My son recently expressed his fears about the prospect of war in Iraq: “Will you have to go to war, Daddy?”followed by, “Will I have to go to war when I’m older?” That a seven-year-old would relate fears like this is remarkable and telling. After all, how often do kids watch the news? But, the messages are everywhere, whether they’re threat alerts or imagery on the radio, television, Web or in print. The result is that names like Hussein or Bin Laden have better name-recognition than most American politicians, but they’re associated with evil, and that’s scary for anyone – kids to be sure.
This exchange between my son and me raised an issue: it’s not enough to tell him that everything will be all right. His questions beg another: what are we doing to ensure that everything will be all right? He deserves an answer from his dad, just as you may expect one from your attorney general, and the answer shouldn’t be limited to federal efforts to address security at home. It shouldn’t even be limited to what the feds and our state are doing jointly. It wouldn’t be like us as Nevadans to depend solely upon that. We’re just a little too skeptical and independent, and we’re more self-reliant and self-contained than the rest of the country because of it.
The federal Department of Homeland Security is a complex re-organization of federal assets from treasury, transportation, justice, emergency management and others. The intent is to link intelligence and preparedness resources so our response to threat or catastrophe is improved. But change is nothing if it doesn’t threaten something: at what point do security measures threaten open government and the rights of individuals or the state? This is an important question, and the answer is neither simple nor certain, but it is partially addressed by the mission of this office:
The attorney general’s office is a law enforcement body and a legal firm. We’re charged with protecting citizens and protecting citizens’ rights; we have an interest in security and open government; and we are, by design and composition, keenly aware of the balance between them.
As if the concern for balance weren’t enough, what about preparedness – to what extent do we rely upon others? Despite all the advance work at the federal level, if we’re faced with an extensive domestic disaster – especially coupled with overseas turmoil –federal resources will be swiftly exhausted. In many respects, we could very well be on our own.
So, Nevada is preparing on its own, even as we work closely with federal agencies and groups like the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. We’re actively practicing telephone-tree drills, disaster exercises and resource allocation scenarios. The attorney general’s office is an integral part of the logistical, communications and law enforcement support system. More of these invaluable statewide inter-agency drills are planned for the coming weeks, and a nationwide exercise will follow.
In fact, Nevada will be the only state in the nation during the national preparedness drill to execute a live incident – a staged attack of plague in Indian Springs – that will feature the actual movement of resources and the active participation of all necessary agencies: local, state and federal; first responders, law enforcement and guard troops; from hospital staff up to the governor’s office. The purpose of these rehearsals is as much for training as it is for working out issues of potential conflict between federal and state or local agencies.
Simply put, we’re looking out for Nevadans first, because that’s our job. But that’s not enough. We all have responsibilities as individual citizens to participate in preparedness measures and to take part in the dialogue that ensures balance between security requirements and our freedoms. We must educate ourselves in the language and implementation of domestic security and take action at home, in the workplace and in community forums to raise awareness and preparedness.
I can’t emphasize enough that your participation – both in terms of dialogue and preparedness – is important and valued. By taking care of our little corner of the world, and by making ourselves heard when issues arise that have implications elsewhere in our lives as citizens, we ensure that domestic security is possible, yet doesn’t diminish the freedom that we all cherish, that most of us would certainly fight for, and that some of the best among us have died for.
For detailed information about Nevada’s domestic security efforts, resources for law enforcement, awareness for community institutions, helping children cope with threats and disasters, guides for business and industry, and links to other helpful and related sites, see: https://homelandsecurity.nv.gov.