Homeland Security's Role & Volunteer Clearing Center Form

Many who have studied and experienced history are concerned about today's homeland security issues. The 1930's and WW II demonstrate that even when many people are unconcerned about present dangers, bad people are gaining power and preparing to use it in evil ways.

By now the federal government's Office Of Homeland Security should have established an organized framework for citizen volunteers across the nation. Had that happened, its framework could now be used as a prototype in every community. Our objective is to assist in volunteer preparedness efforts and help fill needs in the event of an emergency.

If federal, state or local agencies request volunteers, we may pass those specific needs on to our volunteers who can then choose to assist in prevention, rescue or self-defense.

Homeland Security Can Be Secured By Attaining Global Security

Findings from within terrorist cells and captured top leaders indicate terrorists continue planning to use relatively simple tools and methods to inflict damage upon civilization. Reports indicate that in addition to airplanes and car bombs, terrorists are planning to use cell phones, cameras, radios -- electronic devices of all sorts -- modified to perform as weapons and destructive tools. Terrorists see the obvious fact that in today's technological, chip-filled world it is possible to turn almost any common device into a bomb or debilitating tool.

People responsible for homeland security functions must realize that these devices can not be stopped. Terrorists so bent upon using their minds to convert a cell phone into bomb and their bodies into homicide bombers will not be stopped. There are too many terrorists and too many devices. There are too many vulnerabilities in our open civilized society.

The magnitude of damage that terrorists can inflict upon civilization is measurable in buildings, airplanes, infrastructure elements, dollars and deaths. However the actual damage and real destruction terrorism will inflict upon civilization goes far beyond that calculus. Civilization is now being distracted, expending resources, and importantly its people -- especially the young -- are being psychologically damaged. Civilized people are impacted daily with warnings and overhanging fears that erode their ability to work and produce efficiently. The magnitude of this destruction is exponentially damaging over years. Too large a percentage of each civilized person's day is filled with life-threatening concerns. Children are maturing with dark, overhanging distractions and fears. This is an inhibiting force causing a deceleration of potential progress.

Civilized people want to achieve maximum production with high efficiency. To reach these goals civilization must prioritize objectives and:

1.) Cleanse each nation of infiltrated terrorist operatives. Use domestic forces, policies and laws. Act expeditiously and with thoroughness;
2.) Reach into all terrorist enclaves everywhere and eliminate the root forces that direct and motivate global plotting, planning and implementation of terrorist activities;
3.) Apply reasonable amounts of security to the homeland efforts. Suppress what can reasonably be suppressed without allowing terrorists to cause us to put ourselves in overly secured boxes.

Implementation of this plan will greatly reduce terrorist destruction within civilized nations, stop terrorism at its bases and most importantly, free civilized people from the daily burdens associated with terrorism threats. Civilized people will then be able to live civilized, productive and satisfying lives. They should be allowed to plan and worry freely about progress, education, work and life instead of negative forces.

For The Desk Of The Secretary of Homeland Security

Homeland Security Is Not A Desk Job

President Bush established the Office of Homeland Security and appointed Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge to the top position. Today there is a cabinet post building and managing homeland security. Homeland Security should be active and provide adequate information, yet not unduly alarm the public. Secretary Ridge's successor, Michael Chertoff, may know or learn immediately how to adequately arm us with insight and overview perspectives of terrorist attacks that have been averted.

Secretary Chertoff and his top level managers should:

1.) Perform operational inspections of airport facilities as they arrive and depart. This will keep local workers on guard watching for the big inspections;
2.) Monitor representative main streets of major cities, reviewing potential danger locations such as high-rise office buildings and tourist stops, and leaving instructions for owners and management of buildings about specific changes to make to bring their properties up to terror-resistant status;
3.) Monitor the length of the Mexican and Canadian borders to witness first-hand the open gaps in our unprotected frontiers and specify improvements;
4.) Mandate changes be implemented to correct specific problems;
5.) Ensure that plans are implemented appropriately and operating as planned.

For example, a potential problem is:

Placement, configuration and installation of concrete barricades cannot be left to those whose primary interest is the appearance of the structure to be protected whether it is a shopping mall, office or residential building. Many barricades are being installed without adequate vector, friction and mass analysis. Placement, configuration and installation of these barricades will determine how effectively they withstand forces applied to them if rammed.

Barricades should only be placed using on-site direction of engineers who understand the laws of vectors mechanics, momentum and the force of friction. These people should be knowledgeable and able to identify a configuration, optimal placement and effective installation methods.

The Office of Homeland Security should be the clearing center for all information announcements including warnings, thwarted attacks, arrests, and implementation of significant changes in procedures such as airport security.

The Office of Homeland Security needs to upgrade the image, prestige and remuneration of airport and related security workers. These jobs should be positioned as the key homeland security roles they have become. These jobs are no longer resting posts for uncaring, inept, unconcerned individuals. The Office of Homeland Security must write job descriptions and promote public discussion of the critical nature employees in these positions fulfill. Airline and building security jobs can only be filled by individuals who comprehend their role in prevention of catastrophes and the security of each human being they are guarding.

The Homeland Security director and staff cannot afford to simply hold hearings in Washington to review and discuss issues. This should be a mobile group whose mission is to prevent death and destruction by terrorists.

Judgement Is Critical For Success & Survival

We hold fast to our editorial of March 12, 2002 published on WarInformation.com --- Domestic Security Chief Tom Ridge announced an alert system intended to convey more specific meanings and guidance to people regarding terrorism alerts. The system uses five colors: the lowest status warning is green, followed by blue, yellow, orange with red indicating that perceived dangers are intense.

Secretary Ridge said the multistage alert system will provide a common vocabulary of danger to help communities respond to threats.

We ask, "Why colors?" There is no logical or instinctive progression directly relating a given danger level to a given color. Yes, red is intuitively 'most severe' but why would a government official expect people to memorize and then, while under stress, to instinctively calculate, comprehend and act according to a specific color code?

This color system is a formula for confusion. Colors codes attempt to quantify qualitative judgements.

We ask Secretary Chertoff to understand what is going on in the lives of hundreds of millions of Americans of all ages and educational levels. Do not add to their stress by requiring them to translate colors in order to comprehend a subjective scheme to then learn how dangerous each day is. That will implicitly force people away from paying any attention to the warning level scheme. People inherently tend to shy away from confusion. Accordingly, they will disregard warnings.

We say, "Use numbers." Simple... Most everyone can count. Use five (5) levels. Level 5 is the least severe. Level 1 indicates perceived dangers are intense.

President Bush's State of the Union Address, January 29, 2002

A part of President Bush's 2001 State of the Union Address included a call for volunteers. He said, "My call tonight is for every American to commit at least two years -- 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime -- to the service of your neighbors and your nation."

President Bush suggested joining a new umbrella organization, USA Freedom Corps, that will enhance existing volunteer corps and help with homeland security. The president said, "America needs retired doctors and nurses who can be mobilized in major emergencies, volunteers to help police and fire departments, transportation and utility workers well-trained in spotting danger."

USA Freedom Corps is hoping to include another 200,000 volunteers to expand the two groups that operate domestic service projects, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.