Post-Cold War Considerations
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School
Brookline College, Tempe *
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Course
CJ260
Subject
Political Science
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by ChancellorLyrebird410
Introduction
This lesson reviews the issue of homeland security in the aftermath of the Cold War and
leading up to the 9/11 attacks. It considers the findings of several congressionally mandated commissions in the setting of unequal warfare as people know it today. It also
discusses the following:
U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century:
Also known as the Hart-
Rudman Commission reports, this is the most in-depth review of national security
prior to 9/11.
Gilmore Commission reports:
This is a series of five reports published between 1999 and 2003 to assess response capabilities against the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by terrorist groups on United States.
Bremer Commission Report:
This national commission focused on the threat of
international terrorism.
Learning Materials
Unbalanced Warfare
When the Cold War ended, the threats of homeland security began to evolve and change as the global threat environment shifted. During the Cold War, the United States faced an enemy that had a large army, modern weaponry, and military infrastructure that, at times, could match its own. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the capabilities of this adversary diminished significantly.
However, the United States began to see a rise in asymmetric warfare, a conflict between two adversaries that have very differing military capabilities and tactics (e.g., a conflict between a national military and a rebellious group). These smaller
groups, which do not have military might, weaponry, or large numbers, often engage in tactics that are strictly prohibited by international law.
United States Commission on National Security/21st Century (Hart-Rudman Commission Report)
The U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century, often referred to as the Hart–
Rudman Commission report, was the most comprehensive review of United States’ national security strategy at the time. The commission report was in three distinct phases, as follows:
1.
New World Coming: American Security in the 21st Century
2.
Seeking a National Strategy: A Concert for Preserving Security and Promoting Freedom
3.
Roadmap for National Security: Imperative for Change
Phase 1
The initial report was released in 1999, and its focus was to provide an overview of the global security threats from the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of violent extremism in the first quarter of the new century. The report made the following predictions:
The United States would become more vulnerable to terrorist attacks on its soil, and the U.S. military’s robustness would not increase in superiority against a changing enemy.
Increased advancement and production of technology would create new threats and weaknesses.
The security of all developed nations would be at risk due to an interconnected economic infrastructure.
Globally, energy requirements would be a source of conflict.
Globally, borders would continue to become more permeable.
Failure of states globally would increase. This instability, in turn, could disrupt neighboring states in the region.
Civilian populations would repeatedly be targeted due to the increase in unbalanced warfare.
Due to the ever-evolving nature of unbalanced warfare, intelligence data would be
harder to gather.
The allies of United States would rely heavily on U.S. military capabilities.
Phase 2
The second phase of the report, released in 2000, focused on a strategy on how to promote the interests of United States globally in the face of a changing threat environment. The strategy focused on the following:
Defining the national interests of United States given the changing global environment
Outreach to the allies of United States, especially in critical geographic areas
New opportunities and dangers in the changing global environment
Developing a coalition with allies that had similar interests and faced similar threats
Phase 3
The final phase of the report, which was released in January, 2001 (prior to 9/11), focused on the changes that the United States would need to make to ensure security. These included the following:
Preventing and disrupting terrorist attacks
Investing in science and technology
Ensuring the security of the homeland by developing an executive agency that had homeland security as its sole focus
Reorganizing the legislative branch of the United States to allow for more freedom of the executive branch’s institutions
Gilmore Commission Reports
The Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction, which is also known as the Gilmore Commission reports,
referred to a series of five reports between 1999 and 2003.
Report 1
The first report, which was published in 1999, focused on assessing the threat posed to the United States by the use of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) weapons against U.S. military, interests, or civilian populations. The report concluded that it was only a matter of time before terrorism’s weapons of mass destruction would result in a mass casualty incident.
Report 2
Published in 2000, the second report focused on developing a national strategy for combating terrorism. The report recommended that the strategy should do the following:
Address CBRN and cyber threats to deter or prevent an attack and prepare local agencies to respond to a mass casualty incident
Focus on preserving civil liberties during an emergency
Consolidate congressional oversight and focus on state and local levels of preparedness
Report 3
The third report, which was published in December 2001 (post-9/11), focused
on the adoption of a more comprehensive homeland security strategy after 9/11. The report focused on the following:
Enhancing state and local response capabilities
Enhancing health and medical capabilities in both the private and public sectors
Strengthening immigration security and border control
Developing capabilities against a cyberattack
Roles for the military to support local authorities
Report 4
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The fourth report, which was published in 2002, provided guidance on how national strategies should be implemented given the changing threats. The report reached the following conclusions:
Threats had not diminished.
Intelligence reform had barely improved 1 year after 9/11.
The creation of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alone would not improve security.
The performance measures of homeland security activities would be needed.
Individual liberties and personal freedom had to be protected.
Report 5
Published in 2003, the fifth and final report focused on homeland security and the
preservation of liberties. The report focused on the new normalcy of risk management for terrorism, disease outbreaks, and natural disasters.
The Bremer Commission Report
The Report of the National Commission on Terrorism, often referred to as the Bremer Commission report, focused on the changing threat of international terrorism. The report, which was published in 2000, drew the following conclusions:
International terrorism would continue to pose a significant risk to the United States.
The collection of intelligence information was paramount to preventing an attack.
The counterterrorism efforts of United States were subpar.
The policies of United States related to terrorist havens had to be uniform.
Terrorist financing mechanisms had to be squashed.
A WMD attack on U.S. soil could have a devastating impact.
This report focused strongly on U.S. security and made several recommendations that were seen as counterproductive to civil liberties.