Combating Future Terrorism Essay

Introduction

The September 11 incident and the subsequent events have led to substantial increases and enhancements in private, commercial, and federal/state expenditures on strategies against terrorist activities. In addition, there has been a consistent propagation of anti-terrorism programs for fighting the impending menace (Lum, Kennedy, & Sherley, 2006). The factors behind the proliferation of such anti-terrorist programs are unambiguous.
The United States of America faced a new terrorist threat immediately after 9/11 and necessitated a call for new-fangled strategies for the achievement of major goals that included "the disruption of the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations, and the attack to the military capability of the Taliban regime" (as qt. in Taddeo, 2010). Therefore, the American government decided to devise a helpful and all-inclusive counterterrorist strategy for countering the Taliban regime and Al-Qaeda. It has achieved a number of desirable outcomes until this day with the combination of military action, enforcement of law, freezing of monetary resources as well as constant endeavors for cooperation on an international level (Taddeo, 2010).

Domestic Terrorism and International Terrorism – Valid Threats for America

The United States of America has been challenged by persistent threats of international and domestic terrorism for several decades. Domestic terrorism is any odious act meant for harming an individual or property for terrorizing the government or citizens for the achievement of political or social goals. On the other hand, international terrorism is the recurring employment of violent activities backed by political motivations for the attainment of coercive purposes. It is significant to mention that international terrorism is usually conducted by non-state actors and mostly affects numerous countries simultaneously with negative economic and social consequences. It is important to understand that both domestic and international terrorism have different contexts and outcomes. While domestic terrorism harms targets that are significant emblematically, international terrorism targets possess international significance.
As far as my opinion is concerned, I believe that domestic terrorism has a more destructive effect on society as compared to other forms of terrorism. The domestic assailants in the present times have easy accessibility to weapons, devices, and tools that have extreme similarity with the arms and armaments used by international terrorists. I consider domestic terrorism to be more frightening and overwhelming as a nation’s psyche can be damaged irreplacably with the consequences that emerge afterwards.
Even though it is a fact that domestic terrorist attacks have resulted in a small number of deaths and sufferers, it still needs to be noticed that the Oklahama City bombing caused 169 deaths. This state of affairs indicates domestic terrorists may plan and conduct terrorist activities that could inflict mass casualties in future. In short, both international and domethe threats of terrorism are repetitvely challenging the American government to safeguard its people and asesets.
It has become rather difficult for the law enforcement agencies in the country to counter terrorism in an effective manner as such threats and incidents have increased markedly with the passage of time. It is the high time for counterterrorism agencies and Federal Bureau Investigation to develop and implement comprehesive and wideranging programs. It is worth-mentioning that several measures have been carried out to fight against terrorists. These include inflexible investigations to disrupt terrorist activities, collaboration of numerous law enforcement agencies, and the employment of an efficient system for forewarning.
On the other hand, it is still required that the government of America give focused attention to refine its competencies for giving an efffective response to both international and domestic acts of terror. I strongly believe that both the mentioned forms of terrorism pose valid threats to the Americanland and people.
It needs to be noted that terrorist groups involved in carrying out offensice activities domestically characterize political, economical, and social interests. It is not an untold secret that domestic terrorist groups have demonstrated continuous involvement in activities that have caused substantial monetary and social damage to America. Currently, the most ferociously active domestic terrorist groups in the country are the the Crips, Earth Liberation Front, the Ku Klux Khan, Army of God, the Animal Liberation Front, Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty and Black Liberation Army. These terrorist groups have different objectives due to their different political, historical, cultural, and diverse organization. However, all the mentioned groups pose severe terrorist threat to America as reflected through their past terrorizing activities.
Even though there have been no casualties as a result of their actions; the frequency and extent of their domestic terror campaigns is consistently increasing. Till date, the stated groups have been triumphant in causing damage to public facilities, logging operation, fur farms, research laboratories based at universities, sports utility centres, restaurants, vehicle dealerships, pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics industry, and construction sites. In fact, these groups have made use of inflammabale and volatile devices in recent years that plainly shows the advancement of terrorist campaigns.
The above discussion highlights the undeniable fact that the current rise in both domestic and international terrorism as well as the the associated damage and casualties is a valid threat to America. Therefore, serious measures are to be taken by the American government to fight against international and domestic terrorist groups. In case these circumstances are not handled properly, it could put national security at stake.

Strategies to Combat Terrorism

There is a strong need to use the available instruments and legal authorities energetically as an imperative to locate and identify terrorists and thwart them from committing terror attacks. It is necessary as terrorist attacks against the American land and nation is far more intimidating than the dreadful loss of lives. There are numerous terrorist groups that have the purpose of provoking a schmaltzy response that could destabilize the Constitutional system of American government.
Therefore, it is the responsibility of the country’s leaders to find the proper equilibrium and adopt effective counterterrorism policies. In addition, they must not only demonstrate effectiveness but must show respect towards the democratic traditions in America. Similarly, it is also necessary to make sure that terrorism combating is not used as an alleged reason to discriminate any segment of American society. Frequently, terrorists make claims about their actions by showing association with a particular religion, nation, or ethnic claim. However, such claims are always erroneous. Terrorists characterize only an infinitesimal division of such groups. In fact, they opt to become terrorists for a variety of religious, ideological, or political reasons. In many cases, criminal-minded people are hired to carry out such activities. Moreover, poverty or perceived subjugation makes people choose terrorism as the ultimate profession.
Considering the above-mentioned factors, a shrewd and wise American foreign policy is obliged to consider the various reasons that cause people to become terrorists. These reasons must be addressed where apposite and reasonable. However, I do not mean to say that terrorism can be justified by any cause. As American targets are more frequently attacked by terrorists as compared to any other country, it can be expected that the future is not safe either. If America wants to protect its land and people and wants to retain its position as world’s leader, it is required of the whole nation to enlarge and endlessly filter resonant counterterrorism policies (National Strategy for Counterterrorism, 2011).
There are several strategies that can be utilized by the United States government to prevent terrorist attacks in the future. To begin with, attacks must be prevented by cutting off terrorist networks. It is American government’s highest obligation to safeguard its citizens’ lives and properties. Therefore, there should be no deterrence or reformation offered to hard core enemies. Instead, they must be tracked down and imprisoned. It is also important to cut off their individual and institutional networks so that they may not receive funding and resources for planning and executing any further attacks.
Furthermore, terrorist networks must be realistically simulated through the adoption of computational methodologies. In order to destabilize or decrease the efficiency of such networks, successful strategies must be devised by understanding these networks’ organizational structure (Tsvetovat & Carley, 2011). Likewise, “for the greatest success, the war on terrorism, like the war on drugs, must arguably be conducted and measured in a multi-faceted manner on many fronts, with sufficient resources allocated to each strategic element” (Perl, 2007).
Similarly, the government must also make use of a variety of local and global tools for preventing terrorists to commit malicious acts. In particular, the terrorist must be denied entry into America. This can be done through disrupting the international travelling of terrorists. By doing so, their mobility can be impeded significantly that may ultimately cause an inhibition of terrorists’ efficiency and successfulness. International terrorists are facilitated by illegal networks for travelling abroad. It is not an untold secret that they carry false information and documents that are unidentifiable. American government needs to make enhancements in American people security by adopting a multiple-layered protection system. In addition, technologies and security practices must also be enhanced for the reduction of vulnerabilities in the active transportation system. In the similar connection, international information exchange must also be improved for securing travel as well as combating terrorist travel (National Strategy for Counterterrorism, 2011).
It needs to be understood that terrorists are basically opportunists who exploit vulnerabilities and target places and people that are not satisfactorily secured. Therefore, the federal authorities are liable to devise strategies for defending potential targets that may be attacked in the coming times. Since 9/11 incident, the targeting trend has altered and terrorists seek to attack non-hardened sites. These include hospitals, schools, worship places, restaurants, public transport facilities, and nonofficial places. These softer targets are chosen as they are not always secured enough and gathering of innocent civilians at such places is common. Therefore, the government must appropriately strategize and take proper measures to make public places more secured and terrorist-free.
In my opinion, military action is not the only feasible response to counter terrorists and prevent them from committing offensive actions. It is extremely important for the government to understand the importance of utilization of socio-economic strategies for eliminating the terrorist groups and their motivations. I strongly feel that both human and intellectual capital must be fostered to prepare America for a generational resistance to combat terrorism. The relevant authorities must take steps for creating a skillful and competent community of counterterrorism specialists. These groups of people may work for alleviating the extremist ideologies that fuel terror-based activities. In the similar fashion, the establishment of more organized and methodical programs to develop and educate current professionals in the mentioned fields is also a viable option to struggle against terrorism. However, such education and development programs must not be limited to personnel related to counterterrorism field. Multidisciplinary studies must also be supported throughout America’s educational system. This step will ensure the nurturing of a well-informed and erudite team of counterterrorism workforce for the upcoming times (“Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism”, 2000).
In the similar fashion, possible terrorist attacks could be hindered with the utilization of constitutional amendments and future legislation. The United States of America may resist terrorism by enhancing its approach and following an incorporated set of defense policies. To begin with, the policies of the United States must strictly target every state that supports terrorists. The President of the United States must impose tight sanctions on every country that do not extend full support and cooperation to eliminate terrorism and terrorists (“Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism”, 2000).
Similarly, every relevant agency in the country must make use of all available resources to obstruct non-governmental support sources for both domestic and international terrorism (National Strategy for Counterterrorism, 2011). Similarly, Congress is required to take prompt actions for the ratification and implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. This measure may tremendously help in the enhancement of international cooperative efforts to fight terrorism (“Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism”, 2000).
Terrorism can also be wiped away by focusing on the resolution of rightful grievances in a peaceful manner (National Strategy for Counterterrorism, 2011). If the state governments strive to foster authority, alleviate corruption and poverty, and make improvements in the fields of health and education, there may be fewer terrorists in the society. It is the high time to give local governments the additional powers to discover and keep people away from being radicalized. It is a proven fact that the terrorist recruitment is highly successful in those hotspot locations where local dynamics create extreme anxiety and alienation in the masses.
It is a bitter reality that “a war against global terrorism that “will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated” is unlikely to be achieved, since there will always be a certain degree of terrorism in the world (Taddeo, 2010). This is because both small and large terrorism acts will come in innovative ways directed towards America. Even if international terrorists return to their motherlands, the threat of homegrown terrorists will always be present. A decade later, however, belligerent military actions, intelligence-gathering, and efforts of law enforcement agencies are expected to marginalize the sophisticated domestic and international terror networks. It is still an unfortunate truth that these networks are presently recruiting and inspiring innumerable followers as revealed by the attacks following the recent Charlie Hebdo controversy.

Conclusion

The 9/11 attacks as well as consistent domestic terrorist activities have undoubtedly increased the inevitability of competent leadership, trained personnel, and adequate human and economic resources. The Homeland Security needs to give undivided attention to both domestic and international terrorism to secure America from any future terrorist attacks.

References

Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism. (2000, January 1). FAS. Retrieved March 20, 2015, from http://fas.org/irp/threat/commission.html
Lum, C., Kennedy, L., & Sherley, A. (2006). Are Counter-Terrorism Strategies Effective? The Results of the Campbell Systematic Review on Counter-Terrorism Evaluation Research. J Exp Criminol, 2(4), 489-516. doi: 10.1007/s11292-006-9020-y
Perl, R. (2007, March 12). Combating Terrorism: The Challenge of Measuring Effectiveness. Retrieved March 6, 2015, from http://fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RL33160.pdf
Tsvetovat, M., & Carley, K. (2011, February 5). Structural Knowledge and Success of Anti Terrorist Activity: The Downside of Structural Equivalence. Retrieved March 6, 2015, from http://www.cmu.edu/joss/content/articles/volume6/TsvetovatCarley/
National Strategy for Counterterrorism. (2011, January 1). Retrieved March 6, 2015, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/counterterrorism_strategy.pdf
Taddeo, V. (2010). U.S. Response to Terrorism: A Strategic Analysis of the Afghanistan Campaign. Journal of Strategic Security, 3(2). doi:10.5038/1944-0472.3.2.3