The Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Justice1 recently released its report on the detention and adjudication of illegal aliens apprehended during the investigation into the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.2 The report identifies numerous failings by…

State and local first response agencies are at the forefront of the nation's ability to respond to terrorist acts. In fact, these local agencies will nearly always be the first to respond to an incident and will be the determining factor in mitigating the consequences of an attack. As a result, the…

On March 1, 2003, the recently established Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin to absorb the federal agencies currently responsible for the functions being transferred to the new department. The most difficult aspects of making the transition from a disorganized federal bureaucracy incapable of adequately defending the homeland to a streamlined and…

First responders are a crucial link in any effective homeland security policy. To meet the demands of the terrorist threat, a major investment is necessary to train and equip police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and the public health community. Last year, President George W. Bush proposed the First Responder Initiative to…