Syllabus            

Stephen Flynn, America the Vulnerable: How our Government is Failing to Protect us from Terrorism, (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2004).

Philip B. Heyman, Terrorism Freedom and Security: Winning Without War (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2003).

Russ Howard, Joanne Moore, and James Forest, eds., Homeland Security and Terrorism: Readings and Interpretations (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005).

Mark A. Sauter and James Jay Carafano, Homeland Security: A Complete Guide to Understanding, Preventing, and Surviving Terrorism, (New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 2005).

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. (New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2004).

Michael E. O'Hanlon, Peter R. Orszag, Ivo H. Daalder, I. M. Destler, David L. Gunter, James M. Lindsay, Robert E. Litan, James B. Steinberg, Protecting the American Homeland: One Year On (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press,2002).

Clark Kent Ervin, Open Target (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006).

Block 1 examines the nature of the threat posed by terrorists and global terrorist networks, particularly those which have or seek the capability to carry out catastrophic attacks. The intent of Block 1 is not to build an in-depth understanding of particular terrorist groups, motivations, tactics, or history (SS474: Terrorism and Counterterrorism is the Department of Social Sciences course that explores these issues), but rather to consider the threat from a "net assessment" perspective. Just as experts and officials, beginning in the late 1940s, considered how the nature of the nuclear weapons threat changed the international security environment and American foreign policy and national security policy, we pursue a similarly broad perspective with respect to the new (and permanent) strategic reality of catastrophic terrorism. What are the important characteristics of the terrorist threat that America and other nations face in the foreseeable future? How do these characteristics shape homeland security policy?

Readings:

1. Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Paper No. 8: The Effects of Internal War in Producing Standing Armies and Other Institutions Unfriendly to Liberty, November 20, 1787.

2. Chris Hornbarger, Introduction to SS464: The State of Homeland Security Entering 2006, January 2, 2006.

3. Review the syllabus and course website thoroughly, in particular: (1) the requirements for the first three weeks of lessons (below); and (2) the course's graded requirements.

4. Review the Executive Summary of the National Strategy for Homeland Security. (Focus on the structure and framework of the strategy, not on the specific initiatives listed).

Study Questions:

1. What aspects of Hamilton's argument remain compelling today? What aspects do not?

2. In what ways does America enjoy or not enjoy an "insular situation" similar to that which Hamilton describes of Great Britain?

3. Reflecting on both assigned essays, what are some of the difficult choices Americans face in how to best protect the country from terrorism?

4. Considering the structure and objectives of the National Strategy for Homeland Security, describe the rationale for the way this course is structured?

Readings:

1. Stephen Flynn, Chapter 2: The Next Attack in America the Vulnerable: How our Government is Failing to Protect us from Terrorism, (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2004): 17-35.

Clark Kent Ervin, Chapters 1 and 8 in Open Target (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006): 27-36' 177-189.

Study Questions:

1. As you go through the readings, identify as many specific problems for which a solution, mitigation, or countermeasure might prevent, or lessen the chances of success, of the attack scenarios that Flynn and Allison describe.

2. Use the lesson 2 worksheet to list as many of these specific problems as you can, categorizing them in one of the columns (each column corresponds to one of the six critical mission areas in the National Strategy for Homeland Security). Try to list each problem in only one column. Be prepared to turn-in your worksheet.

3. Characterize the number and variety of problems, and the breadth and depth of policy the list embraces.

Readings:

1. National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Chapter 1: We have Some Planes in The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States,(New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2004): 1-46.

2. Skim: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Chapter 9: Heroism and Horror in The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States,(New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2004): 278-323.

Study Questions:

1. As you did with lesson 2, identify as many specific problems as you can within both chapters.

2. What is common between your lesson 2 list and the list of problems with respect to chapter 1?

3. What is similar and dissimilar between your lesson 2 and chapter 1 lists and your chapter 9 list?

Readings:

1. Hoffman, Bruce, "Chapter 5: The Logic of Suicide Terrorism" in Russ Howard, Joanne Moore, and James Forest, eds, Homeland Security and Terrorism (New York: McGraw Hill, 2005).

2. Pape, Robert, "Chapter 6: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism" in Russ Howard, Joanne Moore, and James Forest, eds, Homeland Security and Terrorism (New York: McGraw Hill, 2005).

Study Questions:

1. Is terrorism a viable (not necessarily legitimate) means of pursuing political objectives? Why or why not? Provide examples.

2. What are the key characteristics of the terrorist threat the United States faces in the foreseeable future?

Readings:

1. John Parachini, Putting WMD Terrorism into Perspective in Russell Howard, James Forest, and Joanne Moore, eds., Homeland Security and Terrorism, (New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Inc., 2005): 31-42.

2. Elinor C. Sloan, "Chapter 2 - The Nature of the Threat," in Security and Defence in the Terrorist Era (Ithaca, NY: McGill-Queen's Press, 2005) 13-29.

Study Questions:

1. How serious is the confluence of the proliferation and availability of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) material, and the growth of terrorist networks?

In Block 2, we dive in to the substance of homeland security. The National Strategy for Homeland Security establishes three objectives; in priority order they are: (1) prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, (2) reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and (3) minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur. The strategy also establishes six critical mission areas: (1) intelligence and warning, (2) border and transportation security, (3) domestic counterterrorism, (4) critical infrastructure protection, (5) defending against catastrophic threats, and (6) emergency preparedness and response.

The critical mission areas parallel the lifecycle of the terrorist threat, from its genesis beyond our shores, to the execution and aftermath of attacks within the United States. The first three mission areas generally correlate to the first objective; the next two to the second objective; and the last to the third objective.

Block 2 examines the National Strategy's third objective and its corresponding critical mission area. The course follows the structure above, starting from the "inside out" -- doing so exposes students to policies which are more accessible and with which they are most likely to have an existing baseline of understanding. Doing so also best allows us to examine the nature of the homeland security policy area early in the course. Throughout the course, within each critical mission area, we explore such questions as:

• What is the mission area’s scope? (breadth of policy, organizations, manpower, resources, statutory authorities, etc.) What does it include? What does it not include?

• How important is the mission area? What should we seek to accomplish?

• What is the status of the Nation’s efforts in the mission area? Are we succeeding? Failing? On-course? Off-track?

• What are the current laws and policies relevant to the mission area? Are new laws or policies needed?

• What challenges or impediments make progress difficult in the mission area?

• What policy tools are available to achieve progress in the mission area? What are their costs, benefits, and appropriateness?

• With what other priorities or policies does the mission area intersect or compete? Which are more or less important, and why?

• What should we seek to accomplish within the next year, five years, ten years?

Readings:

1. George W. Bush, Emergency Preparedness and Response in National Strategy for Homeland Security, (Washington, D.C.: The White House, July 2002): 41-45.

2. Richard A. Falkenrath, Homeland Security and Consequence Management in The Challenge of Proliferation, A Report of the Aspen Strategy Group, Summer 2005: 131-138.

3. Skim: George W. Bush, Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 (HSPD-5) – Management of Domestic Incidents (Washington, DC: The White House, February 28, 2003).

4. Skim: Department of Homeland Security, Chapter IV: Concept of Operations in National Response Plan (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 2004): 14-43.

5. Skim: Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, "Preface, Introduction and Overview" in National Incident Management System (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, March 1, 2004): ix-4.

Study Questions:

1. Describe current US Government policy regarding the organization for and management of domestic incidents.

2. What principles guide current policy?

3. What are the NRP, NIMS, and HSPD-5?

4. Define "incident management" and its subordinate terms "crisis management" and "consequence management."

5. What is the division of federal, state, and local responsibility in emergency response?

6. Characterize the key issues and challenges in designing and implementing policy for incident managent?

7. Subscribe to the "Homeland Security Week" newsletter from GovExec.com: (1) go to GovExec.com; (2) in the left margin, click "E-Newsletters;" (3) enter your email address, then scroll down and check "Homeland Security Week;' enter.

Readings:

1. National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Staff Statement 13: Emergency Preparedness and Response and State Statement 14: Crisis Management from the Eleventh Public Hearing, in Staff Statements of the 9/11 Commission, New York, May 18-19, 2004.

2. Congressional Research Service, State and Local Homeland Security: Unresolved Issues for the 109th Congress (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, June 9, 2005).

3. Skim: Homeland Security Council, Planning Scenarios: Executive Summaries -- Created for Use in National, Federal, State and Local Homeland Security Preparedness Activities (Washington, DC: The White House, July 2004). Read: Scenario 2: Biological Attack - Aerosol Anthrax, and Scenario 10: Natural Disaster - Major Hurricane.

4. Skim: George W. Bush, HSPD-8 – National Preparedness, (Washington, DC: The White House, December 17, 2003).

Study Questions:

1. What are the key issues that state and local governments must address to ensure their preparedness for emergencies, both natural and manmade?

2. What is the federal government's role in ensuring national preparedness?

3. What are the current issues regarding federal grants for state and local emergency preparedness?

4. What standards or benchmarks should guide preparedness efforts?

Readings:

1. The Brookings Institution, Event Transcript of Hurricane Katrina: Where do We Go From Here? (Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution, September 8, 2005): read the Falkenrath and Nivola sections, pp. 1-22, or watch the video of their statements accessible on the website. The remainder of the transcript is recommended but not required reading.

2. US House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Hearing on “Federalism and Disaster Response: Examining the Roles and Responsibilities of Local, State, and Federal Agencies," October 19, 2005. Read the Bush and Samuel testimony.

Study Questions:

1. What are local government responsibilities in responding to major emergencies? State responsibilities? Federal?

2. What Constitutional issues does Katrina highlight?

3. What were the key failures at each level of government?

4. What reforms and actions may be required in the wake of Katrina?

Readings:

1. US Department of Defense, Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support (Washington, DC: Department of Defense, June 2005): 1-19.

2.US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (DCSINT), Sections I, II, III, and IV in TRADOC Handbook No. 1.04: Defense Support to Civil Authorities (Fort Leavenworth, KS: TRADOC, August 15, 2005): I-1 to IV-10.  (Note: in addition to providing a good overview of how the U.S. Army thinks about the homeland security mission, these sections succinctly describe the incident management structures in lesson 6).

3. Chris Hornbarger, Katrina Lessons-Learned: National Contingency Planning for Domestic Emergencies (West Point, NY: Department of Social Sciences, USMA, September 23, 2005): read the base memo (pp. 1-7), as well as Tabs A, E, F, and G.

Study Questions:

1. Define and distinguish between "homeland defense" and "homeland security."

2. What are DoD's responsibilities and major policies for the homeland defense mission?

3. What are DoD's responsibilities and major policies for homeland security (or "civil support") missions?

4. What is the functional relationship between DoD, DHS, and other federal agencies with homeland security responsibilities?

5. What are the key DoD organizations with homeland defense and civil support responsibiltiies?

6. What is Posse Comitatus, and what constraints does it place on the use of military forces for civil support?

7. What is the Insurrection Act, and what does it empower the President to do or not do?

8. What is the Stafford Act, and what does it authorize or require the Department of Defense to do?

Having examined the issues and policies associated with emergency preparedness and response, Block 3 explores the specific characteristics of the homeland security policy area, which differs from the traditional national security policy area in important ways. In Block 2, we established a foundation for us to consider how best to organize for and coordinate homeland security policy, questions which we will continuously revisit throughout the course. In addition, an important objective of SS464 is for future national security leaders to develop an understanding of national policymaking, interagency coordination, and the intersection of domestic policy and foreign policy. Block 3 focuses on this objective.

Readings:

1.David Aidekman, The National Security Act of 1947: Background, History, and Politics. Unpublished memorandum. (Harvard-Stanford Preventive Defense Project, October 26, 1999): 1-3

2.David Aidekman, The Goldwater-Nichols Act: History, Background, and Politics. Unpublished memorandum. (Harvard-Stanford Preventive Defense Project, October 20, 1999): 1-3.

3.Chris Hornbarger, National Security Act of 1947: Creation and Persistent Criticisms. Unpublished memorandum. (Harvard-Stanford Preventive Defense Project, February 21, 2000): 1-6.

4. John Deutch, Arnold Kanter; and Brent Scowcroft, with Chris Hornbarger. Strengthening the National Security Interagency Process, Chapter 10 in Ashton P. Carter and John P. White, eds., Keeping the Edge: Managing Defense for the Future, edited by Ashton B. Carter and John P. White (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2000): 265-284.

Study Questions:

1. What were the primary reasons behind the National Security Act of 1947 and the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986?

2. What difficulties or challenges did proponents of both Acts face? How did the military services contribute to or impede the reforms? What compromises were made as a result?

3. How complex was the integration of the military services, as accomplished by both the National Security Act and Goldwater-Nichols? How long has the integration taken?

4. What lessons might we draw from both reform efforts? What lessons might not apply to the current situation? (We will revisit these questions when we examine the two significant acts of institutional reform legislation since 9/11: the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.)

AY 2007-2 Lesson Slides

Readings:

1. Sauter and Carafano, Chapter 12: 237-259.

2. Chris Hornbarger, National Strategy: Building Capability for the Long-Haul in Russ Howard, Joanne Moore, and James Forest, eds., Homeland Security and Terrorism: Readings and Interpretations (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005): the sections entitled "The Strategic Challenge of Homeland Security" and "What Makes Good Strategy?”: 274-287.

3. George W. Bush, National Strategy for Homeland Security: read the blue box on p. 5.

4. Review the discussion slides linked below.

Study Questions:

1. Compare the President's constitutional foreign policy and national security powers with his domestic policy powers. What impact does this have on the interaction between the President and the Congress regarding homeland security policy?

2. Compare the domestic policy arena to the foreign policy arena.

3. How do the missions and authorities of the departments and agencies principally charged with national security (in particular, the Department of Defense, Department of State, and CIA) differ from the departments and agencies with important homeland security missions (for example, the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and Health and Human Services).

4. Compare the impact of homeland security policy and national security policy on American's daily lives.

5. With what other national priorities must homeland security policy compete?

Readings:

1.  Sauter and Carafano, Chapter 11: 209-234.

2. Ivo H. Daalder and I.M. Destler, Advisors, Czars and Council: Organizing for Homeland Security in The National Interest, Summer 2002: 1-11.

3. National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. (New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2004): 419-423.

4. Skim: George W. Bush, National Strategy for Homeland Security (Washington, D.C.: The White House, July 2002): v-6, 11-14, 67-70.

Study Questions:

1. What are the key issues regarding the organization for and management of homeland security?

2.  What is federalism, and how does it impact how we organize for and manage homeland security?  What are the appropriate roles for the federal, state, and local governments?

3. How does the President oversee and coordinate homeland security?  What are the Homeland Security Council and the National Security Council, what do they do, and how do they interact with one another?

4.  Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the three organizational models Daalder and Destler discuss?  Which is best and why? Which model(s) do we currently use?

5.  What federal agencies play key roles in homeland security?  What other roles do those agencies have?  What challenge(s) does this pose?

6. How has Congress organized for homeland security?

Readings:

1. Chris Hornbarger, National Strategy: Building Capability for the Long-Haul in Russ Howard, Joanne Moore, and James Forest, eds., Homeland Security and Terrorism: Readings and Interpretations (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005): the section entitled “The National Strategy for Homeland Security and the Case for DHS,” 287-293.

2. Siobhan Gorhman, DHS is Cautionary Tale for New Intelligence Director in GovExec.com, February 2005.

3. Department of Homeland Security. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff Announces Six-Point Agenda for the Department of Homeland Security, July 13, 2005. Also review the organization chart hyper-linked on that page (approximately 1 page).

4. Skim: United States Congress. H.R. 5005, the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Washington, D.C. U.S. Congress, November 25, 2002, Read Section 2, Title I, and Title IX (approximately 2 pp.).

5. Skim: Bush, George W. The Department of Homeland Security. Washington, D.C.: The White House, June 6, 2004 (approximately 18 pages less charts, accessible on the White House website: however there are no longer links to it from any other White House website page. If the link above does not work, cut and paste it into your browser and try again).

Study Questions:

1. Describe the rationale behind the President's DHS proposal?

2. What agencies did DHS subsume and why?

3. What are the missions of DHS?  What "non-homeland security" missions does the Department have?  What challenges does this pose?

4. How did the President propose to organize these agencies?  How did the Congress organize them in the Homeland Security Act?

5. What changes did Secretary Chertoff and the Congress make to DHS' structure?

Readings:

1. O’Hanlon, Michael E., Peter R. Orszag, Ivo H. Daalder, I. M. Destler, David L. Gunter, James M. Lindsay, Robert E. Litan, James B. Steinberg. 2002. Protecting the American Homeland: One Year On. (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2002): 77-98.

2. George W. Bush, National Strategy for Homeland Security (Washington, D.C.: The White House, July 2002): 63-66.

3. Chapter 3 (Homeland Security), under Crosscutting Programs in Analytic Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2006, pages 37-53 (actual pages numbers in the document, which correspond to pages 49-64 in Adobe Acrobat). Document is second link down.

Study Questions:

1. How much does the federal government spend on homeland security? On national security?

2. How is homeland security spending apportioned across the six critical mission areas?

3. How is homeland security spending apportioned among federal agencies?

4. How much of the costs of homeland security should the federal government bear? State and local governments? Private sector entities? What principles should we use to apportion the burden?

5. How do we determine how much spending is enough? What factors complicate that determination?

Block 4 examines the National Strategy's second objective and its corresponding mission areas of critical infrastructure protection and defending against catastrophic threats.

Readings:

1. Sauter and Carafano, Chapter 14: 283-304.

2. National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets, (Washington, D.C.: The White House, February 2003): section entitled "Securing Critical Infrastructures," 35-69.

3. Skim: National Strategy for Homeland Security (Washington, D.C.: The White House, July 2002): 29-35.

Study Questions:

1. What are the definitions of "critical infrastructure" and "key assets?"

2.What are the various CIP sectors? How are the CIP sectors similar to one another? How do they differ? What are some of the key characteristics of each? What sorts of assets, public and private, does each infrastructure incorporate?

3.How might the sectors' individual characteristics affect the calculations, plans, and actions of terrorists? How might these characteristics impact protective measures? What challenges do these characteristics, and their variety, pose to government agencies and private sector entities?

4.What are the federal government's CIP responsibilities? What are the responsibilities of state and local governments?

5. Which lead federal agencies are responsible for the various CIP sectors?

6. What principles guide federal CIP strategy, and what CIP initiatives are the federal government pursuing?

Readings:

1. O’Hanlon, Michael E., Peter R. Orszag, Ivo H. Daalder, I. M. Destler, David L. Gunter, James M. Lindsay, Robert E. Litan, James B. Steinberg, Protecting the American Homeland: One Year On (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press,2002): Chapter 4 (pp. 51-66), Chapter 6 (pp. 77-98), and Appendix A (133-135).

2. Stephen Flynn, America the Vulnerable: 52 (1st paragraph) to 58, 111 to 127, and 130 (2nd paragraph) to 133.

3. Skim: Information Sharing and Advisory Council (ISAC) Council, A Policy Framework for the ISAC Community: White Paper, January 31, 2004.

Study Questions:

1.Why is information sharing a key CIP policy issue? What are ISACs, what do they do, and why?

2. What incentives (market or otherwise) do private sector firms have to improve the security of their infrastructure? What disincentives do firms have?

3. What is the "tragedy of the commons?"

4. What liability issues do firms face with respect to CIP?

5. What are negative and positive externalities? How are they relevant to CIP?

6. What are the benefits, costs, and challenges associated with: (1) regulation, (2) insurance and reinsurance, and (3) subsidies?

7. What criteria should the government use to determine where and how extensively to intervene to ensure private sector CIP measures? In what CIP sectors is government intervention most appropriate, and why?

8. How should the cost of CIP efforts be distributed?

Readings:

1. Chris Hornbarger, Strategic Approach to Critical Infrastructure Protection, Unpublished.

2. National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States: 344-360.

3. Chris Hornbarger, National Strategy: Building Capability for the Long-Haul in Russ Howard, Joanne Moore, and James Forest, eds., Homeland Security and Terrorism: Readings and Interpretations (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005): the recommendation on p. 298.

Study Questions:

1. What does "integrating threat and vulnerability" mean?  Why is it important?

2. What is "risk shifting," what challenge does it pose to infrastructure protection, and how should we best account for it?

3. What does "institutionalizing imagination" mean?  How does it differ from "connecting the dots?  How is it best accomplished?

4. Imagine that the US Government had created, prior to 9-11, a scenario that terrorists might fly airliners into large or important buildings -- not because we deemed it likely, or because we had specific intelligence indicating such an attack might be in the works, but simply because an assessment of our aviation infrastructure revealed that such an attack would probably succeed.  Could such a scenario have been useful in generating "indicators" for discerning or establishing connections among available information and intelligence?  How?

Readings:

1. Sauter and Carafano, 153-179.

2. Bill Keller, Nuclear Nightmares in New York Times Magazine, May 26, 2002.

3. Graham Allison, Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe (NY: Times Books), 2004: 19-29; 104-113; 117-120; 211-221; skim: pp. 113-117.

Study Questions:

1. What is the difference between nuclear and radiological weapons?  What are their effects?

2. How could terrorists acquire nuclear or radiological weapons?  How available are the weapons or the materials needed to make them?

3. How might terrorists manufacture nuclear or radiological weapons?  What challenges would they have to surmount?

4. What organizations, policies, and programs does the United States have to combat the threat of weapons of mass destruction?

5. Be prepared to take the chapter quiz on page 179 of Sauter and Carafano.

Readings:

1. Richard Danzig, Catastrophic Bioterrorism: What Is To Be Done? (Washington, DC: Center for Technology and National Security Policy, National Defense University, 2003).

2. George W. Bush, National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza (Washington, DC: The White House, 2005): 1-12.

3. Skim: George W. Bush, HSPD-9: Defense of United States Agriculture and Food (Washington, DC, January 30, 2004).

4. Skim: George W. Bush, HSPD-10: Biodefense for the 21st Century (Washington, DC, April 28, 2004).

Study Questions:

1. What factors lead Danzig to assert that bioterrorism warrants exceptional preparation?  What is "reload?"

2. What characteristics of bioterrorism differentiate it from other forms of catastrophic terrorism?

3. How might a bioterrorist attack scenario (a single attack or campaign) unfold?  How difficult would it be for a terrorist cell to initiate an attack? How would we detect an attack?

4. How would we respond to an attack?  What challenges does biological terrorism pose to emergency planners?

5. How significant is the risk and difficulty of false alarms?

6. What organizations, policies, and programs does the United States have to combat biological terrorism?

Readings:

1. U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, The Lugar Survey on Proliferation Threats and Responses, June 2005.

2. Matthew Bunn, Anthony Wier, John P. Holdren, Controlling Nuclear Warheads and Materials: A Report Card and Action Plan (The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, March 2003): 20-31.

3. Skim: HSPD-4/NSPD-17 - National Strategy for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (unclassified companion to a classified HSPD/NSPD on this subject) (11 Dec 2002).

Study Questions:

1.  What are the pillars of the United States' strategy to combat WMD?

2.  What are the key components of each pillar?

3. Describe the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program.

4. What key trends and conclusions do you draw from the Lugar Survey?

5. What steps must a terrorist group go through in order to attack the United States with nuclear or radiological material?  What challenges would they face at each step?  what countermeasures does the United States have (or should have) at each step?

6. Based on the material and discussions in lessons 18, 19, and 20, what WMD threats do you consider most likely?  Most consequential? Prioritize the threats balancing these two factors.

Readings:

1. Defense Science Board, DoD Roles and Missions in Homeland Security: Volume I (Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics: Washington, DC, November 2003): Chapters 4 to 8 (pp. 39-86).

2. Review: Joint Task Force-Civil Support Command Brief.

Study Questions:

1. What is Joint Task Force-Civil Support, and what are its mission, authorities, capabilities, higher headquarters and concept of operation?

2.  What are DoD's roles and capabilities in deterring and preventing attacks to the sovereign territory of the United States?

3.  What are DoD's roles, capabilities, and core competencies in responding to attacks using Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), and in providing medical surge capacity to domestic authorities?

4. What are WMD-Civil Support Teams, and what are their mission, authorities, capabilities, higher headquarters and concept of operation?

Block V explores the National Strategy's most important objective -- prevent terrorist attacks -- and its corresponding critical mission areas of border and transportation security, domestic counterterrorism, and intelligence and warning.

Readings:

1. Stephen Flynn, Port Security is Still a House of Cards in Far Eastern Economic Review, January/February, 2006.

2. Stephen Flynn, "Security Maturity," in America the Vulnerable: How our Government is Failing to Protect us from Terrorism, (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2004): 59-80.

3. George W. Bush, National Strategy for Maritime Security, (The White House: Washington, DC, Sep 2005): Section IV: Strategic Actions, pp. 13-23.

4. Skim: George W. Bush, National Strategy for Homeland Security: 21-24 and 59-61.

Study Questions:

1. What is the scope of the challenge countries face in ensuring the security of goods entering and exiting their country?  What specific issues or problems must countries address?

2. Describe the international cooperation required to ensure the security of goods.

3. What initiatives has the United States implemented since 9/11 to improve security of cargo?  What agencies play important roles?

4. How effective or ineffective are current U.S. policies?

5. Describe the possible effects that a WMD attack using a shipping container would have on the global trading system?  What economic impact would result from such an attack?

6. How does the United States implement “risk management” in the targeting and inspection of goods shipments?  Is such a strategy sound?  What are its weaknesses?

7. What improvements does Flynn recommend?

Readings:

1. Review the following American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) websites: (1) Fencing in Failure; (2) Five Myths About Immigration; and (3) Beyond the Border Buildup.

2. National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Staff Statement No. 1: Entry of the Hijackers into the United States in The 9/11 Investigations: Staff Reports of the 9-11 Commission.  New York, NY: Public Affairs, 2004.

3. Don Kerwin, The Use and Misuse of "National Security" Rationale in Crafting US Refugee and Immigration Policies in International Journal of Refugee Law (Oxford: Dec 2005, Vol 17, Iss. 4, p. 749).

4. George W. Bush, National Strategy for Homeland Security: read the blue box entitled "National Vision" on page 26.

5. Skim: George W. Bush, Policies in Focus: Securing America Through Immigration Reform, White House website.  Familiarize yourself with the major features of the President's proposals for immigration reform.

Study Questions:

1.  What is the scope of the challenge presented by the movement of people (US citizens and permanent residents; visitors; businesspeople; immigrants, both legal and illegal; refugee claimants; asylum seekers, etc.) into and out of the United States?

2. Describe the process that a "non-US person" must go through to enter the United States, stay within the terms of their visa, and exit the United States.  Which agencies have responsibility for which steps in the process? 

3. How did the 9-11 hijackers navigate this process?

4. Where are the weak links in the process?  What are the challenges associated with strengthening those weak links?  What policies and programs does the United States use to do so?

5.  How has the US Government translated the President's vision for domestic counterterrorism into post 9-11 immigration policies?

6. Describe Don Kerwin's argument.  In what ways may current immigration policies be counterproductive for our national security?

7. What competing priorities or interests, in addition to security, must the US balance in designing and implementing immigration policy?

8. What is the effect of federal immigration law and policy on state and local governments?

9. Describe the President's plan for immigration reform.  In your opinion, is it a sound proposal?  Describe the key criticisms that members of Congress continue to voice.

Classroom material:

Lesson 23 Discussion guide (Border & Transportation Security - People)

Readings:

1. George W. Bush, National Strategy for Homeland Security: chapter entitled "International Cooperation," pp. 59-61.

2. Congressional Research Service, US-EU Cooperation Against Terrorism, 19 Jan 05.

3. Governments of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  Annex to the Security and Prosperity Partnership Report to Leaders (Jun 05): read the Traveler Security, Cargo Security, Bioprotection, and Law Enforcement Cooperation action items which begin on page 62.

4. Skim: Governments of the United States and Canada, Smart Border Declaration and Action Plan (Ottawa, CA, 12 Dec 01).

5. Skim: G8 Counter-Terrorism Cooperation since September 11, Kananaskis, Canada, 2002.

Study Questions:

1. Categorize the activities and policies that the United States and other nations must coordinate with one another.  What sorts of issues does the list embrace?  On the US side, which agencies have roles in these areas?

2. What is the role and importance of law enforcement and intelligence cooperation with other countries?  What are the challenges to such cooperation?  What sorts of activities and agreements has the US pursued in this area?

3. What is the role and importance of international cooperation in border and transportation security, and what activities and agreements has the US pursued in this area?

4. How do the domestic laws of other countries impact US security?  Describe the challenge of ensuring that US law and the laws of other countries are consistent with or complement one another.  What factors (constitutional, political culture, state of current relations) contribute to this challenge?

5. How substantial is the international dimension in the homeland security policy area? 

6. Compare the public visibility of homeland security-related international cooperation to more traditional foreign policy interactions, such as the decision to invade Iraq, the NATO alliance, counterproliferation, and trade disputes.

7. How does the overall state of the US' relations with another country affect homeland security-related cooperation on specific issues?

8. What aspects of security cooperation within North America (i.e. with Canada and Mexico) are unique?  What are the unique challenges of working bilaterally or trilaterally?

Classroom material:

Lesson 24 Discussion Guide (International Cooperation)

See guidance under graded requirements.

Readings:

1. John S. Pistole, Executive Assistant Director for Counterterrorism & Counterintelligence, FBI, Statement Before the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, 14 Apr 04.

2. George W. Bush, National Strategy for Homeland Security: chapter entitled "Domestic Counterterrorism," pp. 25-28.

Study Questions:

1. What sorts of initiatives has the FBI implemented since 9/11 to improve its ability to prevent terrorist attacks?

2. What tools help the FBI and other law enforcement agencies gather information and develop intelligence?

3. What tools help the FBI and other federal, state, and local agencies share information?

4. What tools, policies, and programs enable the FBI's ability to conduct analysis?

Readings:

1. The Century Foundation, The USA PATRIOT Act: Guide to the Issues (Washington, DC: The Century Foundation, 2004).

2. US Department of Justice, The USA PATRIOT Act: Preserving Life and Liberty on USDOJ's PATRIOT Act website, www.lifeandliberty.gov (Washington, DC: USDOJ, July 2004).

3. Chang, Nancy. "The USA PATRIOT Act: What's So Patriotic About Trampling on the Bill of Rights?" in Howard, Forest, Moore, Homeland Security and Terrorism, Chapter 24.

Study Questions:

1. What is the USA PATRIOT Act, and what is it intended to do?

2. What is the rationale, as articulated by the Department of Justice, behind the PATRIOT Act's major provisions?

3. What sorts of secret searches does Section 213 authorize?  What is a "sneak and peak" search?

4. What activities does Section 215 authorize?  What is a "gag order?"

5. How does the PATRIOT Act update which devices the government is authorized to tap?

6. What is a "roving wiretap?"

7. How does the PATRIOT enable information sharing and break down "the wall?"

8. What are the implications of the Act's changing the standard for search warrants from "the primary purpose" to "a significant purpose" of the investigation?

9. What impact does the Act have on non-US persons?

10. Are there ambiguities in the act that should justifiably cause concern?

11.  What are the major civil liberties concerns regarding the Act?

12.  What are the "sunset provisions," and should the Congress renew them?