HSPI | Policy Work | By Publication Type: HSPI Issue Brief Series

HSPI Issue Brief Series

East African Piracy

by Joseph R. Clark
July 8, 2009

"East African Piracy, thrust into American political discourse by the dramatic rescue of merchant Captain Richard Phillips, represents a small but growing challenge to the United States and larger international community. The recent introduction of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives suggests that despite the absence of continued media attention, the issue has not disappeared. Nonetheless, it remains unclear how political, commercial, and military actors within the United States ought to react." More

Hey Good Samaritans--Get A Lawyer!

by Seth M.M. Stodder
January 30, 2009

"When disaster strikes, human nature impels us to lend a hand to those in need, and often to great heroism. Whether it is a small-scale accident like a car wreck, or a large-scale catastrophe like Hurricane Katrina or the Northridge Earthquake, our natural instinct is to offer assistance. Recently, however, the California Supreme Court had a message for such selfless volunteers—get a lawyer!" More

Dependence on Non-Profits During Major Disaster Relief: A Risky Dilemma

by R. Alan McCurry
January 30, 2009

"Non-profits such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army and many others have been a key resource for survivors of disasters in the United States and around the world for many years. The American people depend on them and expect them to be there when a disaster strikes their families, their community, or their nation. But what happens when the disaster is too large and beyond the capability of local communities and non-profits to manage?" More

Serving America's Disaster Victims: FEMA, Where Does It Fit?

by Frank J. Cilluffo, Daniel J. Kaniewski, Jan P. Lane, Gregg C. Lord, and Laura P. Keith
January 13, 2009

"As the debate regarding the bureaucratic placement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the executive branch intensifies, we implore pundits and policymakers alike to pause and consider more broadly the implications of any reshuffling. Serving America’s disaster victims must be the primary focus of any discussion regarding FEMA. It is our view that in considering the options, form should follow function, not vice versa." More

Poverty and Terrorism

by Andrew J. Whitehead
August 21, 2007

"Does poverty cause terrorism? The short answer is: no. Rather than being a phenomenon of the world’s poor, terrorism can just as easily arise among the wealthiest citizens of some of the world’s wealthiest societies. The long answer, however, is a little more complicated: poverty might not turn anyone into a terrorist, but it often makes the terrorists’ goals easier to achieve." More

Consolidating the House's Homeland Security Efforts: The Time to Act is Now

by Frank J. Cilluffo and Daniel J. Kaniewski
December 29, 2004

"With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security came a consolidated approach to homeland security. No longer do 22 separate agencies myopically view homeland security. Instead, they work together as a unified whole, addressing the pressing homeland security needs in the best interests of the nation, rather than in the interests of a particular agency. While many take comfort in the Department and its organizational holism, the reality is that the executive branch is only half the problem. When the President consolidated homeland security efforts under a new department, Congress failed to act in a similar fashion." More