Political Science

Question 1 (Multiple Choice)In responding to a terrorist event, coordination among disparate government -- Federal, state, and local levels -- requiresAccess to timely, valid informationAbility to forward requirementsThe exchange, absorption, and adaptation of informationAll of the above
Answer  All of the above.

Question 2 (Essay Worth 10 points)Mention and explain briefly elements of an effective communications strategy that responds to a bio-terrorist or any other terrorist incident.
To communicate responsively to a bioterrorist or any other terrorist incident, the following elements should be taken into consideration

The spokesperson should try to avoid evasive comments in communicating with the people regarding the incident.  He may omit certain information that are highly confidential but he must be careful not to let the public know that he is hiding something.  Suspicion may create unnecessary panic to the public.

In relaying messages, use simple terms that the public may easily understand the message you are trying to convey.  This is to avoid misunderstanding your message.  Wrong interpretation of messages can be damaging especially in a crisis situation such as the terrorist incident.

In communicating in front of the camera or in public, avoid gestures that create an impression of nervousness.  The spokesperson must be calm in speaking whatever news he has for the public, be it good or bad.  Try to maintain eye contact with the audience so that the audience will be able to build its confidence in what you are saying.

Lastly, before you say anything, plan first your messages.  If possible, pre-draft everything that you have to say.  Spontaneity, in this situation, is not appropriate. Because there are things thats best kept than said.

Question 3 (Multiple Choice)What prevents in your mind the passing down of lessons learned, capabilities, and even criteria to be applied to a new generation of first responders to decision-makers at the topFailure to ease security constraintsBureaucratic inertiaEagerness to extrapolate past experience to the present emergencySpending an inordinate amount of time on future threats
Answer failure to ease security constraints

Question 4 (Multiple Choice)Reliable performances in a crisis depend upon --organizational protocolsability to develop plans and procedures as the crisis is unfoldingcultural openness to new ideasplanned investment in technology

Answer  ability to develop plans and procedures as the crisis is unfolding

Question 5 (Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)What contributes to an inter-agency task force formed to respond to an emergency crisisStaffed and approved agreements concluded prior to any crisisSelection of talented agencydepartment representatives who are sufficiently independent to represent interests that might be in conflict with their individual agencydepartment interestPlans and procedures developed and rehearsed in advance to meet any crisis.All of the above
Answer All of the above

Question 6 (Essay Worth 10 points)Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement DHS has been readily marginalized because of the reluctance of the FBI and CIA to relinquish significant intelligence gathering powers.

I disagree with this statement.  Somehow, DHS or the Department of Homeland Security, seemed to be excluded in managing crisis situations especially those which involves the FBI or the CIA.  The fact that these two agencies, oftentimes, withhold their information gathering strategy, DHS appear to come in second best to these two.

However, I also believe that whether it is the FBI or the CIA who was able to get hold of significant intelligent information useful in managing crisis situation, in the end, it is DHS who has the authority endorsed by the US government to handle and solve these problems.

The US government will mandate these agencies to share whatever information they have which will be a significant key to finding solutions for successful crisis management DHS will now enter the spotlight.  People will start listening to them, paying close attention to whatever instruction they may give out.

These information may come from the FBI or the CIA but delivery of which will be done by DHS.  Marginalization of this department apparently would not be possible by this time.
Besides, this department has the support of the US government, therefore it has more opportunity to improve and hone their intelligence gathering powers.

Question 7 (Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)In managing intergovernmental response under cumulative stress hierarchical organizations invariably tend to --insist that a recognized chain of command is key to successclaim that their personnel are hindered by lack of informationbelieve resources can be assigned and actions undertaken on the fly to meet demands of crisisall of the above
Answer All of the above

Question 8 (TrueFalse Worth 5 points)In extreme crisis and operating environments, one must recognize that all relevant information is not known, or might never be known.TrueFalse
Answer True

Question 9 (Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)Inter-organizational systems draw -- especially in crisis management -- onthe positioning of resources in advancereactive courses of actionapplication of experience to emerging crisisdevelopment of new technological applications
Answer The positioning of resources in advance

Question 10 (Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)DHS has been severely hindered in performing its critical intelligence function due tocommunications technologyits failure to recruit clandestine assets who would provide intelligencepaucity of seasoned intelligence analystslack of bureaucratic clout
Answer  Its failure to recruit clandestine assets who would provide intelligence

Question 11 (Essay Worth 10 points)Name three measures that Hong Kong government imposed at the outbreak of SARS that could be included in a strategy to defeat bioterrorism.

During the outbreak of SARS, Hongkong was one the countries reported to had many victims of the said illness.  To prevent SARS from spreading all over the country, several measures were imposed by the Hongkong government.

One of these is the Hongkong-wide cleansing campaign.  On an Easter weekend, clean-up events were held in 18 districts of Hongkong.  Citizens of the country were encouraged to clean their homes, schools and offices.  Public places were also cleaned.  This campaign aimed to deliver the message that environmental and personal hygiene is the solution to fighting and beating SARS.

Another measure the Hongkong Government adopted is the issuance of the Quarantine  Prevention of Disease Ordinance.  It became mandatory throughout the country to quarantine people coming in of the country for ten (10) days.  For Hongkong residents who did not go out of the country were required to be quarantined in their homes for ten days together with all the members of their household if any one of them was believed to have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with the disease.  Leaving their homes would require clearance from their Department of Health.

One important strategy the Hongkong government adopted to combat this disease is information campaign.  People were informed and made aware of the instances when they could possibly be infected with this disease.  This way, the government need not watch for all of its citizens.  With the information disseminated, everyone is expected to be responsible for his own health and well-being.  The symptoms of the disease were also made known so that anybody experiencing such would avail themselves of available treatment as early as possible.

These are just three of the many measures and strategies Hongkong and all other countries affected by SARS adopted to combat said disease.

Question 12 (Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)It is essential in an emerging crisis that the government convey in all its communications --trust and empathydedication and commitmentcompetence and expertiseall of the above
Answer  All of the above

Question 13 (Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)To encourage true redundancy in publicprivate sector communications, it is necessary for the government to --appeal to the patriotism of the private sector corporationdemonstrate that breaking up conglomerates is in the interest of the private sectors bottom lineregulate the private sectors operation as required to serve national security interestsnone of the above
Answer  None of the above

Question 14 (TrueFalse Worth 5 points)Transporting into place secure and reliable communications facilities after the crisis erupts is critical to the successful mitigation of the crisis.TrueFalse
Answer  True

Question 15 (Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)Guidelines developed to deal with panic in an emergency crisis or emergency indicatePanic is normal in such situations and the focus should be on lessening its impact.The public is a difficult partner as it is motivated by its own interests.Issuing information on a timely basis can be compared to prescribing the correct medicine in a medical situation.Public is interested in information, disregarding the source.
Answer The public is a difficult partner as it is motivated by its own interests.

Question 16 (TrueFalse Worth 5 points)Intelligence and Warning was a process used in the Cold War to anticipate Soviet Bloc preparations to go on attack whether it be an intercontinental ballistic missile attack, a ground invasion of NATO positions in Europe, or an invasion of Afghanistan and has little or no application in forecasting an attack by shadowy terrorist groups on the U.S.TrueFalse
Answer  False

Question 17 (Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)Making sense out of seemingly random events in life is analogous in intelligence analysis tothe capacity to interpret terrorist related incidents as having a deeper significance than at first meets the eyethe ability to recognize the limits of cognitive capacity and to apply technology to complement cognitive process.emphasizing the decision support process and doing everything possible to ensure that decision-makers are aware of the support available.all of the above
Answer The capacity to interpret terrorist related incidents as having deeper significance than at first meets the eye.