American Security Post 9/11 Research Paper

American Security Post 9/11

After going through the immeasurable shock and horror of the 9/11 attacks, Americans have joined together to create a more secure nation than existed previously. “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve”, these inspiring words from President George W. Bush after the 2001 terrorist attacks (Bush “Address”). Immediately following these attacks the American government was working towards creating a more secure nation. After the terrorist attack on September 11th, the United States responded by creating the Department of Homeland Security. This agency has had many

When George W. Bush was proposing to congress why the Department of Homeland Security needed to formally become a government department he explained that, “The President proposes to create a new Department of Homeland Security, the most significant transformation of the U.S. government in over half-century by largely transforming and realigning the current confusing patchwork of government activities into a single department whose primary mission is to protect our homeland. The creation of a Department of Homeland Security is one more key step in the President’s national strategy for homeland security” (Bush “The Department” 1). In 2002 the Department of Homeland Security formally became a department of government after congress passed the Homeland Security Act (Homeland Security – Creation of the department of Homeland Security). The Homeland Security Act of 2002 states that, “the primary mission of the Department is to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism, and to minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery, from terrorist attacks that do occur

Some examples of everyday security being, border control, airline security, and cyber networks (Homeland Security – Our Mission). The U.S Customs and Border Protection is a branch in the Department of Homeland Security that states their mission statement is, “to safeguard America’s borders, thereby protecting the pubic from dangerous people and materials while enhancing the nation’s global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel” (About CBP). This statement from U.S. Customs and Border Control helps to back up President George Bush’s words in his address to the United States the night of the September 2001 attack. That night he explained how the economy will remain strong and keep pushing forward. With a stronger border control the United States is able to keep the economy prospering just as Bush had promised over a decade ago. Working together the Border Patrol agents, Air, and Marine agents help to prevent illegal movement of drugs, weapons, and people in and out of the county (Homeland Security – Secure and Manage our