Homeland Security

Michael Chertoff outlines a long-term strategy for protecting America from terrorist attacks and preparing for effective responses to man-made and natural disasters. The former homeland security secretary also urges the nation to resist complacency, maintain its resolve, and build on past successes.

In 2003, the President and the U.S. Congress established the Department of Homeland Security. From the beginning, its mission was clear: prevent terrorist attacks, protect against threats to America's safety and security, and prepare the nation to respond effectively to disasters, both natural and man-made. This monumental mission demands a comprehensive strategy. It also requires a crystal-clear explanation of that strategy to Americans and their allies worldwide. In a revealing new book, Homeland Security: Assessing the First Five Years, Michael Chertoff provides that explanation. In a refreshingly candid and engaging manner, America's former homeland security secretary depicts the department's long-term approach, what it has achieved, and what it has yet to do.

The strategy begins with the threats America faces, from terrorist groups like al Qaeda to hurricanes like Ike or Gustav. "Once these threats are identified," Chertoff writes, "we can confront them, using every tool at our disposal. We can stop terrorists from entering the country, and discourage people from embracing terrorism by combating its lethal ideology. We can protect our critical assets and reduce our vulnerabilities to natural disasters. We can plan and prepare for emergencies and respond in a way that minimizes the consequences. And we can work closely with our allies abroad to reduce the risk of future disasters." In each of these areas, Chertoff informs the reader what the nation has done and what it still must do to secure its future.

How well has this strategy fared in a post-9/11 world? Since that fateful day, there have been no global terror attacks on American soil. Yet in the face of continued dangers, Michael Chertoff warns repeatedly against complacency. He urges America and its leaders to strengthen their resolve, stay the course, and build creatively on past successes.

Foreword, by Lee H. Hamilton

THREATS
1 Assessing the Dangers
2 The Ideological Roots of Terror

PREVENTION
3 Securing the Border—and Reforming Immigration
4 Using Every Tool
5 Why Soft Power Works
6 Why Washington Won't Work

PROTECTION: REDUCING VULNERABILITIES
7 Protecting and Preserving Infrastructure
8 Cybersecurity
9 Responding to IEDs at Home
10 Managing Identity

PREPARATION AND RESPONSE
11 Managing Risk
12 Biological Threats and Biodefenses
13 The Question of FEMA and Homeland Security

INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS
14 Cooperation and Consensus Abroad
15 The Responsibility to Contain

Conclusion: Before September 11—and Since

Notes
Index