Political Science

The Department Homeland Security or DHS was conceived as a response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack that caught the entire American nation flat-footed and left the world in shock. The agency was created in 2002 during the administration of President George W. Bush. It is a totally different agency from that of the Defense Department which oversees the United States Armed Forces (Office of Homeland Security, 2002).    As it is or some six years after its creation, I believe that DHS should function as the civilian arm of the government tasked to ensure the safety of its citizens within the country. It should be the federal agencys responsibility to handle internal security and national disasters and emergencies. While the department functions in terrorism-based efforts, the military should still have the main responsibility concerning national security so that DHS would be able to concentrate on domestic undertakings like disaster operation. This aspect shows the clear difference between DHS and the military because the latter focuses on military concerns and issues covering the local and international spectrum. Thus, it is very clear that there is no conflict or duplication of functions between these two departments. Both agencies can, however, complement each other in pursuit of their respective missions.     With the creation of the DHS, various agencies previously attached to other departments are now grouped and unified under its umbrella, thereby making it easier to undertake interrelated functions and missions. The importance of its role was highlighted during the aftermath brought by hurricane Katrina where authorities of the affected areas had insufficient capabilities to cope up with the horrendous damage.    The role of the military is also distinct and clear as far as domestic issues are concerned. The military shall always serve only as support unit during emergencies, except when this would involve national security such as when there is civil unrest where the police and homeland forces shall have difficulty addressing the same, or when the country is under attack by foreign forces. As envisioned, the DHS shall have the immediate responsibility of dealing emergency situations in any of the states without further coordination with other federal agencies. Its existence actually facilitates swift response and assistance of the federal government to any local or affected areas. Evidently, this new agency, which is civilian in nature, should be allowed to evolve into a massive federal infrastructure ready to provide social services in any state at any given time or when the situation calls for it.