The Weakest Pillar: U.S. Northern Command's Role in Solving the Federal Government's Domestic Consequence Management Problem

Abstract

Domestic Consequence Management has been marginalized in recent national strategy guidance. Agencies, forces, and command structures designated to respond and recover from a terrorist attack are not prepared for a large weapon of mass destruction (WMD) scenario. Radiological, explosive, and chemical WMDs represent the most likely terrorist threats to the homeland. An analysis of three case studies, each designed to model the most likely threats, yields deficiencies in command and control, logistics, and training. With a new command and control construct for homeland response and recovery, improved emphasis on the Department of Defense (DoD) roles in catastrophic consequence management, and clarified legal constraints for DoD operations in the homeland, the Commander, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) could provide a comprehensive and workable federal domestic consequence management plan.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 31, 2008
Accession Number
ADA494415

Entities

People

  • Robert Debuse

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Case Studies
  • Command And Control
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Explosives
  • First Responders
  • Governments
  • Health Services
  • Homeland Security
  • Medical Personnel
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Radiological Weapons
  • United States Government
  • United States Northern Command
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control