National Security Requires Local Cooperation

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- State and local government connection to information and emergency networks will ensure security for each American community.

Homeland Security experts and advisors gathered at the Heritage Foundation Tuesday, to discuss the function, funding and effect of regional homeland security on all levels of government.

"We are only as strong as our weakest link", George Foresman Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness, said. He admitted that organizing regional networks of communication and sharing of information would be, "Easy to say and phenomenally difficult to do, but essential."

The cooperation of first-response departments with others of surrounding areas is an example of a connection experts say would make the nation stronger and more ready for attacks.

No one organization can secure the nation. Geographical regions and organizations need to share intelligence, plan according threat-vulnerability, and facilitate information among Federal, Sate and Local governments, said John Cohen Special Policy Advisor for Homeland Security.

Cohen suggested risk assessment research in each region, to define problems in order to then characterize regional network structures.