9781422280232

D efending O ur N ation

H omeland S ecurity

H omeland S ecurity

1

Series Titles C itizen S oldiers : T he N ational G uard

C ustoms and B order P rotection D efending the S kies : T he A ir F orce D efending the G round : T he A rmy D efending the S eas : T he N avy T he D rug E nforcement A dministration H omeland S ecurity T he N ational C ounterterrorism C enter P rotecting A gainst B iological and C hemical A ttack P utting O ut F ires : F irefighters

R escuing H ostages : T he FBI S topping C rime : T he P olice

D efending O ur N ation

H omeland S ecurity

F oreword by M anny G omez , E sq ., S ecurity and T errorism E xpert

B y M ichael K errigan

MASON CREST

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, PA 19008 www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2018 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-3759-5 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-3767-0 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-8023-2

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Kerrigan, Michael, 1959- author. Title: Homeland Security / foreword By Manny Gomez, Esq., Security And Terrorism Expert; by Michael Kerrigan. Other titles: Department of Homeland Security Description: Broomall, Pennsylvania : Mason Crest, [2018] | Series: Defending our nation | Includes index. Identifiers: LCCN 2016053123| ISBN 9781422237670 (hardback) | ISBN  9781422237595 (series) | ISBN 9781422280232 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: United States. Department of Homeland Security--Juvenile  literature. | Terrorism--United States--Prevention--Juvenile literature. |  National security--United States--Juvenile literature. | Civil  defense--United States--Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC HV6432 .K46 2018 | DDC 353.30973--dc23

Developed and Produced by Print Matters Productions, Inc. (www.printmattersinc.com) Cover and Interior Design by Bill Madrid, Madrid Design Additional Text by Kelly Kagamas Tomkies

QR Codes disclaimer: You may gain access to certain third party content (“Third Party Sites”) by scanning and using the QR Codes that appear in this publication (the “QR Codes”). We do not operate or control in any respect any information, products or services on such Third Party Sites linked to by us via the QR Codes included in this publication, and we assume no responsibility for any materials you may access using the QR Codes. Your use of the QR Codes may be subject to terms, limitations, or restrictions set forth in the applicable terms of use or otherwise established by the owners of the Third Party Sites. Our linking to such Third Party Sites via the QR Codes does not imply an endorsement or sponsorship of such Third Party Sites, or the information, products or services offered on or through the Third Party Sites, nor does it imply an endorsement or sponsorship of this publication by the owners of such Third Party Sites.

C ontents

F oreword by M anny G omez , E sq . …….…… 6

S eries G lossary …….…….…….…….……72

1  T he C hallenge …….…….…….…….…… 8

C hronology … .…….…….…….…….……75

2  T he R esponse …….…….…….…….……22

F urther R esources …….…….…….…….77

3  I n the F rontline …….…….…….…….40

I ndex …….…….…….…….…….…….……78

4  B ehind the S cenes …….…….…….……58

A bout the A uthor and P icture C redits ……80

V igilance F oreword

W e live in a world where we have to have a constant state of awareness—about our surroundings and who is around us. Law enforcement and the intelligence community cannot predict or stop the next terrorist attack alone. They need the citizenry of America, of the world, to act as a force multiplier in order to help deter, detect, and ultimately defeat a terrorist attack. Technology is ever evolving and is a great weapon in the fight against terrorism. We have facial recognition, we have technology that is able to detect electronic communications through algorithms that may be related to terrorist activity—we also have drones that could spy on com- munities and bomb them without them ever knowing that a drone was there and with no cost of life to us. But ultimately it’s human intelligence and inside information that will help defeat a potential attack. It’s people being aware of what’s going on around them: if a family member, neighbor, coworker has suddenly changed in a manner where he or she is suddenly spouting violent anti- Western rhetoric or radical Islamic fundamentalism, those who notice it have a duty to report it to authorities so that they can do a proper investigation. In turn, the trend since 9/11 has been for international communication as well as federal and local communication. Gone are the days when law enforcement or intelligence organizations kept information to themselves and didn’t dare share it for fear that it might compromise the integrity of the information or for fear that the other organization would get equal credit. So the NYPD wouldn’t tell anything to the FBI, the FBI wouldn’t tell the CIA, and the CIA wouldn’t tell the British counterin- telligence agency, MI6, as an example. Improved as things are, we could do better. We also have to improve global propaganda. Instead of dropping bombs, drop education on individuals who are even considering joining ISIS. Education is salvation. We have the greatest

6

D efending O ur N ation

production means in the world through Hollywood and so on, so why don’t we match ISIS materi- als? We tried it once but the government itself tried to produce it. This is something that should definitely be privatized.We also need to match the energy of cyber attackers—and we need savvy youth for that. There are numerous ways that you could help in the fight against terror—joining law en- forcement, the military, or not-for-profit organizations like the Peace Corps. If making the world a safer place appeals to you, draw on your particular strengths and put them to use where they are needed. But everybody should serve and be part of this global fight against terrorism in some small way. Certainly, everybody should be a part of the fight by simply being aware of their sur- roundings and knowing when something is not right and acting on that sense. In the investigation after most successful attacks, we know that somebody or some persons or people knew that there was something wrong with the person or persons who perpetrated the attack. Although it feels awkward to tell the authorities that you believe somebody is acting suspicious and may be a terrorist sympathizer or even a terrorist, we have a higher duty not only to society as a whole but to our family, friends, and ultimately ourselves to do something to ultimately stop the next attack. It’s not if there is going to be another attack, but where, when, and how. So being vigilant and being proactive are the orders of the day.

Manny Gomez, Esq. President of MG Security Services,

Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Association, former FBI Special Agent, U.S. Marine, and NYPD Sergeant

H omeland S ecurity

7

T he C hallenge C hapter 1

On September 11, 2001, the New York City skyline was forever changed. The terrorist attacks on the United States left its mark but we vowed to fight— and continue to do so—against those responsible.

O fficially, the 21st century began on January 1, 2001, but in hindsight, the months that followed seemed an interlude falling outside of time. The century was nine months old when, out of the blue sky of a bright fall morning, terror came rushing from the sky to announce that a new historical era had begun. The hideous symbolism of the outrage of September 11, 2001, was unmistakable: the twin towers of the World Trade Center were recognizable around the world as an image of the economic energy and enterprise of the United States. The Pentagon, in Washington, DC, was, and remains, the headquarters of the armed forces of the greatest military power the world has ever seen. There was nothing symbolic, however, about the thousands of in- nocent lives lost, the countless others injured, the grief of their families, or the pain of the United States as a whole. The terrorist fanatics of Al Qaeda had hurled down a bloody challenge to the world’s great- est democracy. Would it now collapse like a stricken skyscraper, or stand firm for freedom and justice? The global superpower had suddenly become vulnerable. How was it now to protect itself against an enemy who followed none of the old rules? President George W. Bush believed that the United States did have the resources and courage to fight back against terror. He recognized, however, that the struggle would call for new strategies, new attitudes, and new ways of working. With this end in mind, he estab- lished the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate the response of the many different agencies responsible for guaranteeing the safety of Americans.

Words to Understand Anti-Semitism: Hatred of Jewish people. Fascism: Form of government ruled by a harsh dictator who controls the lives of the people. Superpower: Extremely powerful nation.

H omeland S ecurity

9

An Office for Action From a speech by President George W. Bush, September 20, 2001:

Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.  Our nation has been put on notice: we are not immune from attack. We will take defensive measures against terrorism to protect Americans. Today, dozens of federal departments and agencies, as well as state and local governments, have responsibilities affecting homeland security. These efforts must be coordinated at the highest level. So tonight I announce the creation of a Cabinet-level position reporting directly to me—the Office of Homeland Security.

A World Power The 20th century ended with the United States acknowledged as the world’s unrivaled superpower , its peace and prosperity apparently assured. It is important to remember, as we enter what are likely to be difficult and dangerous times, that America has fought for its freedoms—and those of other people around the world—many times before. The United States was born from conflict when American colonists forcibly broke away from the British. Their freedom was fought for by the first citizen militias, the direct ancestors of our modern National Guard. Subsequently, the new country would have to defend its inde- pendence on the field of battle several times in the course of the 19th century. Indeed, it fought wars not only with Britain but also with France, Mexico, and Spain. Democracy has always had to be defended. This belief propelled the United States onto the world stage in 1917, intervening to bring an end to the bloody stalemate of World War I. President WoodrowWilson had, for some time, tried using diplomatic influence to end the carnage of the trenches; when these attempts failed, he felt the country had no alternative but action. The aggressive militarism of the kaiser’s Germany

10

D efending O ur N ation

The carnage in the trenches may have been hard to bear in World War I, but first aid stations were set up to help the wounded, as shown in this 1918 photo.

had to be resisted, Americans felt—and they volunteered to fight for the freedom of Europe in the hundreds of thousands. Within a generation, Germany was on the march again, this time under the ruthless leadership of the dictator Adolf Hitler. With his creed of nationalistic hatred, he succeeded in mobilizing the mass of ordinary Germans, demoralized as they were by the years of economic stagnation and political powerlessness that had followed Germany’s defeat in 1918. The Jews, said the leader of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party, were the great sickness in German society, the source of all the country’s many woes. Without the Jews, he promised, Germany would be able to assume its rightful place in the world: anti-Semitism became the great cause around which Germans rallied.

H omeland S ecurity

11

With its contempt for the idea of debate or disagreement and for the legal niceties of the electoral process, fascism was a political system that was the exact opposite of democra- cy. Yet, along with other fascist strongmen—most famously Benito Mussolini in Italy— Hitler did seem to be speaking for the “little guy” in the street. Hence the huge tide of popular support, which bore Germany and Italy along as they set out to bring the whole of Europe under their control. On the other side of the world, meanwhile, military rulers in Japan were determined to extend their country’s rule throughout the Pacific region— their alliance with fascist Europe was the original “axis of evil.” As Hitler’s henchmen set in motion

On October 25, 1936, an alliance was declared between Italy and Germany. Here, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini (left) shows his support for German dictator Adolf Hitler (right) during his regime.

12

D efending O ur N ation

their final solution to the “Jewish problem,” Japanese forces were massacring men, women, and children in China and Korea. Again, the United States sought at first to find a way to peace through quiet intervention behind the scenes. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, made such detachment impossible. Forced to fight for freedom in the world, the United States did not shirk the task. Indeed, many feel that the nation came of age in the four-year struggle that ensued.

The Pearl Harbor naval base and U.S.S. Shaw ablaze in the distance after the Japanese attack.

H omeland S ecurity

13

The Cold War The United States emerged from World War II in 1945 as a superpower. So, too, however, did another nation of a different kind: the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR. In 1917, Russian revolutionaries had overthrown the oppressive rule of the old emperors, or czars, only to establish an even more ferocious tyranny in its place— Communism. Murdering their political opponents, or dispatching them to die in distant labor camps, the Communists took an iron grip on every area of Soviet life. Businessmen and entrepreneurs (even hard-working peasants) were accused of exploiting their workers and were branded “class enemies,” becoming the social scapegoats that the Jews had been for Nazi Germany. The longer-term effects of this policy would eventually prove catastrophic—without men and women of initiative and energy, the USSR was economically doomed. However, in the immediate term, it created cohesion and a sense of social purpose. Hitler’s inva- sion of Russia in 1941 and the bitter fighting of the “Great Patriotic War” that followed brought the whole country into line behind its leader, Joseph Stalin. His final victory in that fearful conflict lent his rule an air of legitimacy in the eyes of many Soviets, assur- ing the survival of a regime combining monstrous evil with the most abject economic incompetence. Having thrown back the German invaders from their territories, Stalin’s forces proceeded to “liberate” the German-occupied states of Eastern Europe, turning Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and the eastern half of Germany into Communist states. Only the presence of American and British armies prevented the wholesale annexation of Germany. In the years that followed, the Soviet Union cemented its hold behind what British statesman Winston Churchill called the “Iron Curtain.” The United States was forced into an ever-escalating arms race to protect itself and its democratic allies against the Communist threat. This uncomfortable confrontation between East and West, known

14

D efending O ur N ation