Defending Our Nation: Homeland Security (PDF)

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001—the worst ever on U.S. soil—highlighted a dangerous vulnerability in America's protection strategies. The big question everyone was asking was how could a country with the world's most formidable armed forces have found itself so defenseless against determined—but relatively poorly equipped—enemies? Formed in direct response to the 2001 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security was intended to make sure such an attack would not occur again. With a unified strategy of military and civil defense, Homeland Security has already done much to fulfill its mission: keeping the nation safe from the many threats we face. Homeland Security's more than 240,000 employees focus on everything from aviation and border security to emergency response, and cybersecurity.Homeland Security discusses the establishment of the department after September 11, 2001 and the changes that have been made since then to equip first responders for the challenges ahead.PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Each title in this series contains a foreword from a noted security and antiterrorism expert who has served in the FBI, Marines, and police force, color photos throughout, and back matter that includes an index, chronology, and further resource lists of books and Internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series, encouraging library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content-rich nonfiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers can reference back to the definitions—building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Educational Videos provide links via QR codes to online video content that gives a multimedia dimension to the topics. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.