Their casualties go uncounted, their actions largely unmonitored and their crimes unpunished." Scahill relates that four years into the Iraq occupation "there is no effective system of oversight or accountability governing contractors and their operations, not is there any effective law - military or civilian being applied to their activities." (2007) According to Scahill's report: "Since the launch of the "global war on terror," the administration has systematically funneled billions of dollars in public money to corporations like Blackwater USA, DynCorp, Triple Canopy, Erinys and ArmorGroup. They have in turn used their lucrative government pay-outs to build up the infrastructure and reach of private armies so powerful that they rival or outgun some nation's militaries." (2007) III. The EFFECTIVENESS of DHS

The work of Ahlers (2007) entitled: "Auditor's: Homeland Security Gets Mixed Grades" reports that congressional auditors gave "mixed grades to the Department of Homeland Security on its efforts to unify 22 agencies into one department and other goals." In what is stated to be a 320-page report of the Government Accountability Office findings states that while the DHS was made progress "in some areas" overall DHS "has failed at major management functions." (Ahlers, 2007) According to Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine and ranking member of the 'Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee' "With so much at stake and so many areas where progress is still required, America cannot settle for a mixed report card." (Ahlers, 2007) Substantial progress is reported in relation to maritime security while only modern progress is reported for: (1) immigration enforcement; (2) aviation security; (3) surface transportation security; (4)...

(Ahlers, 2007) Only modest progress was reported for: (1) border security; (2) immigration services; (3) acquisition management; and (4) financial management. (Ahlers, 2007) Limited progress is reported for: (1) emergency preparedness and response; (2) science and technology; (3) human capital management; and (4) information technology management. (Ahlers, 2007)
SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

It is clear that the Bush administration has implemented an agenda that is kept in close secrecy within the administration's ranks. Not only has the DHS been ineffective but as well, it has been expensive with private contractors making a higher income than federal employees do and this for the very poor security provided by many of these hired mercenaries in the disguise of security - and at that - Homeland Security.

Bibliography

Labott, Elise (2004) U.S.: Probe into Iraq Trafficking Claims. CorpWatch 5 May 2004. Online available at http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14174

Miller, Steven E. (2003) After the 9/11 Disaster: Washington's Struggle to Improve Homeland Security." Axess Stockholm, Sweden 2 (2003 Mar): 8-11. Online available at http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/254/after_the_911_disaster.html

Phinney, David (2006) AU.S. Fortress Rises in Baghdad: Asian Workers Trafficked to Build World's Largest Embassy. 17 Oct 2006. CorpWatch. Online available at http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14173

Scahill, Jeremy (2007) the Mercenary Revolution: Flush with Profits from the Iraq War, Military Contractors See a World of Business Opportunities. The Indypendent 15 Aug 2007. Online available at…