Private Security Companies in Domestic Policy

Last week, I spoke about the value of the private sector in international operations, but this week I want to focus on how the private sector can add value to domestic operations; particularly in homeland security and disaster response.

Before 9/11, our borders, while periodically discussed, were not the topic of debate they are today. More importantly, all of the politics surrounding immigration and port security policies and solutions has left the American people with a big, fat lotta NOTHING. Witness Stephen Flynn's books, America the Vulnerable and The Edge of Disaster detail any number of catastrophic homeland security scenarios that could cripple the Nation.

From technology to training to operations, federal agencies have the ability to reach into the private sector for "commercial off-the-shelf" (COTS) solutions that can immediately enhance their abilities to fulfill their missions. For instance:

- Congress mandated years ago that there should be 2,000 new CBP Agents each year for five years for a total of 10,000 new agents. Blackwater and others have testified before Congress that they can either provide the surge manpower themselves or provide additional training capacity to assist in easing any capacity constraints the government, particularly FLETC might have. What happened? Nothing. Well, OK, politics happened and then some rice-bowl issues, and then... Well, nothing.

- The media is fond of quoting the statistic that says, "only 6% of the containers coming into the country are searched." I am not sure that's true anymore, but how about this idea? DHS can create a contract that would form a 500-person "boarding and inspection team" under the direct command and control of either the Customs & Border Patrol, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, or the U. S. Coast Guard. These teams could be broken down into 10-20 person teams and used on both coasts to inspect "vessels of interest" once they've crossed into U. S. waters.

- Probably the most visible and perhaps controversial use of the private sector in domestic operations was during relief efforts for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Private sector companies deployed to the area swiftly and efficiently in support of both commercial and government requests. While urban legend about their activities contained in polemical books and documentaries still periodically circulate, the fact remains that they provided security, airlift, and rescue support that saved countless lives and made follow-on operations more manageable. Contracts have already been let and awarded to DynCorp's joint venture, "Contingency Response Services".

In a world where our National Guard is deployed with all of its equipment for extended periods, leaving Governors with a resource deficit to respond to crises, the private sector must be looked to to supply needed response capacity. What is needed is a better understanding by all parties involved of that capacity, how it can fit, and why it's a partnership and not a used car deal.