Editor In Chief

Containing the Threat: Eleven Million Challenges CBP falls short in its efforts to start implementing the "100-percent screening" mandate issued by Congress. The issues involved are numerous, costly, and extremely complicated. Nonetheless, failure is not an option. read

Three to Get Ready The could-have/should-have (but did not) scenarios of the past serve as abundant reminders that the cost of national preparedness is only a fraction of the much higher cost that must always be paid for not being prepared. read

Election-Year Realities, and the Promise of Change The 2008 presidential election year could be the most important in U.S. history. All of the major candidates are promising "change" - but are usually short on specifics. An important point to remember is that not all change is for the better. read

The Mid-Atlantic All-Hazards Forum - Hugely Successful Those who attended the regional conference in Baltimore earlier this month found it eminently worthwhile and developed a long list of solutions to current problems - and an even longer list of new dangers and difficulties lurking just over the horizon. read

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From the Publisher

Anthrax Field Testing: Pros & Cons Two closely related but diametrically opposed "point/counterpoint" articles: focusing on anthrax detection technology. read

Midterm Elections - Change Is Certain Preparedness to protect and respond against natural and man-made disasters still remains paramount. How will first responders, public health and borders/ports fare under new Congressional leadership? Will there be outreach or gridlock? read

All-Hazards Domestic Preparedness Professionals Last week's Mid-Atlantic All Hazards Forum in Baltimore was a major and productive event. It also was the likely harbinger of numerous similar conferences, involving all preparedness communities, in many other areas of the country. read

Publishers Message; First Half of 2006 Exceeds Expectations Shifting to a weekly format, providing timely, concise solutions from professionals to professionals has been a hit with a growing audience. read

A Note from the Publisher, 7 June 06 DPJ departs from its planned schedule as and when needed to provide some high-level insights and background information on fast-breaking news issues of immediate interest. read

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Viewpoint

Battlefield Forensics: Rebirth of an Ancient Science Historians see yesterday's battlefields as primary sources for their next scholarly tomes. The modern military sees today's battlefield as an unsifted mountain of intelligence information and, possibly, as evidence in future courtroom proceedings. read

Debris Recycling - Transforming Disasters Into Opportunities After the storm comes the rainbow. Supposedly. After a disaster comes the debris - and the problem of what to do with it. Surprisingly, perhaps, there are some profitable solutions that should be considered. read

The Creation of a Home Guard for Domestic Preparedness At a time when defense of the U.S. homeland is a major concern, the National Guard is playing a much-increased role in U.S. operations overseas. The best way to fill the capabilities gap is to establish a non-deployable Home Guard under the Department. read

The Gateway Key to Synergistic Communications Thanks to mutual-aid compacts between neighboring political jurisdictions, first-responder cooperation at mass-casualty incidents is often a multi-agency effort. But before the agencies can work together they must first be able to speak the same language. read

PPE: Defining the Terms, Resolving the Ambiguities Is it something a first-responder wears for personal protection? Is it some special equipment he or she is using? A combination of both? Can it be used to save the lives of victims as well? Yes, sometimes, sometimes, and yes but not always. read

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