Domestic Terrorism Management
Order Instructions:
Assignment:
1. What are the limits of power of the FBI in pursuing surveillance of potential terrorists within and without the U.S.?
2. In your view, is the FBI adequately organized, staffed, and trained to perform the myriad of missions tasked?
3. Based on the readings and your research, what is the status of the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2011 and resultant action on the key divisive issues?
4. Explain the Department of Homeland Security’s role in combating domestic terrorism. What sub agencies are involved? What are their missions?
5. In your opinion, what vulnerabilities would a terrorist see based on your answers to the above four questions.
The following items will be assessed in particular:
1. Your understanding of the organization, roles and missions of the FBI and Department of Homeland security.
2. Your ability to express the controversies associated with these agencies attempting to perform their missions, obstacles in achieving success, and the impact of the Patriot Act.
3. In-text references to the modular background readings (APA formatting recommended) and a reference page. Outside background reading sources encouraged and expected.
Length: This Case Assignment should be at least 3 pages not counting the title page and references.
References: At least two references should be included from academic sources listed below. (e.g. peer-reviewed journal articles). Required readings are included. Quoted material should not exceed 10% of the total paper.
Organization: Subheadings should be used to organize your paper according to question.
Academic sources, required readings:
D’Angelo, A. P. (2007). Strategic change and the Joint Terrorism Task Force: Ideas and recommendations. Naval Postgraduate School. Monterey. Retrieved November 13, 2012, from: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA477108&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
Facts and figures: Today’s FBI (2011). FBI. Retrieved November 13, 2012, from: http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/facts-and-figures-2010-2011
McNeill, J. B. (2011). The PATRIOT Act and the Constitution: Five key points. Retrieved November 13, 2012, from: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/02/the-patriot-act-and-the-constitution-five-key-points
Progress made in implementation of management and mission functions, but more work remains. (2008), GAO-08-457T. Department of Homeland Security, Retrieved November 13, 2012, from: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08457thigh.pdf
SAMPLE ANSWER
Domestic Terrorism Management
Q.1
The government agency known as Federal Bureau of Investigations belongs to the US Department of Justice. It functions as an internal intelligence and federal criminal investigative body. It is investigates crimes on the individuals in the US that are under the Major Crimes Act. Since its creation, FBI’s investigatory activities have been restricted by their guidelines to those within the constitutional limits, especially with respect to intrusion of privacy and unwarranted surveillance of U.S. Its major role in investigations in the US on terror threats is vested by the law and by presidential directives (Gorman, 2008). This includes the domestic roles to in conducting counter intelligence activities to meet foreign undercover work, in investigating international terrorists threats to the United States and intelligence attempts conducted against the United States.
The investigations of the FBI vary in many lengths. When they complete their investigations, the findings are forwarded to the office of the U. S Attorney within the local jurisdiction and to the sector of Justice in Washington, D. C. On receiving the information, they decide whether or not to proceed toward prosecution and handle any prosecutions that follows. Before a full investigation begins, there are certain factors that must be considered that the FBI guidelines requires. Some these factors includes: the probability that the harm would occur, the magnitude of the alleged harm and the danger to privacy and free expression imposed by a full investigation (Gorman, 2008). Under a probable cause standard to satisfy due process requirements, an agent must have reasonable belief that that a suspect has committed a crime or is likely to do so. The department must in general obtain a warrant act to conduct surveillance that would otherwise be an invasion of privacy, unless exigent circumstances exist to require commencement of search without a warrant (Juden, 2008). The general requirement for starting a police investigation depends on indication of criminal activity rather than a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
Q.2
In performing the many missions that are assigned to the FBI, I think it is adequately organized, staffed and trained to its assigned duties. The department has five functional branches. It also has the director’s office that handles most administrative offices. The executive assistance director manages each branch. An assistant director heads each branch of the divided offices and divisions. The divisions are further divided into sub-branches that are managed by the deputy assistant director. The office of the director is an important body in FBI and provides the finances and all the facilities management to the various staff departments including the five functional branches and other various field divisions. The 59 departments of the FBI at least have a special fighting unit in combating terrorism, for instance, the Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT). The department also has 56 offices in the countries major cities and it also holds over 400 occupant agencies across the US (Gorman, 2008). The FBI is all over the country with many departments, which makes it efficient to act upon any crime within the shortest time possible.
There well equipped laboratories help in fighting terrorism all over the world. Their labs serve for most DNA, physical, and biological work. The services that they conduct in their labs include Combined DNA Index System, Firearms and Tool marks, Computer Analysis and Response, Trace Evidence, DNA Analysis, Explosives, Forensic Audio, and Structural Design.
Many states, the international agencies and local authorities use the results that are gotten from the library freely. These activities make it possible for the FBI in pursuing surveillance of potential terrorist within and without the U. S. For one to employed with the FBI they must go through tests to prove they are clean and fit for the job. The applicant has to be an American citizens, must have a bachelor’s degree and with a clean record. All their workers need a Top Secret security clearance. The personnel management office conducts a series of background investigation conducted that one must pass to be an employee in the FBI departments that are located across the US. With such activities, the country is assured that they are being protected by the best and properly trained people who are aware of all the terrorist techniques.
Q.3
The Patriot Act is damaging to the basic individual freedoms that Americans have always valued. Itwas intended for the fight against terrorism after the September 11 attacks, but the measures stated in the Act generated massive debates over whether or not the Patriot Act reduces individual freedom (Juden, 2008). Considering the circumstances under which the law was voted, it is not surprising that the legislation was passed, but there are parts of the Act that require further analysis that will most likely show that it is endangering essential freedoms.
The USA Patriot Act weakens the fourth Amendment protection of all citizens, and not just suspected terrorists by authorizing warrantless searches and delayed notification. The Act also broadens sneak and peek searches, which is a search that occurs in the suspect’s absence and without his or her prior knowledge, and this enhances the power of prosecutors in court. The normal procedure for search warrants when executed is to leave a copy of the warrant if the place is unoccupied, and to do an inventory and return with the warrant.
Q.4
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is mainly responsible for ensuring that the United States is secure from terrorist attacks and any other disasters that may interrupt national security. It has focused on federal preparations to cover terrorism since the attack of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as they try to manage other responsibilities such as border security, emergency and custom management. Various federal agencies and offices were pulled together into newly established Homeland Security, which is now led by Tom Ridge. In its creation some agencies maintained their co-operate names and missions while others ceased to exist. The duties of those who did not collaborate were distributed among the new Department of Homeland Security (Martin, 2010). For instance, the US custom service, which was part of the Treasury Department, was split into US Customs and Boarder protection it has many different agencies that has different responsibilities.
There is the department of Directorate for Science and Technology that is responsible for protecting the citizens from any nuclear, chemical, and explosive attacks. It has all the technology needed to the federal officials that can detect any attempt of terrorist attacks using any explosives. The Domestic nuclear detection office develops high technology screening methods that can detect any nuclear weapon entering United States through the seaports or border crossing. There is the Federal Emergency Management agency that coordinates the government response to natural threats and fabricated disasters. The Office Infrastructure Protection agency helps in securing buildings and other structures across US and uses such technologies that can detect explosives the terrorists use. It also identifies locations and measuring their exposure to any attacks (Johnson, 2012). All these departments work hand in hand with the federal police and the cooperation of US citizens to fight terror attacks, hence, making it easier to realize any forms of terrorism that is in the United State. This has made it possible for the US to be safe from the terror attacks.
Q.5
I think, with the diverse departments that the FBI has all over the country, it has a great impact on the actions of terrorists. Their labs serve for most DNA, physical, and biological works. The services that they conduct in their labs include Combined DNA Index System, Firearms and Tool marks, Computer Analysis and Response, Trace Evidence, DNA Analysis, Explosives, Forensic Audio, and Structural Design (Martin, 2010). The results are shared with other states creating awareness of any act of terrorism. Other countries also provide them with information of crime and they are always aware of the activities of terrorists, making it impossible for them to perform any attacks. Through all these activities, they are able to identify any possibility of a crime and act upon it immediately.
References
Martin, C. Augustus. (2010). Essentials of Terrorism 2nd Ed + Issues in Terrorism and Homeland Security. Sage Pubns.
Johnson, N. (2012). Senate debates DHS’ role in regulating cybersecurity. Federal Times, 48(4), 7.
Juden, D. (2008). Police Practice: The Sikeston Department of Public Safety. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 77(8), 10.
Gorman, S. (2008, April 2). Pentagon Uses FBI to Collect Data on People in the U.S. Wall Street Journal – Eastern Edition. p. A2.
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