Critical Releases in Homeland Security: June 24, 2015

From the Introduction: "In establishing the task force, the President spoke of the distrust that exists between too many police departments and too many communities--the sense that in a country where our basic principle is equality under the law, too many individuals, particularly young people of color, do not feel as if they are being treated fairly. 'When any part of the American family does not feel like it is being treated fairly, that's a problem for all of us,' said the President. 'It's not just a problem for some. It's not just a problem for a particular community or a particular demographic It means that we are not as strong as a country as we can be. And when applied to the criminal justice system, it means we're not as effective in fighting crime as we could be.' These remarks underpin the philosophical foundation for the Task Force on 21st Century Policing: to build trust between citizens and their peace officers so that all components of a community are treating one another fairly and justly and are invested in maintaining public safety in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Decades of research and practice tell us that the public cares as much about how police interact with them as they care about the outcomes that legal actions produce. People are more likely to obey the law when they believe those who are enforcing it have the right--the legitimate authority--to tell them what to do. Building trust and legitimacy, therefore, is not just a policing issue. It involves all components of the criminal justice system and is inextricably bound to bedrock issues affecting the community such as poverty, education, and public health."

This is a testimony compilation of the June 3, 2015 hearing "Implications of the Iran Nuclear Agreement for U.S. Policy in the Middle East," held before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. From the opening statement of Committee Chairman Bob Corker: "Against a backdrop of unprecedented turmoil in the Middle East, the administration is negotiating a nuclear agreement with the arch rival of many of our closest allies. Instead of reassuring our traditional allies that the United States will remain a friend, some would say that the administration has implemented a string of incoherent and self-defeating policies. […] As Iran deepens its influence in capitals from Baghdad to Damascus to Beirut and Sana'a, the perspective of many in the region is that the United States is Assad's air force in Syria and Iran's air force in Iraq. I will say, I was in Iraq recently and it really did feel like, while I support what we're doing with the 3,100 personnel we have there, it really felt like what we were doing is helping create a better country for Iran in Iraq. Even though, again, I support what is happening there, it feels very much that way with their infiltration into the parliament and their tremendous efforts on the ground. As we begin to look at how to evaluate a prospective nuclear agreement, we cannot ignore that the lack of coherent American leadership in the region has left a vacuum that will continue to be filled by violence. Without defined, committed engagement to counter Iranian regional aggression and to support our partners, the need for American involvement will continue to grow as conditions deteriorate. In your testimony today, I hope you will touch on what I see as some of the puzzling claims from the administration about what an agreement with Iran would mean for the region." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: James Jeffrey and Martin Indyk.

From the abstract: "The emergency services community must recognize that the world is constantly changing and adjust accordingly. It will have to be more nimble and proactive with its capabilities if it wants to prepare effectively for future threats and respond to atypical emergencies. Over the past several years, fire, law enforcement and emergency medical services communities have not adapted their missions or capabilities to prepare, train, and respond effectively in a joint capacity to perhaps the two most imminent, nonconforming threats facing communities across America -- the active shooter and fire as a weapon. These are incidents that necessitate an integrated response; traditional single agency 'stove piped' responses will not be effective in saving lives and property. If we do not integrate Fire/EMS and law enforcement capabilities for these imminent threats, not only will civilian lives be lost, but those of first responders will be as well."

From the abstract: "Due to increasing system sophistication and affordability, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are becoming more popular among hobbyists and businesses. UAS also pose a threat to homeland security as they could be used for nefarious activity such as preoperational surveillance or as weapons. Consequently, law enforcement officers and fusion centers have experienced an increase in suspicious activity reporting related to UAS. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet finalized a policy for integrating UAS into the national airspace, leaving law enforcement officers without a clear protocol for contact with UAS operators. This paper first examines UAS policy at the federal, state, and local levels. A discussion of recent incidents is provided to demonstrate the threat of UAS and the enforcement action taken. To bridge the gap between current policy and enforcement tools, this paper proposes a solution of creating local ordinances restricting UAS operations to protect critical infrastructure and preserve public safety."