Critical Releases in Homeland Security: March 6, 2013

From the Introduction: "Emerging trends indicate that the pace of economic espionage and trade secret theft against U.S. corporations is accelerating. There appears to be multiple vectors of attack for persons and governments seeking to steal trade secrets. Foreign competitors of U.S. corporations, some with ties to foreign governments, have increased their efforts to steal trade secret information through the recruitment of current or former employees. Additionally, there are indications that U.S. companies, law firms, academia, and financial institutions are experiencing cyber intrusion activity against electronic repositories containing trade secret information. Trade secret theft threatens American businesses, undermines national security, and places the security of the U.S. economy in jeopardy. These acts also diminish U.S. export prospects around the globe and put American jobs at risk. [...] Departments across the U.S. government have roles in protecting trade secrets and preserving our nation's economic and national security. This strategy recognizes the crucial role of trade secrets in the U.S. economy and sets out a means for improved coordination within the U.S. government to protect them."

This document contains Volumes I and II of the 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, released by the U.S. Department of State. Volume I examines drug and chemical control, while Volume II provides information on money laundering and financial crimes. "The 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report provides an overview of steps taken during the previous year by the governments of over 90 countries to reduce illicit narcotics production, trafficking and use. Efforts towards these common goals are required by treaties endorsed by virtually all member states of the United Nations, and the United States strongly supports these legal instruments both through its own domestic efforts and by providing assistance to help reinforce the work of foreign partners to enhance their capacities to achieve sustainable results. U.S. assistance can play an important role in bolstering the efforts of committed governments to reduce illicit drug supplies, strengthen criminal justice systems and correctional institutions, and promote advances in prevention and treatment. By supporting international efforts to reduce the flow of illicit drugs to the United States, U.S. assistance directly supports the public health and safety of U.S. citizens. U.S. assistance also helps support key U.S. foreign policy objectives by strengthening the ability of international partners to provide security for their citizens and safeguard the rule of law. However, as this report underscores, U.S. assistance can only supplement domestic efforts by partner governments; there is no substitute for a host-nation's commitment to overcome the difficult, long-term challenges of confronting drug-related crime and corruption."

This is Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano's third annual address on the state of homeland security, which took place on February 26, 2013 at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. From her remarks: "As most of you know, in a few days, we will mark the 10th anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security. And while ten years may not sound like a long time in the lifespan of a Federal department, it's a significant milestone, as well as an opportunity to consider just how much has changed in that time. The attacks of 9/11 served as the impetus for the creation of DHS, and also brought to light the changes to our world that had been building for many years … changes that required immediate action … and a fundamental shift in how to keep the nation safe. Our security posture in these difficult times was, in many ways, a necessary function of protecting our nation from threats that we were just beginning to understand. In that way, the immediate post-9/11 period and the early years of the Department were a kind of DHS version 1.0 … the foundation for much of what has developed since. Over the past four years, we've seen a second phase of the Department's development and advancement -- DHS 2.0 -- with stronger partnerships with all involved with homeland security, including government, law enforcement, first responders, the private sector, and the public, at every level. We now reach our next era -- DHS 3.0 if you will. And as you'll see, the software metaphor isn't really accidental at all. So for this, my third annual State of Homeland Security address, I want to talk a bit about the significant change we've seen over the past ten-plus years, and some of the considerable progress that we've made in that time."