Most of Stephen Flynn’s recommendations are commendable in terms of suggesting effective Homeland Security. Generally, he indicates that America as a nation is exposed to two specific domains. First, he has determined that homeland security has in a way disconnected from national security and secondly our infrastructure that is greatly exposed to an imminent attack (Flynn, 2011). This statement makes a lot of sense because it depicts the actual state of the nation. We may not achieve shielding ourselves as a country from all kinds of terrorism. Nonetheless, the recommendations are helpful to a much extent in deterring terrorists from performing their activities. Indeed, the nation should cultivate resilience as a way to quickly recover from any form of attack or disasters.
In Flynn’s initial findings, homeland security has become distinct from national security so that we are unable to engage in a multi-fronted war. For instance, by engaging in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan concurrently, it was a strenuous task that drained out most of our attempts. The major concentration has been on defending other regions and ignoring to shield our own country (Lansford & Pauly, 2016) . He proposes to leaders that they should concentrate more on American people than everyone else should (Flynn, 2011). Being a person that has analyzed the wars that America has engaged in for the past two decades, I have observed how we were not mindful of ourselves as a nation in this regard.
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America’s concentration on the Marine Corps for above a decade of war has been counterinsurgency (COIN) attempts. It is not an aspect that is doctrinal for us, doctrine for the Marine Corps is an offensive military operation utilizing naval ships, drying out all our resources, with our naval partners to project power from the sea (Lansford & Pauly, 2016) . We have put aside something that should be our daily routine and focus to engage in a battle that we lack the framework to fight. We have exploited another land-based Army. The threat of terrorists and other revolutions has made the Marine Corps leave entirely how we need to fight and embrace new techniques of fighting, which may not work at the end of the day (Flynn, 2011). Even though this could be commendably approved on face value, but intrinsically, it is typical scenario depicting how we have neglected ourselves as a nation.
Flynn (2011) indicates that in 2004 the cost of fighting for three days in Iraq could be matched to what was spent on seaport protection for three years. It is another instance depicting failure to protect the nation. America is heavily dependent on import products that reach the country by sea and if terrorists could take charge of our seaports, it could be a serious destruction to our economy. That is the second point that Flynn deals with, emphasizing that our infrastructure is very much exposed to attack. He indicated that the Department of Defence has had more money disbursed to them to reinforce bases compared to the less funding set aside to protect our nation. With a reduction in funding, we have witnessed a deprivation of emergency personnel such as law enforcement, fire, scientific and medical experts.
Flynn determines that resilience is the potential of people, communities, organizations, and the government to seize, react to, adjust to, and recuperate from disasters such as terrorism, drought, and among others. He expounds that even following the disasters that happened in 9/11 (Flynn, 2011), Americans still utilize aviation transportation because of resiliency. We still believe that private sectors of aviation security have enough potential to counter any possible threat and risk to the nation. Indeed, this should be a framework and pattern for homeland security agencies so that we are not deterred to move forward because of a previous disaster or attack.
In conclusion, Flynn makes compelling recommendations as far as effective Homeland Security is concerned. Generally, he identifies that America is susceptible in two particular areas. I support the findings and it may not be possible to counter all forms of terrorisms that could come within our borders. However, whatever Flynn has suggested will go a long way in deterring most terrorists from even thinking of attacking the nation. As a nation, we should also be mindful of ourselves before we become aggressive in protecting others. We should build resiliency so that we can quickly and easily recover from any terrorist attack or disaster.
References
Flynn, S. (2011). Recalibrating homeland security: Mobilizing American society to prepare for disaster . Foreign Aff. , 90 , 130.
Lansford, T., & Pauly Jr, R. J. (2016). To protect and defend : US homeland security policy . Routledge.
