Critical Releases in Homeland Security: March 20, 2013

From the thesis abstract: "Presently, U.S. border security endeavors are compartmentalized, fragmented, and poorly coordinated. Moreover, international collaborations are extremely limited; success hinges on effective international cooperation. This thesis addresses U.S. border security management using complexity theory and a systems approach, incorporating both borders and all associated border security institutions simultaneously. Border security research has rarely viewed all stakeholders as a holistic unit up to this point, nor has border security been thoroughly examined using a systems approach. This research scrutinizes the current U.S. border security paradigm in an attempt to determine the systemic reasons why the system is ineffective in securing U.S. borders. Additionally, the research investigates the current level of international cooperation between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This thesis increases awareness and will possibly create dissent among established agencies, which is the first step in instituting needed changes that will ultimately increase North American security. The thesis contends that the establishment of a tri-national--United States, Canadian, and Mexican--border security agency, in addition to legalizing drugs and reestablishing a guest worker program, will be more effective and cost-efficient in securing North American borders."

From the thesis abstract: "The premise of this study is the principle that prevention, preparedness, response and recovery strategies for complex manmade threats to our nation necessitate both collaboration and knowledge sharing among government agencies. The thesis asks, 'What can be learned by examining the New Jersey homeland security environment through both hierarchical and ecosystem models, and what aid can those heuristic templates provide to organizational decision making?' The analysis of existing literature revealed two sets of frameworks or conceptual lenses. The hierarchical framework includes command and control, authorities, planning, information flows, organizational culture and behavior, SOPs [Standard Operating Procedures], policy, and governance. The ecosystem framework includes strategic planning, cooperation, collaboration, interdependencies, information flows, diversity, emergence, and networks. The two frameworks are used to conduct comparative case studies of past complex events that occurred within the New Jersey's homeland security environment. The study's findings suggest that New Jersey's fusion center, based on its structure and capabilities, is suitable for blending both organizational frameworks, leading it to having the capacity to solve complex issues through collaboration, emergence, strategic planning, networks, and information sharing."

This is the Statement for the Record of James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, and was submitted to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on March 12, 2013. "This year, in both content and organization, this statement illustrates how quickly and radically the world--and our threat environment--are changing. This environment is demanding reevaluations of the way we do business, expanding our analytic envelope, and altering the vocabulary of intelligence. Threats are more diverse, interconnected, and viral than at any time in history. Attacks, which might involve cyber and financial weapons, can be deniable and unattributable. Destruction can be invisible, latent, and progressive. We now monitor shifts in human geography, climate, disease, and competition for natural resources because they fuel tensions and conflicts. Local events that might seem irrelevant are more likely to affect US national security in accelerated time frames. In this threat environment, the importance and urgency of intelligence integration cannot be overstated. Our progress cannot stop. The Intelligence Community must continue to promote collaboration among experts in every field, from the political and social sciences to natural sciences, medicine, military issues, and space. Collectors and analysts need vision across disciplines to understand how and why developments--and both state and unaffiliated actors--can spark sudden changes with international implications." See the following compilation for more information: [http://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=733905]