IndexIntroductionNational Security and Homeland DefenseNational Security Strategy Against Terrorism in the United StatesConclusionIntroductionThe date of September 11, 2001 was the day of tragic events that triggered a series of activities aimed to fight terrorism in the history of the United States. The episode led to the creation of the United States Northern Command in 2002, followed by the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, DHS in 2003. Subsequently, the nation suffered Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with unprecedented damage to local government and state, thus prompting emergency preparedness alongside civilian and military efforts to respond to natural disasters. The two episodes can be considered major response episodes that form the basis of the US federal government's national response enterprise. The strategy applicable to Homeland Security along with Homeland Defense is rooted in national-level goals geared towards promoting and communicating collaboration in government. The role of national security strategy, NSS, involves identifying potential threats such as natural disasters, terrorism, pandemics, and cyber attacks. The ultimate goal is to improve security and effectively manage emergencies within government and the private sector. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Homeland Security and Homeland Defense The concept of homeland security implies an umbrella term in US national security that reflects national efforts to ascertain security, safety, and resilience against risks and terrorism to facilitate the effective development of American interests, lifestyles and aspirations. The government also aspires to prevent acts of terrorist attack, limit Americans' vulnerability to terrorist activities, and minimize potential damage should an attack occur (Sernovitz, 2019). The national security mission in the United States can be attributed to the determination and commitment of the American people to act in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The episode engaged the nation's darkest hours with acts of heroism, unified determination and self-sacrifice displayed in response to evil activities as people united in common defense against terrorism. So the national security mission is to join forces and show commitment to relentless resilience and aim to prevent any future attacks against Americans and their allies, while responding decisively to natural and man-made disasters and promoting prosperity. of the American people along with economic security into the future. Homeland security has many tasks, responsibilities and operations in addition to addressing the incidence of terrorism which is among the myriad threats that endanger the lives of society in America. National security actions employ the “all-hazard” approach in security efforts, thus encompassing both man-made and natural incidents. In this case, then, national security is a domain that encompasses a myriad of scenarios and situations that include natural disasters such as hurricanes, as well as man-made disasters such as terrorism. The concept of national defense involves the protection of sovereignty, territory, populations, and critical infrastructure in the United States against external aggression and threats. The United States Department of Defense is responsible for addressing the homeland defense missionachievable through guidance of HD responses and support of DOD efforts. The military plays a crucial role in safeguarding the interests of the American people both locally and internationally (Ambinder, 2017). The duties, responsibilities and operations of Homeland Defense involve the protection of the territory, sovereignty, critical infrastructure and population of the United States against any form of external attack, aggression and threat through the directions of the President. Homeland Defense falls under the Department of Defense, DOD. The most essential purpose and priority of the DOD is to safeguard the US territory from threats and aggression from external forces. Therefore, the primary mission of Homeland Defense is the deterrence of attacks against United States territories and possessions. Homeland Security and Homeland Defense share a common civil defense mission in both natural and man-made disasters. Both sides need to take responsibility for joint interagency coordination through the JIACG, Joint Interagency Coordination Group. National Security Strategy for Counterterrorism in the United States The 2017 National Security Strategy is an executive statement by the current President of the United States, Donald Trump, indicating the various components important to a safe America. Since its ratification into the country's official documents, the National Security Strategy has been instrumental in developing a secure America by protecting citizens' interests from malicious attacks from both domestic and foreign threats. While the executive order was and still is integral to maintaining America's security interests, there are some upgrades it could use to make America even stronger and safer. There are four overarching themes of the national security strategy revealed in 2017, and they all reiterate the importance of a safe America for all people in the country. The themes are as follows; protect the homeland, the American people and their way of life, promote American prosperity, preserve peace through strength, and strengthen American influence (Homeland Security, 2017). These themes, while they may seem diverse and isolationist, are not as they reinforce the need for a robust system to protect against terrorism on all fronts. When it comes to protecting America from domestic terrorism, the strategy does not do justice to the systems in place. According to the principle of strategic hierarchy, national security strategy should put the American people first at all costs, in myriad ways. One such way is to use all available resources to protect the American people from domestic terrorists and other malicious individuals who are Americans but are aggressors to the prevailing peace in the nation. Secondly, the various security agencies present in the country do not function efficiently through sharing information pertinent to internal security and, therefore, the overall theme of protecting the homeland is not practical. From the information reiterated in the previous paragraph, it is clear that the national security strategy requires a set of procedures to effectively protect America from domestic terrorism. One of the ways to ensure a safe America is to create a multi-agency platform to allow the sharing of information regarding domestic offenders who may be planning to create terror on the home front. Sharing information will make the work of national security and other relevant security organizations useful as they will be able to act on credible intelligence.