January 12, 2005 The following discussion questions cover the stories featured in today's edition of CNN Student News. First Up: Homeland Security Nominee 1. Who is Michael Chertoff? For what position did President George W. Bush recently nominate him? Who previously held that position? * * 2. How does Mr. Bush describe Chertoff? According to the story, for what role following the September 11, 2001 attacks is Chertoff best known? What other government positions has Chertoff held? * * * 3. What is the Department of Homeland Security? How many agencies fall under the department? Approximately how many employees does this agency employ? How does outgoing Secretary Tom Ridge characterize Chertoff? According to the story, why might President Bush hope for an easy confirmation of Chertoff by the Senate? * * * 4. What questions do you expect the Senate will ask of Chertoff? What information do you think that lawmakers will try to gather through the confirmation hearings? What type of person do you think would be well-suited for a job of this magnitude? Explain. * * *
Homeland Security: Job Description 1. Who is Richard Falkenrath? How does he describe the job of homeland security secretary? Why does he say that the job is "thankless"? * * * 2. According to Falkenrath, what challenges does the homeland security secretary face? What character traits does the former deputy homeland security adviser say are necessary for the person who heads up homeland security? What are some of the "chores" that Falkenrath says are "some of the hardest in government"? * * * 3. What previous work experience or characteristics do you think would be necessary to succeed in a job like this? Based on what you know of Michael Chertoff's resume, do you think that he would be well-suited to head the homeland security agency? Why or why not? On what criteria do you think he should be evaluated for the position? * * * 4. If tapped by the president of the United States to be the next secretary of homeland security, would you accept the position? Why or why not? * * *
Survivor Story 1. Who is Ari Afrizal? How old is he? What happened to Afrizal when the December 26, 2004 tsunamis struck southeast Asia? * * * 2. How was Afrizal able to survive for at least two weeks adrift in the Indian Ocean? How was he ultimately rescued? How would you describe Afrizal's survival story? * * * 3. What is your reaction to stories of survival such as that of Ari Afrizal? What role do you think that survival stories play in telling the story of the tsunami's aftermath? Explain. * * *
Suggested Online Resources Homeland Security Nominee CNN.com: Bush nominates new Homeland Security chief (http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/11/homeland/index.html) CNN.com Special Report: President Bush - The Second Term (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/bush.term/) The White House: President Nominates Michael Chertoff as Secretary of Homeland Security (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050111-2.html) Homeland Security: Job Description Department of Homeland Security (http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/) Survivor Story CNN.com: Tsunami survivor lived on coconuts, prayers (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/11/tsunami.survivor.ap/index.html) CNN.com Special Report: After the Tsunami (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/tsunami.disaster/)
Keywords Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff, Senate, Department of Homeland Security, 9/11, liberties, Whitewater, Bernard Kerik, confirmation, Richard Falkenrath, biosafety, biosecurity, Ari Afrizal, Malaysia, Indonesia, tsunami, Aceh
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