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Commentary: 'What Have We Learned?'

In the final edition of "Just a Minute for Homeland Security" (a weekly public radio commentary produced by the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University and KAMU 90.9 FM), Dr. Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M, says:

"On August 18th, 2005, we broadcast the first Just a Minute for Homeland Security. It was an educational commentary on the terrorist bombing of the London subway.  Two hundred and seven shows later, this is our last program. Since each show is actually three minutes long, what did we learn from more than 10 hours of radio?"

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"On August 18th, 2005, we broadcast the first Just a Minute for Homeland Security. It was an educational commentary on the terrorist bombing of the London subway.  Two hundred and seven shows later, this is our last program. Since each show is actually three minutes long, what did we learn from more than 10 hours of radio?"

• Listen to the show.

• Read the transcript.

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Commentary: 'The Low Down on TOP OFF'

In the latest edition of "Just a Minute for Homeland Security" (a weekly public radio commentary produced by the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University and KAMU 90.9 FM), Dr. Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M, says:

"Since the year 2000, the United States has held a series of major terrorism exercises called TOP OFF.  The idea is to pick one or more cities for refresher training, and then exercise response and recovery from the federal government level, down through the state and local levels, all the way to private industry.  And most importantly, the exercises incorporate top officials at each of these levels.  Hence the name. But despite spending millions of dollars on TOP OFF over eight years, it turns out we have learned a lot less than we thought."

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"Since the year 2000, the United States has held a series of major terrorism exercises called TOP OFF.  The idea is to pick one or more cities for refresher training, and then exercise response and recovery from the federal government level, down through the state and local levels, all the way to private industry.  And most importantly, the exercises incorporate top officials at each of these levels.  Hence the name. But despite spending millions of dollars on TOP OFF over eight years, it turns out we have learned a lot less than we thought."

• Listen to the show.

• Read the transcript.

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Commentary: 'The Law and H1N1'

In the latest edition of "Just a Minute for Homeland Security" (a weekly public radio commentary produced by the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University and KAMU 90.9 FM), Dr. Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M, says:

"Because the recent Swine Flu outbreak was a real pandemic, but with relatively mild effects, it gave us a chance to test our preparations for a more deadly strain. In our last two commentaries, we have learned that our plans are generally adequate, our resources are not, and the Department of Defense will be unable to take up the slack. This week we will review major legal issues."

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"Because the recent Swine Flu outbreak was a real pandemic, but with relatively mild effects, it gave us a chance to test our preparations for a more deadly strain. In our last two commentaries, we have learned that our plans are generally adequate, our resources are not, and the Department of Defense will be unable to take up the slack. This week we will review major legal issues."

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Commentary: 'Early Lessons from H1N1'

In the latest edition of "Just a Minute for Homeland Security" (a weekly public radio commentary produced by the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University and KAMU 90.9 FM), Dr. Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M, says:

"The flu season has petered out here, but it is just getting started in Australia, where thousands of new cases suggest the H1N1 Swine Flu will return to our hemisphere next winter."

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"The flu season has petered out here, but it is just getting started in Australia, where thousands of new cases suggest the H1N1 Swine Flu will return to our hemisphere next winter."

• Listen to the show.

• Read the transcript.

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Commentary: 'What You Need to Know about Hurricanes II'

In the latest edition of "Just a Minute for Homeland Security" (a weekly public radio commentary produced by the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University and KAMU 90.9 FM), Dr. Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M, says:

"Last week, we talked about the most important single thing you need to understand about hurricanes – that they are absolutely unpredictable. This week we will focus on what you need to do about that fact."

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"Last week, we talked about the most important single thing you need to understand about hurricanes – that they are absolutely unpredictable. This week we will focus on what you need to do about that fact."

• Listen to the show.

• Read the transcript.

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Commentary: 'What You Need to Know about Hurricanes, Part 1'

In the latest edition of "Just a Minute for Homeland Security" (a weekly public radio commentary produced by the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University and KAMU 90.9 FM), Dr. Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M, says:

"Hurricane season has returned with a gust of media stories highlighting what you need to know about storms."

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Commentary: 'Myths about Terror Weapons – A Provocative Article'

In the latest edition of "Just a Minute for Homeland Security" (a weekly public radio commentary produced by the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University and KAMU 90.9 FM), Dr. Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M, says:

"It is very hard to build good policies for homeland security if your starting assumptions are flawed.  An excellent new article lays out seven false assumptions that bedevil our thinking about terrorism and weapons of mass destruction."

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Commentary: 'NCTC Terrorism Report for 2008'

In the latest edition of "Just a Minute for Homeland Security" (a weekly public radio commentary produced by the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University and KAMU 90.9 FM), Dr. Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M, says:

"Sometimes numbers are clear and unambiguous. Sometimes they are slippery and indeterminate. When counting terrorism attacks, they can be both."

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Commentary: 'The Criminal in Your House - Internet Crime 2008'

In the latest edition of "Just a Minute for Homeland Security" (a weekly public radio commentary produced by the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University and KAMU 90.9 FM), Dr. Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M, says:

"The Internet Crime Complaint Center, a function of the US Department of Justice, has released its eighth annual compilation of criminal complaints, totaling more than 275,000 for the year 2008, up 33% over a year before. Most involved fraud connected to email or web pages, and nearly half reported losses over $1000."

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Commentary: 'Disaster Declarations'

In the latest edition of "Just a Minute for Homeland Security" (a weekly public radio commentary produced by the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University and KAMU 90.9 FM), Dr. Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M, says:

"The Federal response to emergencies and disasters is guided by the Stafford Act. Passed in 1988, it grants the President alone the authority to issue an 'Emergency Declaration' BEFORE an event, releasing aid to protect property, public health and safety, and reduce the threat that an incident will become a disaster. AFTER an event, the President alone can release a 'Disaster Declaration,' providing broader assistance to states, local governments, families and individuals. In both cases, FEMA oversees most of this aid."

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