A Primer on Homeland Security - ANSER Institute for Homeland Security

OVERVIEW
During the past 200 years of shifting priorities, many conflicting definitions and paradigms have been developed to explain the basic governmental roles of “national security,” “homeland security,” and “general welfare.” ANSER hopes through this short primer to standardize the use of terms and explain the relationship of key ideas so that all agencies—federal, state, local, and private—can use the same language to communicate their needs and recommendations. ANSER will use the language of authoritative government documents wherever possible and suggest new terms and terminology where necessary. [read complete overview]

HOMELAND SECURITY DEFINITIONS
Currently, the concepts underpinning homeland defense are inadequately defined in government and military resources like the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms (Joint Publication 1-02). The Homeland Security Institute has analyzed the different aspects of homeland security and developed a series of working definitions that will allow uniform discussion among policy makers and first responders. [read definitions]

STRATEGIC FUNCTIONS, THREATS AND MISSION AREAS
The Institute views homeland security as the product of seven strategic functions that interact in a logical cycle. Our goal is deterrence, which takes place in the mind of the potential attacker when he realizes that his attack will be prevented, preempted, or mitigated by efficient and effective crisis management and consequence management—to be followed by certain attribution and powerful retaliation. [view entire document]

“WINNING THIS ONE - THE LOGIC OF HOMELAND SECURITY”
This opinion piece, published in the Washington Times on 16 September 2001, explains how the strategic functions of homeland security interact in a logical cycle, using as an example the terrorist attack on 11 September 2001 and the expected U.S. response. [read article]

HOMELAND SECURITY RESOURCES
For many, Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in New York and Washington marked their first true exposure to homeland security issues and concerns. To educate the public, the Institute has assembled these resources related to homeland security. Subjects discussed include asymmetric threats, emerging threats like biological and cyber, commission and think-tank summaries, and organizational structures, policies, and programs. [go to primary resource page]

American Liberty Partnership This website is dedicated to raising donations for the recovery effort underway in Washington DC and New York City. The site was founded by several prominent American companies including Microsoft, AOL Time Warner, Amazon, Yahoo, EBAY and Cisco Systems. As of today, the Partnership has received: