General Victor E. Renuart, Jr., gave a speech at the Brookings Institute about how the United States has restructured its homeland security and defense system for the 21st century. General Renuart is the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, and the United States Northern Command, or NORTHCOM.

Both NORAD and NORTHCOM work to establish a unity of command for homeland defense. NORAD is a joint organization with Canada that monitors the airspace in North America. NORTHCOM monitors the domains of sea, land, air, space, and cyberspace in North America and works with 50 states and 60 federal agencies to enforce homeland security.

NORTHCOM was created after 9/11, and works not only to protect and defend North America from foreign attacks, but also to respond to domestic crises such as fires and hurricanes. NORTHCOM also works with Mexico in helping to combat narco-terrorism. We don’t just command and control, said General Renuart, “we also collaborate and communicate…with multiple services and with the National Guard Bureau.”

General Victor Renuart, commander of the North American Aeurospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the Northern Command (NORTHCOM), speaks about the restructuring of America’s homeland defense. (0:49)

 

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Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) says there is a difference between learning a culture and learning a language.

 

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Brigadier General R.M. Lake of the Marine Core says that we would need to completely change our way of life to stop Osama Bin Laden from hating us.

 

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Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, testifying at the House Armed Services Committee, answers a question from ranking member Duncan Hunter about what grade he would give the Justice Department, Agriculture Department and the Trade Commission. (1:09)

 

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Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testifying before the House Armed Services Committee says that supporting U.S. allies can help these countires to confront threats and prevent U.S. military involvement. (0:44)

 

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During the Building Trade Legislative Conference, Senator Obama marked that he is ready for an offense and is tired of playing defense. (0:43)

 

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Testifying at a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on the Middle East and Southeast Asia, retired Lt. General David W. Barno explains the nature of “the new Taliban.” (0:26)

 

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The House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies interrogated FBI Director Robert Mueller on a number of issues pertaining to the progress of his department. Issues covered during the hearing were the FBI’s fiscal year 2009 budget request, the progress the FBI has made in counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and cyber security, and the methods the department uses to carry out their wide-spanning activities. (more…)

Mr. Cirincione claims that if left to the Joint Chiefs and not the President, the budget for Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems would be a fraction of its current size and would be directed more at regional capabilities. (1:10)

 

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