Description
Question I: Explain the roles of HSINT in countering CBRNE threats within the homeland.
Question II: Elaborate on the responsibilities of HSINT in countering CBRNE threats against the homeland.
Question III: Provide an example of how HSINT could be employed most effectively if the United States suffered a terrorism-related CBRNE attack.
Do not include quotes in your posting since if you were in a class talking aloud, you likely would not be using direct quotes; instead, as necessary, paraphrase what you need to convey. You need to show me good critical thinking skills and not quotes written by others. Formulating your own thoughts from analyzing new information and studying established work is what we need for successful experts of the future. You must include at least one source per paragraph and thus include it in your reference section as best as you can (hint – not just a URL).
Part 2
Below I have a post please provide a response to both. 150 words each with reference (WITHIN THE LAST 5 YEARS).
Your response to your peer by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts. The response must enhance the discussion and use
of scholarly resources is required (text or any article from a nursing journal, or governmental cite). (NO WEBSITES ALLOWED)
Part I: Explain the roles of HSINT in countering CBRNE threats within the homeland.
HSINT, like other intelligence entities, is responsible for gathering/analyzing intelligence to protect the United States. In an article written by Mark Randol (2009), he mentions how HSINT received inputs from foreign, military, and domestic intelligence to analyze and determine what threats are credible and should be acted on. In this article, it quotes the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Ambassador John Negropont stating, what happens abroad can kill us at home and this is a very valid point. A majority of the attacks planned against the U.S. are planned overseas before the terrorists ever step foot in the country. These multiple inputs of information could lead to stopping an attack on U.S. soil. Whether it ties people currently in the country to known or suspected terrorist here or abroad, they can use this information to open a formal investigation to monitor those people. If they are buying up supplies to make bombs, surveying possible targets or contacting known terrorists, they could be detained, questioned, and arrested/deported in time to stop the attack. Like all IC agencies, the HSINT is only as good as the intelligence it gathers and receives from intelligence sharing between agencies.
Part II: Elaborate on the responsibilities of HSINT in countering CBRNE threats against the homeland.
HSINT can more easily pull intelligence from multiple sources since the adoption of fusion centers and intelligence sharing databases. Many of the local law enforcement departments have good relations with the areas they patrol and know when something seems off. They could use information like this to detect possible terrorist activities early on. In an article published in 2018, it mentions how 10.6% of all terrorist attacks on public service transportation were detected/prevented by local law enforcement, transportation employees, and everyday citizens (Jenkins & Butterworth, 2018). This is just accounting for attacks that were taking place, not ones being planned. People are familiar with their area and can sense what something is out of whack. There is just too much area for HSINT to cover on their own, which is why they need the inputs from the other agencies.
HSINT also has a hand in protecting our Critical Infrastructures. They play as a liaison between the government and private sector entities by sharing Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU) Information (DHS, 2021) and advising the private sectors on what items are actionable. They work to ensure that water supplies are not contaminated and other infrastructures are protected from possible attacks/bombings that could affect US citizens.
Part III: Provide an example of how HSINT could be employed most effectively if the United States suffered a terrorism-related CBRNE attack.
According to the National Incident Management System (NIMS), HSINT can help by determining the source of the attack and help prevent future attacks of the same nature (FEMA, 2017). They could possibly have intel on the attack and what was used to better allow responding agencies to utilize proper PPE and treatment of victims. For example, if HSINT knows of an attack that was being planned where anthrax was being dispersed, they could pass that information along to the responding agencies and they could have all the proper antibiotics to treat it on site. While some chemical weapons are easily identified in victims, others are not. Cyanide for one can be colorless and odorless and some of the symptoms could be confused with other health issues like a heart attack such as rapid heartrate, trouble breathing and loss of consciousness.
References:
Jenkins, M.B. & Butterworth, B.R. (2018). Does See Something, Say Something Work? Retrieved from https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/SP-1118_SeeSomethingSaySomething.pdf
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (2021). 2020 Annual Report. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/hsin-fy20-annual-report_1.pdf
FEMA. (2017). National Incident Management System. Retrieved from https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_nims_doctrine-2017.pdf
Randol, M. (2009). Homeland Security Intelligence: Perceptions, Statutory Definitions, and Approaches. Retrieved from https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=231874
Part 3
Below I have a post please provide a response to both. 150 words each with reference (WITHIN THE LAST 5 YEARS).
Your response to your peer by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts. The response must enhance the discussion and use
of scholarly resources is required (text or any article from a nursing journal, or governmental cite). (NO WEBSITES ALLOWED)
Roles of HSINT in Countering WMDs
The role of HSINT in countering WMD threats are generally the same as countering any other threats to our country: to prevent them before they can be brought to bear on our country. An expanded role is to have the knowledge of how devastating each type of WMD is so that if one does go off, they can advise the recovery agencies how wide the cordons need to be and things to expect inside the red zone. The CBRNE threat is uniquely devastating to our country for a couple of reasons. First is the psychological and potentially long-lasting effects that a CBRNE could have on the people and the area (Trump, 2018). For example, if a CBRNE WMD is set off in a population center like New York City, the immediate death rate would likely exceed that of 9/11, and the injury rate would exceed it. But the psychological effects that would be suffered would be far worse. Not only would you have people hurting from their loss of family members, but you would also have people angry that such a bomb was used, and people who would be scarred to go anywhere near the area because of fallout.
The second reason this threat is unique is that the materials to make some WMDs can be found in your local hardware and farming stores. This creates a uniquely hard threat to counter, because just about any farmer could be deemed a terrorist based off the materials they are buying. So how do you analyze who is a terrorist and who is a farmer based off their receipts and purchases? Its a hard task.
Responsibilities of HSINT in Countering WMDs
HSINT is responsible for an overwhelming number of things regarding countering WMDs. One of the most important is to know where materials can be bought on the black market to make dirty bombs (Schuster, 2017). A dirty bomb is a WMD that is made from Uranium-235 and normal explosive material such as C-4, dynamite, and other explosive materials. When the bomb explodes, its blast is like a normal bomb, but the Uranium is scattered throughout the area, polluting entire areas for years, such as the fallout effects of a nuclear weapon detonation. this would be a choice weapon for a terrorist trying to do lasting damage to a country, as it would strike fear into the population, kill, and injure some, and render the area it detonates in useless for a while.
HSINT would be responsible for tracking the countries able to produce Uranium-235 (its a very involved process and only certain countries can produce it). It would especially concern itself with the countries that are known terrorist sponsors, like Iran, Pakistan, North Korea perhaps. It would be responsible to know when some went missing, was sold, and where and to who. It would above all be responsible for tracking that. It would also be responsible for coordinating with the enforcement agencies to try and arrest the individual in possession of the material and try to prevent it from entering the United States.
HSINT would also be responsible for trying to sort purchases within the United States of materials that could be used to make WMDs (Ackerman). As mentioned before, this is a hard task, and one that can potentially cross some lines between civil liberties and national security, but it is necessary.
Example of how HSINT Could be Employed During a Terrorist-related CBRNE Attack
HSINT could be employed during a terrorist related CBRNE attack by aiding cordoning agencies in assessing the damage control perimeter in that specific attack. For example, lets say a dirty bomb was detonated in Savannah, GA. Before the containing agency arrived on scene, HSINT could cross-cue their intelligence to see how much Uranium they estimate to be in that bomb, then conduct damage assessments, and pass off all that data to the cordon agency before they arrive so that they can expedite the setup and the entire response.
References
Ackerman, G. and Jacome, M. WMD Terrorism: The Once and Future Threat. Prism. Retrieved from https://cco.ndu.edu/Portals/96/Documents/prism/pri…
Schuster, S. (2017). Inside the Uranium Underworld: Dark Secrets, Dirty Bombs. Time Magazine. 10 April 2017. Retrieved from https://time.com/4728293/uranium-underworld-dark-s…
Trump, D.J. (2018). National Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism. The White House. Retrieved from https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=819382
Part 4
Below I have a post please provide a response to both. 150 words each with reference (WITHIN THE LAST 5 YEARS).
Your response to your peer by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts. The response must enhance the discussion and use
of scholarly resources is required (text or any article from a nursing journal, or governmental cite). (NO WEBSITES ALLOWED)
Part I: Explain the roles of HSINT in countering CBRNE threats within the homeland.
The HSINT community acts as the first line of defense in countering the CBRNE threat by working to identify potential actors, gather intelligence, and conduct threat assessments on the information they receive to assess the risk level and warn other HS agencies of a potential CBRNE threat or attack. In addition to the more typical HSINT agencies, when talking about biological threats, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and U.S. Department Health and Human Services (H&HS) play a vital role in the monitoring and information collection on new or emerging diseases both within the United States and in foreign countries that could have the potential to make their way into the country. The DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office is the lead agency within the domestic HSINT community in working with local, state, and federal partners to share information and identify any potential CBRNE threats within the homeland while also coordinating with DoD and other CBRNE responders (Department of Homeland Security, 2022). Collection, analysis, and dissemination of vital CBRNE threat information and coordination with foreign governments and intelligence units are key parts to the strategy for countering WMD’s and CBRNE weapons in the Homeland.
Part II: Elaborate on the responsibilities of HSINT in countering CBRNE threats against the homeland.
One of the key roles the HSINT community plays is the identification and tracking of potential threats, both domestic and foreign, and working to neutralize them before they become a larger problem. The National Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism (The White House, 2018) suggests that there while there are a limited number of adversaries with enough education and experience to effectively produce WMD or CBRNE type weapons, the HSINT community is responsible for identifying, tracking, and potentially neutralizing these individuals should they attempt to harm the interests of the U.S. This would take coordination between DoD and DHS assets as well as the broader IC community. HSINT is also responsible for identifying potential sources of CBRN material and working with foreign governments or private companies to secure or eliminate access to those materials by anyone not authorized or attempting to illegally acquire them. Additionally, the U.S. government is working to pass the CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2021, an amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, to strengthen the HSINT community. It tasks the DHS Intelligence and Analysis unit with supporting the collection and analysis of CBRNE related threats, supporting the analysis and threat assessment of infectious disease and public health threats, and sharing of information with local, Tribal, Territorial, and State governments to improve the sharing of CBRNE intelligence and increasing early detection capabilities (H.R. 397, 2021). By creating larger networks and increasing the amount of intelligence gathered, the HSINT community can better counter and prevent CBRN attacks from taking place within the homeland.
Part III: Provide an example of how HSINT could be employed most effectively if the United States suffered a terrorism-related CBRNE attack.
Following a CBRNE terrorist attack, the HSINT community would be most effective in tracing leads and examining the evidence to try to identify where the threat came from, who was involved, and how the materials were acquired to prevent or eliminate the threat from occurring again in the future. This information could also help direct response resources and supporting elements, like the Civil Support Teams (CST), in finding additional threats or monitoring other areas that may be the at risk of an attack similar to the one that was committed based on the collected and analyzed intelligence. The 2013 Boston Marathon bombings were a good example of the intelligence community coming together to help identify the suspects and motives for the attacks. The FBI, DHS, State Police, and Boston PD came together and analyzed thousands of photographs and videos, reviewed evidence, and interviewed suspects and victims to produce a recreation of the events and eventually identify the bombers and their motives (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2014). While the CBRNE threat was ruled out pretty early on, initial response included Civil Support Teams and airborne monitoring stations to verify that no CBRN materials were present and it was strictly an explosive device. In a true CBRNE event, the inclusion of public health intelligence centers and agencies would help the HSINT community in threat identification and additional threat assessment to the scene already taking place.
Department of Homeland Security. (2022). Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. https://www.dhs.gov/countering-weapons-mass-destruction-office
H.R. 397: CBRN Information and Intelligence Sharing Act of 2021. 117th Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/397/text
Massachusetts Emergency management Agency. (2014). After action report for the response to the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings. https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/264302
The White House. (2018). National strategy for countering weapons of mass destruction terrorism. https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=819382
