In the coming years, technology innovations, techniques, and critical equipment information are believed to pose significant threats to Homeland Security. This is because many terrorists acquire critical skills, knowledge and weapons that may facilitate massive destruction. Moreover, the enemies of the United States, such as the non-state actors and the rogue states, are working hard to develop weapons of mass destruction that they use to attack the United States. Additionally, the use of chemical and biological materials and upgraded technologies is growing in the global markets (McElreath et al., 2021). Therefore, this chemical, technological and biological perspective motivates the rogue and non-state actors to obtain good options that they can utilize to acquire or develop weapons of mass destruction hence using them to launch attacks on different departments in the United States. Since this is the biggest security issue in the United States, affecting Homeland Security, the United States should implement measures that could excellently counter the threat whenever it emerges.
In this context, the most appropriate capability measure to be taken by Homeland Security to prevent such threats in the United States is implementing effective, actionable and fast intelligence. For instance, the Department of Homeland Security needs to work hard to improve intelligence collection, analysis, integration and information sharing. This would allow all the partners, senior leaders and other Departments of Homeland Security stakeholders to access the intelligence and the information required to make perfect decisions on how they should conduct successful operations (Counterterrorism and homeland security threats, 2023). The primary goals and objectives of the Department of Homeland Security are to offer security protection to local, federal, state, and business sectors and the tribal government in the United States. As a result, this department has the largest customer base for intelligent services covering a wide range of security options. This role mandates the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strong layout of an integrated intelligence network.
The terrorist threat in the United States has changed over time since the terrorist attack that happened on September 11, 2001. Despite the country’s efforts in detecting the complex terrorist assaults and the multi-actors, many terrorists continue finding their way to plot terrorist attacks against the United States. In this case, they use different techniques to look at how they can launch attacks in the United States. Due to the serious threats, many terrorists have used social media devices and platforms to create terrorism propaganda that motivates some people in the United States to change radically, causing violence. In this case, the terrorist’s ideologies are increasing one day after the other, facilitating the deployment of special techniques like small guns, automobile attacks, application of chemical and biological materials that are essential in attacking large gatherings in particular, and homicide explosives. In this case, the Department of Homeland Security should implement multiple measures that can excellently counter the measures taken by the terrorists, ensuring that all citizens in the United States are safe as they perform their routine activities (Counterterrorism and homeland security threats, 2023). In this case, the Department of Homeland Security and its stakeholders should implement and adapt to a counterterrorism strategy that would comprehensively address both external and internal attacks and planning associated with terrorists. This would help them in preventing both inside and outside terrorist attacks as well as neutralizing the terrorists whenever they tend to attack the United States. Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security needs adequate resources that would help the security personnel in the department to deal with the targeted forms of violence like the threats issued in the worship places, learning institutions and the developed infrastructure such as railways, roads and commercial buildings.
The issue facing the Department of Homeland Security is related to terrorism, which may be domestic or international. In this case, individuals from the United States have converted themselves into terrorists to pose threats to different departments like learning institutions, enterprise organizations, worship centers and infrastructure. These terrorists used weapons of mass destruction to destroy property and kill many people as a punishment to the United States. Moreover, other terrorists target the United States from outside the country. For instance, the September 11 attacks portray a good example of an attack launched against the country from outside (Haughton & Romaniuk, 2023). Notwithstanding the external and internal attacks, foreign investments in the United States pose potential harm to national security. To address these issues, the Department of Homeland Security should enact various measurable capabilities to counter the insecurities faced.
On the issues of terrorism threats from both inside and outside the United States, the Department of Homeland Security should upgrade its I.T. tools that help in providing critical information on the plans carried out by the terrorists. In this case, the improved I.T. tools would facilitate collecting and analyzing information as well as sharing actionable intelligence. It will also help in knowing if there are terrorist plans against the United States, hence planning how to prevent the attack. On this matter, the Department of Homeland Security should counter the weapons of mass destruction as well as the emerging threats. Since The DHS is facing significant challenges related to a lack of funding from the government to implement a strong I.T. layout, the government should ensure that this department is fully funded to modernize its technology and hence facilitate in effective sharing of information regarding terrorism (Counterterrorism and homeland security threats, 2023). On the issues of Investments, the Department of Homeland Security should work collaboratively with both local, state, and tribal governments and private business enterprises to disrupt the investments that may facilitate the planning of terrorism.
To ensure effectiveness in countering terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security should address its inner challenges. For instance, DHS should ensure effective management of its finances. In this case, the finances are used to implement a strong cyber-security layout that would help them support the mission operations. Solid cyber-security systems would help detect the potential threats from terrorists hence planning on how to counter these threats. The Department of Homeland Security should also protect the U.S. borders to ensure that unauthorized people are denied access to enter and cross the borders of the United States, causing problems. This technique would help detect unauthorized goods such as weapons (Crumpler & Lewis, 2019). Moreover, it would prevent suspected terrorists from entering the country, launching attacks against the United States. Improving cyber security and infrastructure is essential since it prevents the attacks that pass through computer systems. Occasionally, terrorists may plan to launch attacks by hacking the computer systems belonging to the Department of Homeland Security hence hiding detecting information (Counterterrorism and homeland security threats, 2023). Lastly, the Department of Homeland Security should continue working hard to stop terrorism and security threats which are its main mandate. This is achieved by improving the operations in this department. In this case, the Department of Homeland should improve the tools that collect information about terrorists to be aware of terrorist plans. This would ensure that there are no terrorist attacks launched against the United States. Moreover, the Department of Homeland should work hard to protect the top leaders in the United States and keep them safe. This is achieved by assigning security personnel to man each leader and ensuring they are not subject to security threats. This is because there are terrorists who target leaders in the United States, and thus, they should be prevented from inflicting harm on these leaders (Counterterrorism and homeland security threats, 2023). Generally, the Department of Homeland Security should use technology to detect and stop terrorists before they attack the United States. This technology would aid in providing critical information regarding the terrorist, helping the department address these issues before causing tough implications.
In conclusion, the Department of Homeland Security faces challenges associated with related to the plotting of terrorism. Despite implementing strong security measures, the terrorist is still developing weapons of mass destruction to pose security threats to the United States. These terrorists have more options that can be utilized in attacking the United States. The attacks come from both inside and outside the U.S. In this case, the Department of Homeland Security should enact security measures that would prevent them from being attacked by terrorists. The most appropriate measure is to implement a counterterrorism strategy to monitor goods and products’ internal and external movement. This would help detect unauthorized people and goods terrorists can use to launch attacks.
References
Counterterrorism and homeland security threats (2023) Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Threats | Homeland Security. Available at: https://www.dhs.gov/counter-terrorism-and-homeland-security-threats (Accessed: June 14, 2023).
Crumpler, W., & Lewis, J. A. (2019). The cybersecurity workforce gap (p. 10). Washington, DC, USA: Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Haughton, S. A., & Romaniuk, S. N. (2023). Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Handbook of Homeland Security, 39-44.
McElreath, D. H., Doss, D. A., Russo, B., Etter, G., Van Slyke, J., Skinner, J., … & Nations, R. (2021). Introduction to homeland security. CRC Press.
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