| In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy, our nation's leaders | | | | The creation of the Department of Homeland |
| began to realize the full extent of potential threats to | | | | Security was announced on September 20th, shortly |
| our national security that exist both internally and | | | | after 9/11. Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge was |
| abroad. This newfound realization has resulted in the | | | | appointed as director and was charged with the task |
| prioritization of security measures that are designed | | | | of coordinating the nation's intelligence gathering |
| to circumvent catastrophic events of this magnitude. | | | | agencies and the overall efforts to prevent future |
| In order to avoid future lapses of national security | | | | terrorist attacks. Since that time, a great deal of |
| and combine the resources and communication | | | | changes to our nation's intelligence community have |
| protocols of various agencies, the Department of | | | | taken place. New positions have been created for |
| Homeland Security was created. | | | | the management of intelligence resources. Additional |
| The need for one U.S. government agency that could | | | | U.S. intelligence agents have been trained and are |
| oversee the administration of the many independent | | | | currently working in the field. Intelligence gathering |
| intelligence gathering entities was apparent in the | | | | and reporting methods have been updated to reflect |
| post 9/11 aftermath. Vital information that was | | | | the growing need for inter-agency cooperation. |
| gathered through various investigative sources was | | | | In addition to creating new positions in intelligence and |
| deemed inconsequential of its own merit. Putting this | | | | in the IT, human resources and administrative |
| information into the overall scope of events that led | | | | sections of the Department of Homeland Security, |
| up to the catastrophe of 9/11, it was apparent that | | | | local and national law enforcement and emergency |
| the disaster might have been avoided had some | | | | management personnel have been trained in |
| organization been able to put all the warning signs | | | | emergency preparedness procedures designed for |
| together into one cohesive picture. In order for that | | | | large scale events such as those of September 11th. |
| to become a feasible reality by which we could avoid | | | | Hopefully, the creation of the Department of |
| future tragedies, intelligence sharing and unilateral | | | | Homeland Security will ensure that we are never |
| cooperation would be necessary. | | | | again faced with such a devastating loss of life. |