Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Considered A Foreign Policy Neophyte, Barack Obama Emerges As One Of The Nation’S Most Competent Commanders In Chief, Howard Manly

Trotter Review

During the 2008 presidential campaign, the main criticism against Barack Obama was that he was too green to lead America’s foreign policy and military.

It was a charge that Republican conservatives made against Democratic candidates with predictable frequency and had become a proven winning strategy after Ronald Reagan steamrolled perceived military bumbler Jimmy Carter in 1980. Conventional wisdom suggested that strategy would work even better against Obama.

In a move that foreshadowed his military decision-making, Obama authorized within the first four months of his administration the military rescue of Richard Phillips, the American sea captain taken hostage by pirates in …

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration: Pertaining To Public Safety And Homeland Security, Benjamin Martin Ogden

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

Despite the efforts of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Government, Armed Forces, and other law enforcement agencies, illegal drug uses continues to be a major issue. The direct connection between illicit drugs and terrorism, specifically in Afghanistan, poses a major threat to America along with the effects these drugs have on public health. In order to continue to successfully counter illegal drug trafficking and abuse in the United States it is essential to bolster numerous aspects of the Drug Enforcement Administration its efforts. This includes management, public-private partnerships, and critical infrastructure protection. It is also necessary for …

A Local Approach: Homeland Security Officers, Erik Grutzner

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

It has become apparent that true preparedness for a catastrophic event requires a strong local component. However, the patchwork of full and part time operators in a range of disciplines preparing for a variety of responsibilities creates the risk of an inexact or inefficient response. As a result, this document will support the idea that in order to improve the level of preparedness of municipalities, one full time police officer should be assigned to the newly created position of Homeland Security Officer (HSO), and be tasked with all manner of responsibilities for the most effective example of homeland security.

This …

Mamaroneck Ems And The Continuity Of Operations: Homeland Security On A Local Level, Samantha M. Gagliardi

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

The definition of homeland security and all that it encompasses has been an ongoing discussion since the events of 9/11. As a homeland security professional it has become clear to me that homeland security is not only a federal obligation, but a local priority as well. All events are local and the government cannot be solely responsible for the preparation, response, and resilience of each individual community. The Village of Mamaroneck is a small jurisdiction approximately 30 miles from New York City. The prime threat this Village has faced is inclement weather and severe flooding due to the multiple floodplains …

Fighting Narcoterrorism: A Counter Narcotic Approach To Homeland Security, Nicholas Levesque

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

The use of illicit drugs in the United States can be looked at as a homeland security concern for many reasons. The illicit drug trade challenges the security of our borders, fuels crime in many of our communities and when illicit drugs are abused by individuals, they can become unproductive members of society. This loss of productivity can be attributed to healthcare concerns, incarceration and the burden placed on the rest of society to make up for the loss. Terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda have shown involvement in the illicit drug trade and use it as a means of funding their …

New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Terrorist Financing & Drug Trafficking Strategy, Danielle Morita O'Mara

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

My Masters Project focuses around the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (NY/NJ HIDTA). Narco-terrorism has become a significant issue for the safety and security of the United States. Terrorist financing also plays a significant role in the war on terror. I chose to create a three part strategy for the NY/NJ HIDTA that will combat both narco-terrorism and terrorist financing. Each chapter describes another detailed plan of how the NY/NJ HIDTA, as well as particular agencies within, combat these issues in attempt to keep our nation secure. My Masters Project was carefully constructed with a strong focus …

Continuity Of Operations: A Strategy To Secure The Nation, Matthew J. Cassidy

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

The sharing of power and responsibilities between the individual states and the federal government is detailed in the US Constitution and is called federalism. Research has indicated that the shift of power between the states and federal government has waxed and waned over the last 236 years. This qualitative study is based upon literature review of the relationships of local, state, and federal governments in responding to catastrophes. Each level of government brings unique capabilities to the response to catastrophic events. There is no need to usurp federalism in order to survive the next catastrophe; it is going to take …

A Multifaceted Approach To Management And Homeland Security For The 21st Century, Vincent Antonecchia

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

This master’s thesis is a compilation of "short stories" which share one common theme, the immediate and long-term protection, preservation and prosperity of my country, the United States of America. I embarked on this journey to obtain a Master of Arts in Management and Homeland Security because I am truly concerned about my children’s future, the future of the United States of America, and the future of the world as a whole. On September 11, 2001, the world caught a glimpse of true evil and witnessed death and destruction as it was carried out by focused and motivated enemies.

I …

Brazil’S Upcoming “Mega-Events” Human Rights Legacy, Thomas Pegram

Human Rights & Human Welfare

Preparations for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games are well underway in Brazil, with local government officials in Rio de Janeiro trumpeting the “major success” of initiatives intended to address notoriously high levels of violent crime.

In an attempt to head off widespread concerns, which preceded South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup, the apparent success of initiatives such as the Police Pacification Units (PPUs) cracking down on insecurity in Rio’s shantytowns (many, such as Rocinha, close to popular tourist areas and venues for Olympic events) has been loudly hailed by local politicians and duly reported by …

Civilian Aviation Screening: A Time-Series Analysis Of Confiscated Firearms At Screening Checkpoints, Shon Agard

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the aviation screening process and sought to determine if the federalization of the screening process had any effect on the number of firearm confiscations at civilian aviation screening checkpoints. The hypothesis of the study was that airport screening firearms confiscations (per one million screenings) were lower before the U.S. government (TSA) took over screening in 2001-2002. This quantitative research required the performance of an interrupted time series analysis. Interrupted time series analysis evaluates the impact of one or more events on the values in the time series. An interrupted time series analysis attempts to determine whether an …

From “Iron Fist” Policies To Comprehensive Social Intervention, Claudia Heiss

Human Rights & Human Welfare

The latest effort by Brazilian authorities to control crime in Rio's favelas confronts us with several complex questions regarding democracy, the rule of law, and civil-military relations, not only in this case, but throughout Latin America. What conclusions can we derive from the military and police interventions in Rio about the state of affairs of these third-wave democracies?

Review Of Daniel Mockli's "Strategic Trends 2012: Key Developments In Global Affairs, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

This review essay describes and analyzes the content of this annual compilation of international affairs essays published by the Zurich-based Center for Strategic Studies.

Swiss Foundation On Mine Action 2012 Annual Report, Fsd

Global CWD Repository

The adventure of the Swiss Foundation on Mine Action (FSD) started 16 years ago with demining activities and the destruction of antipersonnel mines. It is only natural that the FSD very quickly broadened the range of its activities to encompass all types of mines and unexploded ordnances of war.

Thanks to the know-how it acquired and to its experience in project management, FSD was able to successfully embark on new projects dealing with all types of explosives, be it in or on the ground like cluster munitions, battlefield clearance, ammunitions stockpile management and destruction of stocks.

Today our demining activities …

Danchurchaid 2012 Annual Report, Dca

Global CWD Repository

DanChurchAid’s purpose is to empower the world’s poorest in their struggle for a dignified life. The work is based on a Christian view of human nature as well as respect for the individual’s human rights and the equality of all human beings. DanChurchAid has its roots in the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church, but works wherever the need is greatest irrespective of religion, gender, political conviction, race, nationality or ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation. DanChurchAid carries out humanitarian and development aid and mine clearance in close cooperation with churches and other cooperative partners. DanChurchAid is an independent organisation. The work is …

Evaluation Of United Nations Development Programme Support To The Tajikistan Mine Action Programme, Rebecca Roberts

Global CWD Repository

The evaluation of the Support to Tajikistan Mine Action Programme (STMAP) was commissioned by UNDP to:

• Develop a roadmap for the future of TMAC
• Review the progress of STMAP against the goals of CPAP, UNDAF 2010-2015 and the national mine action strategy 2010-2015

The evaluation was conducted over a month and involved document review and a two week field visit to Tajikistan to interview TMAC staff and partners, and observe mine action activities.

Unmas 2012 Annual Report, Unmas

Global CWD Repository

The year 2012 was an important one for UNMAS. Delivering on its commitment, UNMAS has successfully led and completed the United Nations Mine Action Strategy, which was endorsed, last December, by the heads of United Nations entities active in mine action. This was a welcome reaffirmation of UNMAS leadership and coordination role. Simultaneously, my counterparts entrusted UNMAS with the responsibility of establishing, hosting and operating the United Nations Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism for Mine Action, a commitment to accountability and transparency that I wholeheartedly support. The Secretary-General appointed a new Director, the first woman to occupy this post, who immediately …

Organization For Security And Co-Operation In Europe 2012 Annual Report, Osce

Global CWD Repository

We end the year one participating State stronger. and, as an organization,we remain as committed as ever to our founding principles. i am pleased to welcome Mongolia as the latest country to join our (now) 57-member strong community. this demonstrates the continuing relevance of the oSCE comprehensive approach to security and the viability of the organization as a forum where security issues can be discussed and solutions sought in an open and inclusive manner.

We have another first this year: the transnational threats Department was established to provide co-ordination and cohesiveness to OSCE-wide activities. the new TNTD combines OSCE resources …

Identifying Factors That Influence Terrorist Decisions And Target Selection, Barry C. Ezell, Joshua Behr, Andrew Collins

VMASC Publications

Currently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) elicits probabilistic judgements from the intelligence community on actions terrorists may take to attack the continental U.S. For example, how likely is the adversary to choose agent 'x' over 'y' or target 'a' over target 'b'? Eliciting these types of judgements is difficult and time consuming. The National Academies and others have suggested that a better approach may be to elicit information on adversary's preferences, perceptions, and capabilities and use this information to calculate probabilities of interest to DHS. Some terrorist groups are thinking about using weapons of mass destruction (WMD), each …

Public Participation In Emergency Management, Jason Alexander Rood

Dissertations and Theses

With disasters increasing in frequency and costs each year, this study seeks to explore ways greater public participation can assist emergency managers in their mission to keep communities safe. Specifically this study examines the policy process and administrative functions of emergency management to illuminated the benefits and hindrances involved in greater participation. This study conducted a qualitative analysis of governmental documents, disaster case studies, international research, as well as political science and administrative doctrines, to arrive at its conclusions. The results of this study reveal that the public is a largely untapped resource in the emergency management field. Engaging the …

Carlos Figueroa On State Power And Democracy: Before And During The Presidency Of George W. Bush. By Andrew Kolin. New York, Ny: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011. 251pp., Carlos Figueroa

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of:

State Power and Democracy: Before and During the Presidency of George W. Bush. By Andrew Kolin. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011. 251pp.