FOIA Foibles at DHS
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is one of those tools designed to open government up to its people. It has been the foundation for: countless news stories and books revealing behind-the-scenes decision making processes and deliberations; the bedrock...
DetailsThe Reality of Trying to Hire Some of the Best for DHS
A few weeks back at Georgetown University, the three people to hold arguably one of the most demanding and difficult jobs in the world sat down to talk about homeland security. During the session with former DHS Secretaries Tom...
DetailsIf Qadhafi Wins, Does Obama Lose?
With each passing day of fighting in Libya it is sadly becoming more and more obvious that the international hopes of seeing long-time dictator Col. Moammar Qadhafi deposed from his more than four-decade butcherous rule are fading. The 2011...
DetailsThoughts on the DHS Anniversary Program at Georgetown University
It really was one of those truly unique occasions when you can gather a select group of individuals together to talk about a subject that they alone can talk about with authority as well as historical perspective. Such was...
DetailsThe Quest Tragedy and a Strategic Response to Piracy
Here’s a piece I published on the Defense Media Network about increasingly violent events in East Africa.With the sad news of the murder of four Americans by Somali pirates off the coast of Africa, the United States and the...
DetailsHope from OMB – Improving Communication between Government and Industry
While much of Washington’s energy is appropriately focusing on the President’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2012, there was a release from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that is worthy of attention from those who want to...
DetailsPistole Channeling his Inner Reagan
With all of the Reagan Centennial activities starting to get underway, it is completely understandable for public officials – regardless of their political ideologies – to embrace “the Great Communicator.” Republicans have been doing this for ages, and this...
DetailsHarman’s Departure from Congress
Today’s unexpected news that Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) is departing the US House of Representatives to take over as the new Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center is a tremendous blow to the Congress and in particular House Democrats....
DetailsPistole’s Union Decision – Checks the Box but with lots of Strings
There’s always been a long standing rule that if you want to bury a news story, release it on a Friday afternoon. If that is the case, then the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is intent on making sure no...
DetailsThe State of the Homeland Security Industry – Resigned Frustration
In what was billed as the first State of Homeland Security address, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano talked about the maturing of the Department that she leads and the “shared responsibility” that is homeland security. As important as her words...
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