Prior to beginning work on this discussion, please complete the assigned readings and access and review the required websites. During this discussion, you will examine the contributory roles of strategic, operational, and tactical intelligence in the prevention, mitigation, and recovery from domestic hostilities, threats, hazards and consequences. Thoughtfully consider the material in Chapters 5 and 6 of the Martin (2015) text and in Chapter 2 in the Steiner (2015) text. As Martin (2015) indicates, there are almost 90,000 state and local agencies that coordinate and contribute toward the advancement of homeland security objectives. As Martin (2015) also indicates, alignment and coordination efforts are highly involved propositions. Federal agencies provide funds and policy directives to support state and local efforts, and it is critical to note that in the event of contingencies, it is often the case that state and local agencies serve as the initial respondents (Martin 2015). The discussion questions for this week direct you to examine coordination and alignment between and among federal, state, and local efforts.

For your initial post, examine the composition of federal agencies prior and subsequent to the events of September 11, 2001. First, explain how federal agency structure changed after September 11, 2001. Incorporate specific examples. What stands out as the most critical change in federal agency structure? How have changes impacted interagency collaboration at the federal level? Second, and as a related item, identify and discuss how strategic, operational and tactical intelligence facilitate the prevention, mitigation and recovery from domestic hostilities, threats, hazards and consequences. Of the three forms of intelligence, which is most critical in terms of homeland security objectives? Why? Finally, argue for or against the merger of the Intelligence Community (IC), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Justify your view on whether the IC, DHS, and FBI should continue to coordinate their activities through interagency practices (that is, should they remain as distinct agencies). Or whether they should be merged into single agency.

The content of the initial post must contain a minimum of two properly cited references (in APA format as outlined in the Ashford University Writing Center) to the assigned weekly reading materials. No quotations are permitted. Your posts should incorporate analytical and evidence-based statements and reflect a synthesis of the assigned readings. Your initial post should be a minimum of 400 words