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June 9, 2004 The media has been all over the US decision to outsource our department of homeland security. According to Asa Hutchinson (www.dhs.gov) the contract is for an initial term of 5 years with five one year renewal periods and price tags associated with this contract range from $10Million to $10Billion, which is no small fries. Accenture will be tasked with strategic support, design and integrations of security systems and personnel, technological solutions, deployment, training and organizational management. Sound like a lot? It is! Four broad goals have been outlined and they are as follows; (www.dhs.gov) 1. enhance US security for visitors and citizens 2. facilitate travel and trade, both within and outside of US borders 3. ensure integrity of INS 4. safeguard personal privacy of our US visitors So can they do it? Time will tell! Accenture LLP is generally regarded as a US company doing business globally. However, the media are most concerned with their primary licensure in Bermuda which is known to be a tax shelter for large organizations. A little digging and we find that Accenture is a large organization whereby their services span from communications and higher technology to government resources, products, and services. (www.accenture.com) Accenture does business in 48 countries around the world and generated revenues in excess of $11.8Billion dollars for the year ending 2003. Obviously, our current government thinks this is a wise and prudent choice. So why all the media attention to the contrary? Ethics, plain and simple. Is it ethical for us, as a nation, to outsource our most delicate department, Homeland Security? And if so, what are the repercussions? Many feel this contract could create monumental security breeches predominantly stemming from Accenture’s doing business globally instead of keeping this very sensitive information within our own borders. Are these concerns valid? You bettcha! If we have decided to outsource the Department of Homeland Security why did we bother with forming this special department within our current government it in the first place? According to the information on the web site www.whitehouse.gov it was so we could better coordinate the various training, communication, and equipment between state and federal information sectors. Originally, it was touted that in a time of National crisis we could have a plan as to how we efficiently and effectively coordinate these delicate matters. This basic plan merged into giving us a five approach system. (Homeland Security Act 2002) Those five areas are developing prevention of such actions against the U.S., preparedness in the event that they do occur, response and recovery plans for the aftermath, and the all-in-one plan. (www.whitehouse.gov) Had our government become so arrogant and complacent that we never thought such things could occur on American soil? Of course we had. That given, how can Accenture make this happen better and for less? Or protect us better than our own government can? Well, time will tell, but my feelings are that this is short sighted and will find us more in debt and perhaps less secure than we were before. Reference: CNN News, Primetime, June 1, 2004 www.dhs.gov www.accenture.com www.whitehouse.gov ------------ About the author: Michelle Malsbury was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. She attended Parkland College and the University of Illinois before graduating from the University of Phoenix with her degree in Business Management. Currently she is working on her master’s degree in Organizational Management while concurrently pursuing her lofty writing ambitions. Ms. Malsbury moved to south Florida in 1983 and resides between the Keys and Apalachicola, allowing her to experience the southernmost and nearly northernmost beauty in the state of Florida. Travels have taken her from Europe through the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and across much of the United States. Michelle has been a bartender, real estate agent, flight attendant, beauty contestant, yacht broker, and commodities broker over the years, but writing is her passion. She enjoys outdoor activities like sailing, waterskiing, hiking, and fishing as well as reading, music, playing with her pets, and writing. “Three Years With Adonis” is the first to be published of several books that she has written. In addition to “Three Years With Adonis”, she has authored four other books and three screenplays while continuing to explore all that life hands her. "Three Years With Adonis" will be available eary 2005. Email Michelle Malsbury: abuchez@mchsi.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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