Homeland Security Experts Expect Disaster or Attack Within Next Four Years
A new survey by Book Hill Partners and the Homeland Defense Journal has found that 83 percent of homeland security experts believe there will be a disaster or a terrorist attack within the next four years.

In an article on the American Chronicle website, Jim Kouri says the findings come on the heels of a poll by the National Association of Chiefs of Police which found that almost 87 percent of the nation’s police commanders and security directors expect a catastrophic terrorist incident within the continental United States.

Kouri says the first survey is an attempt to help set the priorities for homeland security as the next president and the next Congress take office early next year.

“This will be the first time that any administration other than the Bush administration has taken charge of the Department of Homeland Security and its important responsibilities. As a result, this transition presents unique challenges,” Don Dickson, publisher of the Journal, told Kouri.

“While the economy and Iraq are dominating the headlines and the campaign at this moment, we cannot lose sight of the critical importance of homeland security. Historically, al Qaeda and other terrorist groups have exhibited a tendency to strike around election and transition years. It is vital that the next administration — be it President Obama or President McCain — be ready to defend our nation from the moment the oath of office is taken,” Rob Housman, a partner with Book Hill Partners, added.

The survey also found that 58 percent of respondents said the most probable scenario for a major disaster was a natural disaster. “More surprisingly almost 22 percent of experts said that the most probable scenario for a major disaster was a terrorist attack with a weapon of mass destruction (chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear specifically),” Kouri adds.

As for the future of the Department of Homeland Security, 54 percent said it should be maintained but reorganized; roughly 30 percent said the agency should be unchanged; and almost 15 percent said the agency should be split up.