Since 9/11, the United States has spent $1 trillion to defend against al-Qaeda and ISIL, dirty bombs and lone wolves, bioterror and cyberterror. Has it worked? -“… over the past 15 years, the American government has spent $100 billion to $150 billion on failed or unworthy homeland-security programs and on acquiring and maintaining equipment that hasn’t worked. However, as with the equipment procured for port inspections, launching the TSA, and grants for protecting New York’s subway tunnels and running emergency drills in Boston, much more than that was well spent.”

This is a long read that includes a video. It is a valuable overview of efforts that failed, and those that succeeded on the national and local levels to both anticipate and respond to threats.  Steven Brill highlights information that fills in gaps about which we either have not been informed or we are now considering with a markedly different perspective with the passing of 15 years and a society that now routinely is circumscribed by increased surveillance, privacy, and yes, fear.