What is Homeland Defense?
( Homeland Security Analyst John Wohlfarth) While the concept of “defending the homeland” is an idea dating back through the better part of human history, the term “homeland defense” only recently entered the lexicon of public discourse. To the best of our knowledge, the first American use of the term homeland defense was made in a report submitted by the National Defense Panel in 1997. The report, titled Transforming Defense: National Security in the 21st Century, argued that this new focus on guarding the homeland was essential, due to the changing nature of threats against the American people. They warn: ” The proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and their delivery means will pose a serious threat to our homeland and our forces overseas. Information systems, the vital arteries of the modern political, economic, and social infrastructures, will undoubtedly be targets as well.” (Transforming Defense: Executive Summary) This document was followed by a series of ad
