Why is Homeland Defense So Important “All of a Sudden?”
- Asymmetric threat with multiple avenues of approach:
-
- Use of WMD against civilians in our cities
- Exploitation of vulnerabilities in our critical infrastructure
- Impeding continuity of government operations
- Disruption of our transportation systems and force projection platforms
- Attacking us when we gather for special events
- Preying on our citizens overseas
- Congresssional Interest and Legislation (Nunn-Lugar-Domenici, NG WMD Study)
- Reports (QDR, NDP, DSB, etc.)
- New National Security Strategy, Presidential
Notes:
Sir, clearly there is a threat evidenced by incidents noted here. These have generated a lot of interest, reports studies, legislation. And Money. About $ 5 billion is projected to be spent in the next 6 years, for example ,by DOD , in counterproliferation and NBC programs.
Rep Skeleton from Missouri has been deeply involved in this business especially with the GAO and has written about the topic.
As noted here Congress allocated $ 10 mil for a NG WMD study, which is due in March 99. SAIC visited 100 cities, talked to 2000 responders, went to Israel, Korea, Japan. A draft is out now. Bottom line-- we are not ready--The NG capabilities have been identified and are being looked at by a variety of people. Then a decision will be made as to which capabilities will be applied. NG is in 4000 communities and have a half million troops. Tokyo subway Sarin gas attack; bombings of the World Trade Center, Oklahoma City Federal building, Embassies in Africa
- Reports: Quadrennial Defense Review, National Defense Panel, Defense Science Board, Chem-Bio 2010, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Proliferation
- Congressional Interest and Legislation
- The Defense Against Weapons of Mass
Destruction Act of 1996 aka Nunn-
Lugar- Dominici
- Four GAO Reports 1997-1998
- NG WMD Study ($10 mil) due in Mar 99
- Contractor (SAIC)
- Identifies gaps/shortfalls/roles
- Assesses capabilities
-