The U.S. intelligence community is smart enough to know that no one knows it all. For that reason it relies frequently on the nation's open-source intelligence industry to provide additional information.
The age of terrorism has made it mandatory that varying first-responder communities in every city & state throughout the nation not only plan and train together but also develop the long-term synergistic relationships needed to join forces as a superteam.
It may be impossible to thwart all suicide bombings. But there are several important steps to follow to deal with the aftermath, save the lives of innocent victims, and minimize the destruction of critical infrastructure and other facilities.
Two years after MTSA went into effect, government and private-sector security experts are taking a long second look at the implementation efforts already underway to determine what additional efforts might be needed.
The 1982 Air Florida crash begat COG, which begat the multi-jurisdiction National Capital Region, which this year set a major real-time example for effectiveness in uniting a host of different first-responder agencies working together for a common goal.
The creation of a National Response Plan to coordinate the activities of the state, federal, & local agencies of government responding to a major disaster was a bold step in the right direction.
A national master plan had to be developed to cope with future disasters affecting the U.S. homeland. Issuance of the NIMS presidential directive seemed a positive step, but funding & political problems have raised doubts.
Special Report on the successful implementation of an innovative plan to provide federal support - National Guard & Air National Guard personnel and resources, primarily - to states and cities coping with mass casualties and/or widespread destruction.
Despite initial concerns, the director of Annapolis Office of Domestic Preparedness reports major gains in federally mandated & funded plan to "enable first responders across the nation to work together in an interoperable response environment."
Data + Analysis = Intelligence. The key point to remember not only by analysts & operators, but by senior-level decision makers responsible for making the most effective use of all assets available in the continuing war on international terrorism.
