After you have completed all of the assignments in this unit, write a 150–200-word reflection journal on what you have learned and what questions you may still have.
Supporting Materials
As you read the government reports that were published before the 9/11 attacks, evaluate how prepared government officials were for the attacks of 9/11. Was the U.S. prepared enough? If not, why not, in light of these reports?
As you read the chapter and articles, reflect on the formation of DHS and the restructuring of the federal homeland security apparatus. Do you think too many agencies were placed within DHS or do you think the restructuring should have included more agencies?
Complete the following:
Read Chapter 1: “Turning Point” from Homeland Security: Safeguarding the U.S. from Domestic Catastrophic Destruction
Read the Executive Summary and Chapter 1 of The Report of the National Commission on Terrorism (also known as the Bremer Commission), “Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism,” released June of 2000
Read the executive summary of the Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (also known as the Gilmore Report)
Read the executive summary of the Road Map for National Security: Imperative for Change The Phase III Report of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century (also known as the Hart-Rudman report)
Read Contemporary Policy Challenges in Protecting the Homeland
Read the executive summary of the 9-11 Commission Report
Read pages 93–108 in Homeland Security: An Introduction to Principles and Practice
Review the organizational chart of the Department of Homeland Security
Review the Key Terms
