Book description
In 2003, the President and the U. S. Congress established the
Department of Homeland Security. From the beginning, its mission was
clear: prevent terrorist attacks, protect against threats to America's
safety and security, and prepare the nation to respond effectively to
disasters, both natural and man-made. This monumental mission demands
a comprehensive strategy. It also requires a crystal-clear explanation
of that strategy to Americans and their allies worldwide. In a
revealing new book, Homeland Security: Assessing the First Five
Years, Michael Chertoff provides that explanation. In a
refreshingly candid and engaging manner, America's former homeland
security secretary depicts the department's long-term approach, what
it has achieved, and what it has yet to do.
The strategy begins with the threats America faces, from
terrorist groups like al Qaeda to hurricanes like Ike or Gustav.
"Once these threats are identified," Chertoff writes,
"we can confront them, using every tool at our disposal. We can
stop terrorists from entering the country, and discourage people from
embracing terrorism by combating its lethal ideology. We can protect
our critical assets and reduce our vulnerabilities to natural
disasters. We can plan and prepare for emergencies and respond in a
way that minimizes the consequences. And we can work closely with our
allies abroad to reduce the risk of future disasters." In each of
these areas, Chertoff informs the reader what the nation has done and
what it still must do to secure its future.
How well has this strategy fared in a post-9/11 world? Since
that fateful day, there have been no global terror attacks on American
soil. Yet in the face of continued dangers, Michael Chertoff warns
repeatedly against complacency. He urges America and its leaders to
strengthen their resolve, stay the course, and build creatively on
past successes.
"As memories of 9/11 fade, the nation has required a
tough-minded realism against growing complacency. In Michael Chertoff,
the nation had a keen thinker, a straight talker, an honest broker,
and a diligent doer at the head of the Department of Homeland
Security. Michael Chertoff remains driven to inform and persuade. In
comprehensive fashion, this book tells America and the world what
we've been doing and what we still must do to enhance our safety and
security."-Frances M. Fragos Townsend, former homeland security
adviser to President George W. Bush
Michael Chertoff is a former U. S. Secretary of Homeland Security.
Lee H. Hamilton served as Vice Chairman of the 9/11 Commission and is
President of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
