Category: Law : Homeland Security

As you have learned in this unit, there are several typologies and classification systems of terrorism both in the United States and abroad. Typologies and classification systems are important when assessing the different types of terrorist organizations that exist, and the specific geographic areas in which they reside.
For this essay assignment, find a source to find scholarly resources such as eBooks or journal articles written about a relevant and existing domestic or international terrorist organization.
Your essay should address the following:
A. Discuss the difference between domestic, international, and state sponsored terrorism. Explain the following typologies: state terrorism, state-sponsored terrorism, and state-enabled terrorism. Explain ideologies of left-wing and right-wing terrorism. Explain the ideology of lone wolf terrorism.
B. What role does the United States Department of State have in the determination of state-sponsored nations?
C. Outline at least one country and one terrorist organization in that country that has been deemed a “state-sponsor” of terrorism by the United States and why it is considered state-sponsored. Does this nation provide a safe haven for terrorists? If so, for what groups? How do the four waves of terrorism relate to the group in which you have chosen? Does this state sponsored terrorist organization have WMD capability from their state sponsored nation, why or why not? D. How does mass media or social media play a role in domestic and international terrorism (cyberterrorism, recruitment, propaganda, etc.)?

Instructions
This assignment has three parts.
The first part involves picking something you found interesting from week six (Biowarfare and Bioterrorism Through the Ages), exploring it beyond the readings, and expanding on it in a paper. This section of your paper needs to be at least three pages long.
The second part involves picking one of the critical infrastructures you learned in week four (Communication Sector) and writing about it using the six guidelines below.
The third part involves picking one of the critical infrastructures you learned in week five (Defense Industrial Base Sector) and writing about it using the six guidelines below.
It is up to you to decide what will be the most interesting for you! 
You need to use the following outline for each of the two critical infrastructures:
Provide a Hypothetical Threat (cyber, natural disaster, or physical)
Brief background on the Critical Infrastructure as it relates to National Security
Elaborate on the known Risks/Threats/Hazards/Vulnerabilities from the Hypothetical Threat
Explain how damage from the Hypothetical Threat could impact the Dependencies/Interdependencies between critical infrastructure sectors
Existing Resiliency related to the Continuity of Operations
Consider how to Minimize Disruption that improves First Responder Safety.
Technical Requirements
Write at least seven pages, per the guidance above, and include the title page, an abstract, and a reference page (these last three items are not part of the total page count).
Scholarly and credible references should be used. A good rule of thumb is at least two sources per content page.
Type in Times New Roman, 12 point, and double-spaced.
Students will follow the current APA Style (7th Edition) as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework. 
Points will be deducted for the use of Wikipedia or encyclopedic-type sources. It is highly advised to utilize books, peer-reviewed journals, articles, archived documents, etc.

150 word response to this discussion post. Continuity planning is the effort to ensure continuity of operations needed to perform essential functions under any condition to preserve capabilities and government functions at all levels. The ability to sustain essential functions in the face of an incident or disaster preserves lives, protects property and critical infrastructure, demonstrates resilience, and builds confidence. The primary benefits of continuity planning related to homeland security is that it helps to meet the five mission areas across the National Preparedness Goal. Additionally, planning, public information, and operational coordination are a part of the three core capabilities to the five mission areas. Therefore, the ability to secure our nation and build resilience are the direct tie between continuity planning, the National Preparedness System, and meeting the goals of homeland security (DHS, 2015).
The primary benefits and components of these planning initiatives across both public and private sectors are guidance determining emergency functions, resource needs assessments, internal and external communications, identifying key personnel, appropriate test & exercise activities, and program maintenance. Additionally, the greatest benefits are how quickly government and essential services such as sewer, water, and electricity are restored to a community. In the public sector, continuity of operations planning, or COOP involves providing funding or grants in relief to restore compliance; adding to ensure that plans are formulated and followed. In the private sector, business continuity management is when businesses of all backgrounds follow standard practices and recognized standards. Although not federally mandated, they may be federally regulated. Industries such as technology, finance, and logistics are common entities that can assist before, during, and after disaster strikes. The private sector can also help and support by providing risk analysis and alternative perspectives (HSC, 2007).
 
-Matt R.
 
References Used:
Department of Homeland Security. (2015). National preparedness goal. Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office. 
Homeland Security Council. (2007). National continuity policy implementation plan. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.

Decision Making and Risk
Understanding risk is important in logistics management. If taken into account, risk can be mitigated therefore leading to improved success in each of the phases (preparedness, response, and recovery). Risk can be assessed at in many different ways depending on the application. For example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would apply risk assessment in a different way than an insurance company.
Understanding the terminology surrounding risk is important to understand such as the differences and similarities of risk, uncertainty, and threats. FEMA provides guidance in how to approach a risk assessment. The FEMA approach looks first at identifying potential hazards and analyze what could happen that would result in an impact analysis. Once impacts are identified, then strategies can be developed to mitigate the impacts.
An example of a risk management process diagram includes consideration of hazards, assets at risk and impacts.
In the case provided, read Keeley, J. E., Safford, H., Fotheringham, C. J., Franklin, J., & Moritz, M. (2009). The 2007 Southern California wildfires: Lessons in complexity. Journal of Forestry, 107(6), 287-296. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/jof/article/107/6/287/4598876
Case Assignment
Generally discuss the difference between uncertainty and risk.
List and explain in order of importance 10 threats or hazards to disaster logistics management.
Develop or discuss a risk assessment process diagram similar to above for logistics that adds to the threats the assets at risk and the different types of impacts. Explain your reasoning.
Properly cite your quotations that you use to support your statements. Use in-text references as needed to support your points.
Assignment Expectations
Length: This Case Assignment should be 3-5 pages, not counting the title page and references.
References: At least two references should be included from academic sources (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles). Required readings are included. Quoted material should not exceed 10% of the total paper (since the focus of these assignments is critical thinking). Use your own words and build on the ideas of others. When material is copied verbatim from external sources, it MUST be enclosed in quotes. The references should be cited within the text and listed at the end of the assignment in the References section (preferably in APA format).
Organization: Subheadings should be used to organize your paper according to question.

In forecasting over the next five years, what do you perceive as being the single greatest threat to the nation’s homeland security posture? Explain the reasoning for your selection. How well do the current National Security Strategy and DHS Strategic Plan address this threat?

Develop an essay that fully responds to the following prompt:
Prompt: To adequately achieve the National Preparedness Goal, the capabilities required across the whole community are needed in order “to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk” (DHS, 2015).
Clearly convey how members of the whole community will carry out efforts in each of this Goal’s mission areas (prevention, protection, mitigation, response & recovery) in order to achieve heightened levels of preparedness and resilience.
This will provide the opportunity to address and incorporate all primary issues addressed in this study.
Please use the attached template to aid in developing a proper APA formatted paper.

Complete a briefing paper on the following: 
Should the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommend to the President and Congress to remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the DHS structure and make it an independent agency of the US Executive Branch? Discuss challenges facing FEMA responding to disasters. What strategies should be taken to lessen these challenges? 
Provide a short legal brief you might submit to your superiors. The writing assignment should provide a balanced analysis of the issue assigned based on pertinent legal and other materials. The material for each assignment will come both from the required readings and outside research in order to fully assess the issues. 
Technical Requirements
Your paper must be at a minimum of 3-5 pages (the Title and Reference pages do not count towards the minimum limit).
Scholarly references should be used. A good rule of thumb is at least 2 scholarly sources per page of content.
Type in Times New Roman, 12 point and double space.
Students will follow the current APA Style as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework. 
Points will be deducted for the use of Wikipedia or encyclopedic type sources. It is highly advised to utilize books, peer-reviewed journals, articles, archived documents, etc.
All submissions will be graded using the assignment rubric.

From the NIPP of 2013, what is meant by “Partnership Structure?” Give an example.
Choose one of the 16 Critical Infrastructure Sectors and comment on its Sector Specific Plan. What other sectors is it closely linked to? Why? How?
Explain SCADA. Why is SCADA a popular target for terrorists? Explain and use quotations to support your statements.
Assignment Expectations
Length: This Case Assignment should be at least 3 pages, not counting the title page and references.
References: At least two references should be included from academic sources (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles). Required readings are included. Quoted material should not exceed 10% of the total paper (since the focus of these assignments is critical thinking). Use your own words and build on the ideas of others. When material is copied verbatim from external sources, it MUST be enclosed in quotes. The references should be cited within the text and listed at the end of the assignment in the References section (preferably in APA format).
Organization: Subheadings should be used to organize your paper according to question.
Grammar and Spelling: While no points are deducted for minor errors, assignments are expected to adhere to standards guidelines of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence syntax. Points may be deducted if grammar and spelling impact clarity.

Students will create an academic paper reviewing the social vulnerability of their community, based on the FEMA RAPT tool. Students will discuss the significance of the vulnerability of these populations as it relates to emergency management preparedness and response, and provide recommendations as to how their community could increase individual and community resilience based on assigned readings (Cutter, 2010, Aldrich, 2010) and independent research. The paper will include a Title Page and reference section with a minimum three (3) references in addition to assigned reading. The body of the paper will be 1000 words (+/- 5%). The paper will be in accordance with APA 7th Edition.

Please use the template provided. 
These questions are to be answered individually with supporting references. 
1. Please address the following as they pertain to Intellectual Property:
What is Intellectual Property (IP) and how does counterfeit merchandise impact the U.S. economy?
What safety and health concerns are posed by counterfeit products? What was the specific impact at the height of COVID?
How does IP theft, especially from China, pose an existential threat to national security?
2. Discuss the action that needs to be taken to ensure that illegal migrants are treated with inclusion and respect around the world as an element of border security? From a security perspective, what would you specifically recommend the current administration do to ensure this.
3. How have the IMO’s Maritime Cyber Security, the SAFE Port Act, the Small Vessel Security Strategy, and the Marine Transportation Security Act impacted port security? This essay should be presented in the form of a compare and contrast format.
4. Compare the similarities and differences of the external borders of European Union (EU) with that of the U.S./Mexico border & the U.S./Canada border. Which of these (similarities/differences) have had the most positive or negative impact on border security? Has the commission of a new EU Board and Coast Guard Agency been a blue print for the United States? 
answers should be at a minimum of 8 pages, at least 2 pages per question (the Title and Reference pages do not count towards the minimum limit). Use APA headings for each question, instead of numbering them.
minimum of 8 scholarly sources are required.