Message #2581

[birther truther tenther]

ASK THE EXPERTS:

Q.    What is the actual, U.S. Government definition of "homeland defense"?
(Lt Col USAFRet Louis Walter ; TRW Systems )
02 May 01

A.    Homeland Security Analyst Mark DeMier; ANSER

There is no single, coordinated US Government definition of "homeland defense." It does not even appear in the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms (Joint Publication 1-02). However, consensus does seem to be emerging on the term "Homeland Security." The Quadrennial Defense Review team, for instance, defines this as the prevention, deterrence, and preemption of, and defense against, aggression targeted at U.S. territory, sovereignty, population, and infrastructure as well as the management of the consequences of such aggression and other domestic emergencies. Homeland Defense -- the prevention, preemption, and deterrence of, and defense against, direct attacks aimed at U.S. territory, population, and infrastructure -- and Civil Support -- DoD support to civilian authorities for natural and manmade domestic emergencies, civil disturbances, and designated law enforcement efforts -- are then defined as subset of Homeland Security.

Similarly, the United States Commission on National Security/21st Century (Hart-Rudman Commission) has called for the creation of a National Homeland Security Agency prompting the introduction of at least two bills in the House of Representatives -- HR 1158 (Thornbery, TX) and HR 1158 (Skelton, MO) -- which, if enacted, would likely codify the term Homeland Security.




Q.     How did "homeland" become part of the name that de
(Why "homeland"? Mark Bower ; Air National Guard )
30 Mar 01

A.    Homeland Security Analyst John Wohlfarth; ANSER

While the concept of “defending the homeland” is an idea dating back through the better part of human history, the term “homeland defense” only recently entered the lexicon of public discourse. To the best of our knowledge, the first American use of the term homeland defense was made in a report submitted by the National Defense Panel in 1997. The report, titled Transforming Defense: National Security in the 21st Century, argued that this new focus on guarding the homeland was essential, due to the changing nature of threats against the American people. They warn,

“…The proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and their delivery means will pose a serious threat to our homeland and our forces overseas. Information systems, the vital arteries of the modern political, economic, and social infrastructures, will undoubtedly be targets as well.” (Transforming Defense: Executive Summary)

This document was followed by a series of additional studies, including analyses from the Hart-Rudman Commission, the Gilmore Commission and papers from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Additionally, some organizations and individuals like Congressman Ike Skelton have adopted variations of the phrase, like “Homeland Security”.

But regardless of the permutations, the idea of the “homeland” has in a brief few years, become almost universally accepted by policy makers and first responders as the most direct method for discussing physical dangers to the American people and US infrastructure.