The handling of mass-casualty incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear,
and/or explosive materials requires special training and purpose-built systems and equipment, but the
greatest need on-site is continuing awareness by emergency responders of the horrendous threat they, and
the innocent victims they are helping, are facing.
The dangers posed by IEDs, chemical and biological weapons & devices, and other WMDs has grown
exponentially in recent years – to the point that many analysts now use the term “when, not if” in
answering questions about the possibility of additional terrorist attacks against the United States. The
time to prepare is now, and the best way to prepare is by using the lessons learned from previous
mistakes, miscalculations, and misunderstandings.
How serious is the chemical threat now facing the United States and its allies throughout the
world? Also, are U.S. responder agencies properly prepared to cope with that threat? If not, why not?
What additional policies and actions are needed? Those are just a few of numerous questions posed in
this DomPrep40 survey. Readers are hereby requested, and challenged, to compare their opinions with
those of the DP40 panel of experts.
The DP40 and DomPrep readers where asked how they view the apparent transition from thinking in
terms of critical infrastructure protection to thinking in terms of critical infrastructure resilience.
As always, the principal topic discussed at the 2010 Herzliya conference was Israeli’s national
security. But the most important building block – stumbling block might be a more accurate term – in
maintaining that security at a high level was mentioned only in whispers, because no one dared to speak
its name: Iran’s continuing drive to develop a nuclear-weapons capability.
DPJ readers are asked to compare their views with those of the DomPrep40 professionals on a broad
spectrum of nationally important topics – beginning in this issue with Critical Infrastructure
Resilience.
The threat is imminent, and can become a reality at almost any time. But no one knows about it
except those who plan to carry out the threat. Chicago’s new District Intelligence Bulletin System
(DIBS) is helping to even the odds by the extremely rapid dissemination, to law-enforcement agencies
throughout the entire city, of almost real-time crime-scene information and other dangerous and
potentially lethal threats, whether manmade or acts of nature.
When the moisture level in Iowa climbed several inches, and then several feet, last year, the
residents of the Hawkeye state knew they were in for a very wet summer. The still-ongoing recovery
process from the 2008 drenching required several new approaches, a courageous decision by the governor,
and some very welcome outside help.
Allegations, accusations, denials, congressional hearings, alleged cover-ups, and a raft of
unanswered questions. That is the residue (so far) of one of the most publicized and, for practical
purposes, least substantive “news stories of the year.” There are, though, a few “actual facts,” so to
speak, that might also be mentioned. Just as a start.
Despite U.S. moves to improve nation-to-nation relations with Iran, Tehran continues to support
groups and organizations obviously unfriendly to the United States – the Alavi Foundation, for example.
It is clear, moreover, that the anti-U.S. virus is spreading, with Somalia and other countries joining
the international junta facing the free democracies of the world.
The handling of mass-casualty incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear,
and/or explosive materials requires special training and purpose-built systems and equipment, but the
greatest need on-site is continuing awareness by emergency responders of the horrendous threat they, and
the innocent victims they are helping, are facing. 