Second-Class Security?

Leiataua Birdsall Valao Ala'ilima, the Territorial Homeland Security Adviser, says American Samoa is above the national average for investing homeland security funds in local programs. But in an interview with Pacific Magazine's Fili Sagapolutele, Leiataua says American Samoa faces real challenges in meeting federal security expectations.

Pacific Magazine: What are some of the challenges U.S. flag territories face spending federal funds?

Leiataua: In the federal program approach, there is an underlying assumption that all states and territories have reached a baseline, or standard level of proficiency and capability within their emergency response communities. This is evidenced by the fact that federal Homeland Security programs to states and territories in the past targeted only the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) component to enhance emergency response capability.

This was a flaw in the federal approach. It does not accommodate for the fact that in most cases, U.S. territories do not have basic emergency response certification and standards in place. For example, American Samoa does not have a tactical unit or bomb disposal capability in place. Hazardous materials response capability and capacity is also limited. If federal assistance is to effectively build local capability to respond to acts of terrorism or for any disaster in the territory, it must first provide for the development and basic training certification in these critical areas before incorporating the WMD component.

PM: Are there any other areas of concern for U.S. territories?

Leiataua: In this war on terrorism, border security is a first line of defense. Federal assistance to states and territories does not accommodate territories that manage their own borders.

Leiataua Birdsall Valao Ala’ilima is the Territorial Homeland Security Adviser for American Samoa. Photo: Courtesy LeiatAUA Birdsall Valao Ala’ilima

In our analysis, the threat to U.S. Pacific territories will likely emanate from the Asia-Pacific rim. The proximity of Pacific U.S. flag territories to known terrorist centers obviously makes the territories attractive targets. However, DHS (Department of Homeland Security) assistance to the U.S. territories does not support working with neighboring countries in the region. It is totally unacceptable that Pacific territories can enjoy DHS funds to send our personnel half way across the world (east coast U.S. to engage in security issues), however, they are restricted from receiving federal support to engage neighboring Pacific regional partners and governments in security and border control activities.

PM: One has to wonder if the security issues and concerns by U.S. flag territories have been clearly identified and articulated by the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This begs the question, who is protected by the national security program?

Leiataua: In terms of the report to Congress on levels of expenditure, the inspector general's report also needs to acknowledge territorial challenges in developing costly basic security and emergency response infrastructure in U.S. flag territories.

PM: What do you mean by emergency response infrastructure?

Leiataua: The American Samoa State Homelands Security Strategy, as approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, identifies the lack of sea and air interdiction capability and Emergency Command and Control facilities.

The U.S. Coast Guard does not station a patrol vessel in the territory to provide interdiction, patrol and search and rescue services. (Homeland Security) has moved forward with plans to procure a high speed multi-purpose patrol vessel and construct a dock for the craft.

Secondly, in the area of command and control, (Homeland Security) has been actively pursuing the construction of an Emergency Operations Center for the territory. Both…programs are examples of multi-million dollar and multi-year security infrastructure under development in American Samoa.

(Homeland Security) must also support enhancement of critical border security activities while setting aside sufficient funds to develop a multi-year security infrastructure program.

While overall DHS funding to U.S. states increased slightly between FY04 and FY05, U.S. territorial program funds were slashed by 30 percent. The reduction in federal support is a direct result of shrinking appropriations to DHS program categories where territories are eligible for funding. Drastic changes to federal program funding levels pose a significant challenge to multi-year security programs.

PM: What is one to make of all of this?

Leiataua: I firmly believe the current direction of federal program support to the U.S. territories was never the intent of the spirit of the national security initiative. Sadly however, I have observed that in the federal shuffle to expedite achieving a nationwide security program, and the quest to secure federal funding support for stateside security needs, the U.S. flag territories have been left with the challenge of implementing under-funded security programs that do not appropriately and effectively address their critical security needs.

Certainly we are concerned that territorial issues continue to remain unaddressed with the ongoing transition of personnel and programs at the federal level. If the territories are to develop effective security programs, there must be stability and flexibility at the federal level.

PM: What has the American Samoa government done to address this?

Leiataua: The federal bureaucracy is very large and like small fishes in a deep ocean we must continue to work together to survive.

We subscribe to a regional/territorial approach to address these issues.

Territorial governors have forwarded a resolution for adoption to the National Governor's Association (NGA). The resolution seeks to establish a Territorial Homeland Security Program to offer program stability and address many of the security challenges local programs encounter.

Under the Homeland Security regional outreach program we are also actively engaging Pacific regional organizations such as the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat as well as neighboring governments to identify and support mutual regional security interests. In our most recent full-scale WMD exercise, which included a cross border immigration trace-back component, we were pleased to have the participation of Samoa and Tonga.

Pacific territories and regional concerns should be considered equal and among the prioritized interests in achieving national security goals. The reasons for this are clear. An attack on a U.S. flag territory is tantamount to an attack on U.S. soil. U.S. flag territories and former territories under the Compact of Free Association could be used as gateways to the U.S. A secure Pacific ensures stability of an area containing approximately one-third of the earth's surface, while protecting U.S. business interests in the Asia-Pacific region.