jacc12

The TSA should be abolished and its functions placed with the agencies responsible for the functional modal transportation areas. For example, The FAA should manage airport security. It understands airplanes and airports in depth. The TSA does not. The Coast Guard should ensure port security. It does all other maritime-related border functions. To have the TSA involved is a waste of money and effort. The TSA has proven over and over again that it is incompetent, leaderless and missionless. It has not a clue about the civil liberties it violates on a daily basis and has no understanding of the intricacies of modal security in the transportation sector. It is unmanageable and uncontrollable as it is organized and cannot be repaired unless abolished and its separate parts relocated to competent agencies.

jacc12

The TSA should be abolished and its functions placed with the agencies responsible for the functional modal transportation areas. For example, The FAA should manage airport security. It understand airplanes and airports in depth. The TSA does not. The Coast Guard should ensure port security. It does all other maritime-related border functions. To have the TSA involved is a waste of money and effort. The TSA has proven over and over again that it is incompetent, leaderless and missionless. It has not a clue about the civil liberties it violates on a daily basis and has no understanding of the intricacies of modal security in the transportation sector. It is unmanageable and uncontrollable as it is organized and cannot be repaired unless abolished and its separate parts disbanded.

DAlnB

The core concerns of this effort include Counterterrorism and Domestic Security Management, Securing our Borders, Smart and Tough Enforcement of Immigration Laws, Preparing for, responding to, and Recovering from Disasters, Maturing and Unifying the Department of Homeland Security. Although these issues may be addressed separately they would be best addressed for conclusion as one major effort. Addressed individually they will take time, result in duplicated efforts, be extremely costly and most likely ineffective. The five issues should be combined and managed as a single program with action taken to organize, implement and sustain action simultaneously. I have previously suggested the answer to border security is assignment of all but border crossing point security to the U S Army Reserve and organize a Border Brigade to assume necessary and essential duties. Such a brigade could provide border security; develop a nation wide cadre of trained and qualified personnel (military reservists and law enforcement personnel) knowledgeable in immigration law and procedures, trained in emergency management, trained in counternarcotics and in counterterrorism. This would also improve our military readiness The brigade would be totally self sustaining with transportation, facilities, medical, maintenance and aviation support. The brigade could be manned by reservists from all branches of the Military reserve components. Personnel could enlist into the brigade as their primary unit of assignment, complete their initial training and duty with the brigade and return for their annual training and for short duty tours. The Border Brigade would be assigned the primary duties of patrolling and securing the borders and approaches to the United States against smuggling and trafficking of people, money, drugs, and weapons. While assigned personnel would be trained not only in border security duties but in related subjects such as counterterrorism, counternarcotics, transportation system security, critical infrastructure protection, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) protection, engagement and countering extremist ideology and emergency management. When returning to their homes these reservists would provide a strong and accountable nucleus of personnel to support federal, state and local agencies in similar missions and emergencies. Financial support could be offered to reservists seeking careers in law enforcement, emergency management, and homeland security for furthering their education and supporting employing agencies initial and sustaining costs. This approach would greatly improve and strengthen not only the immediate interests of the core issues but continue to develop a nation wide base of personnel and knowledge needed to combat the growing problems associated with illegal immigration, smuggling, counternarcotics and emergency management. It would also help reduce unemployment and provide educational opportunities. It will be expensive but regardless of what actions are taken to combat these problems the cost will be big. With this approach long term value will be realized while at the same time we will strengthen our national efforts gaining support from the society we need to protect and concurrently strengthening our national and military readiness