Counter Terrorism Report Predicts Drug Wars Spilling Over Mexican Border
An escalating turf fight between warring drug cartels in Mexico is spreading into the United States with federal officials warning that deadly shootouts and ambushes along the southwestern border pose a serious threat to both U.S. law enforcement and American citizens, according to a confidential multi-agency government report. Heritage experts discuss U.S.-Mexican relations (see... http://www.heritage.org/Research/Immigration/wm1901.cfm)
Russia May Push Forward With S-300 Sales To Iran
Russia may proceed with plans to sell advanced S-300 air defense systems to Iran under a secret contract believed to have been signed in 2005, a Russian analyst said on Monday. Heritage experts discuss "The Bad News Bear" (See..
http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed081808a.cfm
US General Sees Afghan Army Swelling to 130,000
A U.S. general said Sept. 3 that he expected the numbers of the Afghan army to swell by nearly double to more than 130,000 troops. In a Heritage lecture in April of 2008, Admiral Michael G. Mullen discussed the need for more personnel in Afghanistan. (See... http://www.heritage.org/Research/nationalsecurity/hl1087.cfm)
Homeland Security: Disaster Relief
Federal disaster declarations are at an all-time high, and Congress seems dedicated to policy initiatives focused on the role of the federal government, and in particular the Department of Homeland Security, in disaster response. In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, America is sure to re-examine the lessons learned (or not learned) from Katrina, making this a prime time to gauge progress made in the past three years. Below is a compilation of research and articles focused on homeland security and disaster relief, and what the roles of the federal, state and local governments should be in dealing with such disasters.Recent Research
All Eyes on Gustav: ST. PAUL — The mood here in Minneapolis-St. Paul is quite somber on what is going to be a radically scaled down first day of the Republican National Convention. All eyes are on the Gulf Coast region and the approaching Hurricane Gustav. John McCain summed up the feelings of many when he said from St. Louis yesterday, “It’s time to take our Republican hats off and put our American hats on.”
Pigs Fly, Politician Wants Risktakers To Pay Their Way, and News Article on a Disaster Doesn't Mention FEMA: In what can only be described as a rare occurrence, two events occurred that show there is still hope when it comes to disaster management in the United States. In an article titled, "California Ponders Who Should Pay Firefighting Bill," in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, readers learned that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed placing an insurance surcharge on every California home and business that would raise roughly $130 million each year to pay for wildland firefighting. A sign of hope that can be gleaned from the article is the total failure to mention FEMA or the federal government at any point in the 1,000 word disaster story.
Federalism and Domestic Disasters: Promoting a Balanced Approach: In response to the widespread devastation wrought by hurricane Katrina, many people have called for strengthening the federal government’s involvement in responding to catastrophic emergencies. Although enhancements to federal capabilities are necessary, such steps should not obscure the principle that any homeland security system must be national, not just federal. The federal government can assist in many areas, but its programs should aim to supplement, not supplant, national homeland security efforts.
Gustav slams better-prepared Gulf: A mighty hurricane slammed into Louisiana's Gulf Coast on Monday but this time was greeted with a response well-versed in the lessons of Katrina.
Risk and Resiliency: Developing the Right Homeland Security Public Policies for the Post-Bush Era: Dr. James Carafano's testimony before the Sub-Committee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, Committee on Homeland Security United States House of Representatives.
Beltway-Centric Approach to Disaster Response Is a Recipe for Disaster: On June 11, 2008, the House Homeland Security Committee (HHSC) held a hearing to examine whether the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is ready to lead relief efforts in the event of a major U.S. catastrophe. Despite the vast amount of resources dedicated to improving DHS's disaster-response capacity, the consensus of the hearing was that the organization is unprepared to provide adequate post-disaster leadership.
The Local Role in Disaster Response: Lessons from Katrina and the California Wildfires: The increasing tendency since 9/11 to look to Washington for every answer regarding disaster response is troubling. The insistence that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) play an ever-expanding role in addressing day-to-day emer¬gency responses is hindering, not strengthening, the agency’s ability to prepare for the next national cata¬strophic disaster. Even worse, as the federal govern¬ment pledges to improve its response, state and local governments are getting a false sense of security, rely¬ing on Washington rather than preparing proper emergency responses themselves.
As Gustav Lands, There Are Lessons to Be Learned: Hurricane Gustav is the largest and most dangerous storm to make landfall in recent years. No doubt, politicians and pundits will be quick to make comparisons to the disaster response three years ago after Hurricane Katrina ravaged millions of square miles over three states and devastated coastal areas, including the city of New Orleans. Yet, if Katrina’s mistakes are not to be repeated, Washington will have to be more sober in assessing federal responsibilities for dealing with large-scale national disasters.
