Homeland security, like many of the issues for 2008, can be a contentious issue. While both candidates acknowledge that it is a priority, Obama has a hard-hitting stance that packs a punch.

He focuses on allocating resources for homeland security based on risk rather than political agenda. Airports, land borders and seaports would all see increased security measures. Why? To better protect America’s infrastructure.

However, national security is more than keeping our borders safe. Obama believes in “ending the war in Iraq” responsibly. Obama’s camp sees that defeating terrorism means zeroing in on Afghanistan and al-Qaida.

Obama and Biden want to get tough on terrorism. With ambitious goals to secure nuclear weapons and materials within four years, they hope to stop nuclear smuggling. To further prevent the creation of weapons of mass destruction, global initiatives would focus not only at their shipment but also their delivery systems.

In his policy on intelligence capacity and civil liberties, Obama sees the reformation of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Board to protect the civil liberties of Americans. By further investing in institutions to fight terrorism, he sees increased cooperation between the U.S. and foreign intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Biosecurity and biological weapons — to prevent such attacks, intelligence collection would be increased to stop offensives before started. Should an attack happen, Obama wants a plan in place. By ensuring decision-makers have all they need to manage disease outbreaks, they can quickly be in touch with first responders and their agencies.

Our information networks are important. Working with private industry, researchers, and the public “accountable cyber infrastructure” should be in place to protect America as well as advance homeland security. Cyber-crime policies are needed to reduce criminal gains.

By modernizing aging infrastructure the creation of a “national infrastructure reinvestment bank” would be imperative to independently handle challenging infrastructure needs, not only as they arise but on a priority basis without special interest influences.

National or homeland security is important to many Americans. Barack Obama’s platform is designed to keep and protect America. Americans can feel safe if Barack Obama is elected on Nov. 4.

— Erin Mastre is a graduate student in landscape architecture from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.