Homeland Security's Research Facility

Huffington Post

Although a research facility sounds like an amazing idea, why is it that Homeland Security would be the people in charge of it? This article confused me. I think that if the DHS is pushing so much to have the facility somewhere, and there are people that have the power to put it somewhere better, they should put it in a better place. I think that when you look at all the things that have gone bad with Homeland Security, how can you trust them to be studying these things? I mean, aren't these the people with the wait until something goes wrong and then fix it mentality? I guess all we can really do as far as changing all the things that the DHS does wrong, is wait for a new administration. Which is a somewhat scary thought because you never know how wrong things could go in that short amount of time. 

Questions that arouse while reading this article:

1. I'm still very confused as to why the DHS wanted the research center in Mississippi so badly. Why is this?

2. Who would they hire to do the research at this center?

3. What would they/we do with the information gathered at this new facility?

Homeland Security Watching Our Phone Calls

Brookings Institution

It was reported by USA Today that many phone companies have given away their phone numbers to the National Security Agency in effort to help stop terrorism. While I understand that this is an attempt to keep us safe, is losing our privacy worth it? Plus, not everything works out as planned. So many different things are misinterpreted and misread. I don't think that this is such a good idea. Having someone constantly watching what you are doing, who you are calling, it's violating our constitutional rights as citizens of the United States. Of course, when many doubt the fact that the president has even read the Constitution, you can't really expect your rights to be respected. Homeland Security is obviously there for a reason, but are they really doing a good job at what they are supposed to be doing? Or has someone given them too much power?

Questions:
1. Even though President Bush has let them have the numbers, and the phone companies have given them the numbers willfully, can they be prosecuted for this?
2. Once the presidential office is taken over by someone else, will they be able to do anything about this? I mean, it's not exactly Homeland Security's fault, they were just following orders, and I hardly think they would punish Bush for this.
3. This was a very hot topic for a while, but it seems like the interest is dwindling. Why is it that people aren't more concerned still? It's still happening, but have they given up trying to stop it?