United States Homeland Security and National Biometric Identification

The threat of terrorism is real. The acts of Sept 11th demonstrated that our enemy is resourceful and able to operate with ease within our homeland and among our population. The consequences of continuing to provide terrorists with the ability to operate within the United States with impunity is to welcome additional and likely more devastating attacks. The United States is currently operating in a reactive mode and must become proactive if we are to prevent further unnecessary loss of innocent lives. Our willingness to prepare for further terrorist operations by implementing appropriate biometric identification/verification systems within the United States will determine the impact and success of future terrorist acts. Our challenge is to establish a national identification system that not only provides protection against our enemies but protects the values and respect for privacy that makes up the fabric that comprises American. In order to accomplish this we must be able to determine if our current methods of verifying identity are capable of handling the threat of terrorism. If not what steps should the Executive Branch and the Department of Defense (DoD) take to address the shortfalls? This study will attempt to answer these questions through the use of ends, ways and means analysis template to address the development of a national identification system and by identifying the role that the Department of Defense and its Biometric Management Office should play in the emerging Homeland Defense organization. The current focus of the military, in regards to biometrics, is on itself not on American society. We can accomplish both our mission of implementing biometrics within DoD and enjoying the safe secure environment we create. Today we are ignoring DoD's role in implementing a national identification system based on biometrics.