following seven objectives to PROTECT against misuse of the life sciences to support biological weapons proliferation and terrorism."