Do you think that homeland security is stronger or weaker than it was when Bush took over?

Question

I don't mean the "Department of Homeland Security". I know that it was only created a few years ago.

Answer 1

Much stronger

Answer 2

The Department of Homeland Security was created in 2003. President George W. Bush became president in 2001.

Answer 3

Its of no consequence. You can not protect America against terrorist. No more than they could find John Lee Malvo trapsing around Washington D.C. shooting up civilians. No more than FEMA could keep Katrina from happening. No more than the can stop Bush from continuing to subvert the will of the American people. When they finally do start to control the borders, watch where the money goes. There won't be a deal unless someone's pocket gets lined. Although they say no harm will be done America will get a substandard product for a premium price that doesn't do what it was bought for and some political parties coffers will be filled so they can continue to provide you with substandard candidates. Why don't the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act statues apply to Congress or at least against The Democrat and the Republican parties?

RACKETEERING -"A person who obtains money illegally, as by bootlegging, fraud, or, especially, extortion." Several forms of racket exist. The best-known is the protection racket, in which criminals demand money from businesses in exchange for the service of "protection" against crimes that the racketeers themselves instigate if unpaid.

Answer 4

I am neutral because a piece of me wants to say that it is weaker because the war in Iraq is a quagmire and united more terrorists in Iraq, they even have AQ running rabid in Iraq and using it as training grounds. The borders in Iraq are not secure. All this contributes to terrorists gathering intelligence and training so they can attack inside America. With the way Iraq is going is just angered many muslims to be more fanatical and support terrorism. You dont have to actually be a suide bomber to be a terrorist. If you let a bomber sleep in your house then your also a terrorist.
Also Bush made no progress targeting Bin Laden and his chain of command. We are doing a bad job infiltrating and shutting them down. They have gained too much influence. This is evidenced by US intelligence officials saying that AQ has regained their operational capabilities to a point that we have seen before 9/11. Here is the link to the unbiased article, its not a quesionable wikipedia source.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070711/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_terror_threat

On the other side of the argument, Bush and former SOD Rumsfeld, re- transformed the military by eliminating many desk jockey jobs in the military and transferring them to ground forces that actually carry a gun and fight instead of doing secretarial work which can be easily privatized. Also for the grunts that are already in that field, he has expanded special operations forces significanly. And we all know that special ops are the tip of the spear in fighting terrorism. Recruiting for SEAL's has never been this high. Any informed military person knows this.

But on the other side Bush doesnt set them loose, and instead is playing politics with Pakistan and asking permission to do operations in the Paki- Afghan border where AQ is based. By the time the political red tape is taken care of the terrorists have moved. So I dont believe our special forces are being used effectively.

Also like everyone else say Homeland Security was created, but its just more bureacracy in my opinion. We need to stop being defensive and get offensive with the real people that are attacking America. Not a single Iraqi has committed terrorist attacks inside America.

Also another point that Bush did a good job with. He directed the military to create "Africa Command". It will be operational in fiscal year 2008, but they are already building infrastructure in Africa. Any intelligence expert knows that this is a good deal, because extremist Islamic African nations are the easiest source of recruiting terrorists, with the poverty level and low education levels. Also many terrorists seek to hide out in Africa because its a not a secure place and they can easily slip through the borders of other countries.

Not to mention the recent event with real life Somalian pirates attacking a cruise ship. You guys remeber that right?

So with a quick military reaction force, and more intelligence in that continent it would help out much.

In short I think Bush did make the country stronger, but not ironclad, there is definitely improvements to be made.

Answer 5

Bush created the department of homeland security which in itself is just another bureaucracy to add to the long line of bureaucracies which we call the government. Maybe we should have gave the CIA some domestic power and expanded the FBI.

Answer 6

Somewhat stronger because of the increase in security at airports. Our border is still an open door to anyone who wants to come in. If we are attacked by terrorists who get in from the border, Bush will be at fault.

Answer 7

Our President created the monster, consolidating several dozen agencies into a larger less efficient abomination we now have. http://www.answers.com/topic/homeland-security

After reading this article and four years of hindsight, remember now this is when republicans had complete control of government, it appears it was a consolidation of power by republicans which created this agency. It plays right into their passion for secrecy. Look at all the agencies they now have control over by creating this one agency. Call me cynical but six years after nine-eleven and our borders are not secured, what am I suppose to think of this agency?

Answer 8

Well ask the two US Border Patrol Officers still in jail from defending this country from drug dealers. The drug dealer get immunity and the two officers are sitting in jail. Yeah, I feel really safe.

But wait; the Bush Administration, is selling off rights to our Sea Ports, to our enemies. Oh I really feel safe.

We have so many illegal aliens in this country (and not just from "South of the Border"); and the Homeland Security does nothing to curtail this huge influx. Yeah I feel safer now prior to 911; NOT!!!

Answer 9

What happened in New Orleans and surrounding areas after Katrina (and it was weather related, not terrorist related) proves that our government has NOT strengthen our home land. It is weaker and Al-Qaida has now had the chance to get stronger - not weaker. We are not safe.

Answer 10

Trick question, the Dept didn't exist when Bush took over as President.

Answer 11

Stronger, US embassy's were attacked and the USS Cole was attacked, and Clinton did NOTHING. Let's remember that we have not been attacked since 9/11! People say that the US is now a target, so why hasn't anything happened in 6 years?