Research Outline

I’ve attached the Outline Template that needs to be used and the other research that has already been done.  Please, use both,

Instructions

Submit your Research Paper Outline for your Week 8 paper. This outline will include:

Your revised thesis statement after 3 weeks of research. 

An outline of your research design including introductory points, major topical points, and sub-points for each, and concluding points. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: A brief narrative statement (sentence or two) is expected for each point and sub-point within your paper. The goal is to tell us where you are going intellectually with that topic point and how it relates to your research question and thesis statement (See example of typical outline attached). 

Technical Requirements

• Your paper must be at a minimum of 2 pages (the Title and Reference pages do not count towards the minimum limit).
• Scholarly and credible references should be used. A good rule of thumb is at least 2 scholarly sources per page of content.
• Type in Times New Roman, 12 point and double space.
• Students will follow the current APA Style as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework. 
• Points will be deducted for the use of Wikipedia or encyclopedic type sources. It is highly advised to utilize books, peer-reviewed journals, articles, archived documents, etc.

Homeland Security security

Running head: FIGHTING DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS

1

SURVEILLANCE: A NECESSITY OR NUISANCE 4

FIGHTHING DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS 3

Week 4 Outline

Fighting Drug Trafficking Organizations

Student Name

American Military University

HLSS498

Professor

Date

Research Question

Where other approaches have failed, can policy makers, law enforcement, and homeland security assets effectively apply counter terrorism tactics to solve the ongoing issue with drug trafficking organizations?

Thesis

An analysis of current counter drug trafficking tactics fails in comparison to current counter terrorism tactics and indicates a severe lack of focus on this ongoing homeland security problem.

Outline

Introduction

I. Drug Trafficking- Not an epidemic exclusive to the United States and Mexico, but there are clear indicators that the problem is increasing exponentially and needs to be fixed.

A. Drug trafficking, as well as the crime that goes with it, can and does have devastating effects on the economy, the environment, and the American people.

B. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2017) has proven a solid nexus between illicit substance manufacturing and abuse, organized crime, illicit financial flows, corruption and terrorism (para. 1).

C. Therefore, this paper will show that not only is the manufacturing and trafficking of illicit substances an underestimated threat, but it also leads to and can enable other crimes, including terrorism.

Main Point One- Background

II. History- Drug trafficking has been an ongoing and seemingly out of control problem for decades. Despite knowing the issues related to these organizations, counter trafficking tactics have been unsuccessful. Drug trafficking is a multibillion dollar industry and fighting it costs just as much.

III. Major organizations- There are seven major organizations that move the most amount of illicit substances, the Sinaloa Cartel, Los Zetas, Gulf Cartel, Juarez Cartel, BLO, LFM, and the Tijuana Cartel (Department of Justice, 2011, p. 7).

IV. Most commonly trafficked substances and routes in which they are most often smuggled- With the exception of MDMA, which is trafficked mostly from Asian organizations based in Canada, nearly all illicit substances travel through the America-Mexico border. The most common of these, is methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana (Department of Justice, 2011, p.7).

A. MDMA, as well as methamphetamines and marijuana can be manufactured indoors, and synthetically. Cocaine and heroin, however, come from plants which require a certain climate. Coincidentally, the temperature and soil composition in some Mexican areas is ideal, however, very few United States climates are suitable for manufacturing cocaine and heroin.

Main Point Two- Consequences

V. Negative effects- on the economy, environment, and American and Mexican citizens.

A. Drug Trafficking costs hundreds of billion dollars a year, between lost revenue, health care costs, litigation and the law enforcement response (Brouwer, Case, Ramos, Magis-Rodriquez, Patterson, & Strathdee, 2006).

1. In addition to smuggling drugs, in many cases, other items are smuggled as well, such as money, cars, humans, arms, and medications.

2. The environment is not immune to the negative side effects of drug manufacturing. In addition to physical effects, such as building tunnels and canals, the groundwater can be affected, as well as animal life, plant life, and soil composition can be altered drastically (Boxall, 2004).

3. As the problem continues to grow, the costs of litigation, incarceration, and rehabilitation of offenders grows. Additionally, the added and ongoing risks to law enforcement personnel, local citizens, and crime between cartels, further signifies the effect these organizations have on people.

Main Point Three- Current Initiatives

VI. Current counternarcotic and counter trafficking initiatives

A. While there have been successful law enforcement raids, overall, drug trafficking is a multibillion dollar industry that continues to grow. With no legitimate and effective tactic, drug trafficking could potentially be the biggest problem the United States faces in decades to come.

B. There are multiple agencies tasked with fighting the war on drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as well as state, local, and other federal police officers handle the law enforcement side of counter trafficking. The El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), a fusion center ran by the DEA, acts as an information hub to all counternarcotic components. Lastly, there are federally funded programs as well as international task forces, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

VII. Current counterterrorism initiatives

A. Counterterrorism initiatives are certainly an important matter. So much so, that the United States government spends billions of dollars every year on these efforts. There are multiple agencies, task forces, and military units designated strictly for counterterrorism, and considering the lack of terrorism within the United States, one would estimate that these initiatives are successful.

B. According to Sahadi (2015), it is estimated that the United States spends at least one hundred billion dollars a year in counterterrorism efforts. However, the price may be significantly more, considering that much of the intelligence portion of counterterrorism is classified, making estimations difficult (Sahadi, 2015).

C. The Department of State, for example, operates an entire bureau tasked with counterterrorism efforts. Under Bureau of Counterterrorism, there are twelve programs and initiatives, solely focused on terrorism, including the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership, the Global Counterterrorism Forum, and the Antiterrorism Assistance Program (Department of State, n.d.).

Main Point Four- The Real Debate

VIII. Comparing and contrasting drug trafficking and terrorism

A. No researcher can put a price on homeland security, but, it has been evident that while the United States’ focus has been on terrorism, these extremely dangerous and somewhat violent criminals have been crossing borders and smuggling drugs nonstop.

B. Illuminating the nexus between drug trafficking and terrorism, indicates that efforts may be focused in the wrong place.

Main Point Five- Answering the Question

IX. Applying counter terrorism tactics to fighting the war against drugs.

A. Shifting focus and resources from terrorism to trafficking will be no easy feat. However, considering the devastating effects drugs are having on American society, it is clear that this problem is ongoing and needs to be fixed at all costs.

B. If the effort towards trafficking was as forceful as the effort towards terrorism, there is a chance that both threats could be handled at the same time. Securing airspace from terrorists has been widely successful; however, an entire underground network exists for traffickers.

Conclusion

While this is just a brief overview of drug trafficking organizations, further research will show that this is an ongoing epidemic. In short, the effects are endless, on the economy and the environment. Therefore, further research into counter drug trafficking tactics is crucial. Secondly, an evaluation of current counterterrorism methods is necessary. Given the vast consequences of both activities, determining which deserves the most resources is no easy task. However, with continued research, it will prove that counterterrorism tactics can be effectively applied to counter trafficking operations to reduce and deter this ongoing problem.

Resources

Boxall. (2004). The environmental side effects of medication. EMBO Reports, 5(12), 1110-1116. doi:10.1038/sj.embor.7400307

Brouwer, K. C., Case, P., Ramos, R., Magis-Rodríguez, C., Bucardo, J., Patterson, T. L., & Strathdee, S. A. (2006). Trends in production, trafficking and consumption of methamphetamine and cocaine in Mexico. Substance Use & Misuse, 41(5), 707–727. http://doi.org/10.1080/10826080500411478

Cook. (2008). Mexico’s drug cartels. Washington, D.C., Congressional Research Service.

Department of Homeland Security. (2010). Counternarcotics doctrine. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/dhs-counternarcotics-doctrine-2010-06-15

Department of Justice. (2010). Impact of drugs on society. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs38/38661/drugImpact.htm

Department of State. (2013). International narcotics control strategy report (1). Retrieved from Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs website: https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/group/security-and-global-studies-common/Intelligence%20Studies/INTL446/Content/Week%206/INCSR2013

Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Controlled Substances Act. Retrieved from https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/csa.shtml

González, F. (2015). Drug trafficking organizations and local economic activity in Mexico. PLoS ONE, 10(9), e0137319. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137319

Government Accountability Office. (2009). Drug control: Better coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and an updated accountability framework can further enhance the DEA’s efforts to meet post 9/11 responsibilities (09-63). Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-63

Longhini. (2014). Ex-smugglers reveal tricks of the Chicago drug trade, including methods of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-smugglers-reveal-tricks-of-the-chicago-drug-trade/

Moore, L. D., & Elkavich, A. (2008). Who’s using and who’s doing time: Incarceration, the war on drugs, and public health. American Journal of Public Health, 98(5), 782–786. http://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.126284

National Drug Intelligence Center. (2011). National drug threat assessment. Department of Justice. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs44/44849/44849p

Office of National Drug Control Policy. (2016). National drug control strategy. Retrieved from https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/policy-and-research/2016_ndcs_final_report

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (n.d.). Drug mules: Swallowed by the illicit drug trade. Retrieved from http://www.unodc.org/southasia/frontpage/2012/october/drug-mules_-swallowed-by-the-illicit-drug-trade.html

Werb, Rowell, Guyatt, Kerr, Montaner, & Wood. (2011). Effect of drug law enforcement on drug market violence: A systematic review. International Journal of Drug Policy, doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2011.02.002

Research Question & Thesis Statement Assignment

Research Question & Thesis Statement Assignment

Private Sector Homeland Security

American Military University

HLSS498

15 Nov 20

Research Question: How can the United States leverage U.S. based and owned Private Sectors to enhance and improve Homeland Security?

The protection of critical infrastructure is a collective responsibility and partnership between the private and public sectors is vital. The private sector operates 85% of the national critical infrastructure and there is need to integrate them in enhancing protection and management of domestic incidents through a unified approach, (Cellucci, 2018). The law enforcement and private sector partnerships play a pivotal role in enhancing the effectiveness of Homeland Security and security of critical national infrastructure as well as terrorism. The United States can leverage private sectors to enhance “Department of Homeland Security” (DHS) through collaboration strategies. The public and private sectors can coordinate to share resources and information to attain mutual goals. The partnerships would lead to improve creative and innovative problem solving tactics. The law enforcement can synchronize efforts to defend the critical infrastructure of the nation and gain unrestricted training services from the U.S based and owned private sectors, (Morabito & Greenberg, 2015). 

The integration of private sectors in Homeland Security can help improve the evacuation, transportation, and food services in the event of emergencies can improve on the response time and efficacy to the needs of the public. Also, after disasters there will be reduced recovery time which is beneficial to the DHS, (Morabito & Greenberg, 2015).  It provides an opportunity to bring together the intelligence community to explore ideas and alternative perspectives in real-time, (McAleenan, 2019). New knowledge and recommendations will be obtained on how to further the national security goals and improve the priorities of the intelligence community, (Department of Homeland Security. (n.d). Data, intelligence and information sharing will be improved in the DHS.

Information sharing means that resources have to be deployed, critical incident response plans have to be put in place, infrastructure protection, liability minimization, and enhanced communication, (Busch & Givens, 2012). The private sector has improved communication technology that can be used by DHS to have access to communities. The surveillance and monitoring efforts will be improved to counter terrorism and acts of targeted violence that are difficult to predict using the DHS’s systems. The partnerships will enhance preparedness and readiness of potential attacks. The technologies will help predict vulnerabilities and gaps as well as understanding the risks that communities are likely to encounter, (McAleenan, 2019). The DHS partnership with the private sector stakeholders leads to better federal efforts in the mitigation of national infrastructure and critical assets.

Crime prevention in the HS will be improved because private sectors can share information about the unusual behaviors and suspicions acquired through the technologies with law enforcement. Private sectors have technical knowledge that the DHS may lack thereby providing resource sharing opportunities to mitigate criminal activities at local, state and federal levels, (Morabito & Greenberg, 2015). The private sectors can use their advanced technologies to predict and identify the changing nature of terrorism and targeted violence on the lands of the U.S. Private sectors can coordinate and collaborate with policy makers and legislators to facilitate laws that can assist the homeland security, (Hemme, 2015).Moreover, the private sector can provide research and guidelines that are related to emerging issues in the homeland security department. DHS will help private sectors to build and sustain capabilities that are required for protection, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery of significant and potential threats, (McAleenan, 2019). The Homeland Security will improve extensively since the private sectors have the best resources to handle outside threats. The DHS needs to adapt the intelligence capabilities and apply them to new security landscapes and be in a position to craft responses that are innovative.

Thesis statement: The Department of Homeland Security must continue to have a robust program in engaging private sector companies and build partnerships that will protect our National Security and interests. DHS stands ready to defend the U.S citizens and the way of life against external threats through a collaborative approach with private entities and U.S public agencies. The partnership program provides the DHS with access to expertise and strengths of the private sector in the mitigation of cybersecurity threats and physical security risks, (Brody, 2020). Homeland security is a collective responsibility, the government cannot address and meet their needs solely; there is a necessity to create a strong partnership that involves potential stakeholders such as the energy sector and communications, (Cellucci, 2018).

Purpose Statement: The purpose of this paper is to provide information on how the United States Department of Homeland Security and other U.S. government entities can enhance and improve the country’s Homeland Security by partnering with Private Sector companies. In this paper, I will also cover how to address emerging technologies and how to combat vulnerabilities. The paper will address the benefits of partnering with private sectors in the U.S to Homeland Security and national security. Information sharing is a common aspect covered in DHS and private sector partnership and the exchange of information offers substantial details to solution designers based on the description of the issue, (Harrell, 2017). Due to the increased access to private sector technologies, the paper will look at the opportunities that partnership facets provide. How the deployment of multi-technologies in the Homeland Security improves functionality and crime prevention will be addressed in this study, (Cellucci, 2018). The study will cover the reduction of redundant programs that were put in place to address the issue of security.

References

Busch, N. E., & Givens, A. D. (2012). Public-Private Partnerships in Homeland Security: Opportunities and Challenges. Homeland Security Affairs, 8(1).

https://www.hsaj.org/articles/233

Brody, M. H. (2020). Enhancing the Organization of the United States Department of Homeland Security to Account for National Risk. Homeland Security Affairs, 16.

https://www.hsaj.org/resources/uploads/2020/04/hsaj_V16_Enhancing-Organization_v2

Cellucci, T. (2018). Perspective: Innovative Public-Private Partnerships Help Secure Critical Infrastructure, published by the National Security today, 27 Nov 2018.

PERSPECTIVE: Innovative Public-Private Partnerships Help Secure Critical Infrastructure

Department of Homeland Security. (n.d). Private Sector Engagement. DHS.

https://www.dhs.gov/private-sector-engagement

Harrell, B. (2017). The private sector is the key to success for the Department of Homeland Security. csooneline. com.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3161793/the-private-sector-is-the-key-to-success-for-the-department-of-homeland-security.html

Hemme, K. (2015). Critical infrastructure protection: Maintenance is national security. Journal of Strategic Security, 8(3), 25-39.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/26465242?seq=15#metadata_info_tab_contents

McAleenan, K. (2019). STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR COUNTERING TERRORISM AND TARGETED VIOLENCE. Department of Homeland Security.

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0920_plcy_strategic-framework-countering-terrorism-targeted-violence

Morabito, A., & Greenberg, S. (2015). Engaging the private sector to promote homeland security: law enforcement-private security partnerships. Washington: US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance.

https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bja/210678