The 2004 Madrid Train Bombings and Its Effect on the Homeland Security Operations - Term Paper Example

The 2004 Madrid train bombings and its effect to the homeland security operations Introduction The US department of Homeland Security also referred to as DHS, was established in November 2002 in response to the US terror attacks in Sept ember 11, 2001 with the main role of safeguarding the USA and the US territories and Protectorates against threats such as terror attacks, natural calamities and artificial accidents and responding to them accordingly (DHS, 2012). In the financial year ending 2011, the DHS was assigned a budget of more than ninety eight billion dollars and spent 66.4 billion US dollars of the allocated money (DHS, 2012). The Department of Homeland Security operates in the civilian sphere to safeguard the US inside, at and outside its territories. DHS (2012) indicates that the main objective of the DHS is to prepare for, safeguard and respond to local emergencies especially those related to terrorism. Peteran (2006) notes that despite its commitment, accountability and strategic planning and response to terror threat, extremist groupings and organizations are still existent with the capacity and will to harm the United States and its allies. The 2004 Madrid train bombings is such incidents that have made the DHS to review its strategies on countering terror and making improvements to its security measures to ensure the American citizens and the US allies are safe and secure wherever and wherever they are (Bullock, et al., 2012). This report seeks to analyze the 2004 Madrid train bombings and assess how it has impacted on the present Homeland Security operations. The 2004 Madrid train bombings According to Haberfeld & Hassell (2009), the 2004 Madrid train bombings which are also referred to as the 11-M, were almost instantaneous and coordinated terror bombings against four commuter systems in Madrid. Three days prior to the general elections in Spain, ten bombs exploded killing 191 people and injuring more than 1,800 people (Haberfeld & Hassell, 2009). The bombings are rated as the worst terrorist attack in Spain’s history and in the continent of Europe in general. In March 11, 2004, between 7:37 and 7:40, four trains on route from Alcalá de Henares station exploded following bomb detonations. Three bombs blew up in train number 21431; two bombs went off in train number 21435, one bomb detonated in train number 21713 and four bombs exploded within different train carriages in train number 17305 (Bullock, et al., 2012). The bombings had direct impact on the reactions of the Spanish electorate, which shifted the diplomatic focus of Spain away from the US, leading to the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq and the defeat of the incumbent Jose Maria Aznar (Peteran, 2006). Since evidence showed that the terror attacks could have been an Al-Qaida instigated attack, the reactions in majority of the Spanish voters was that the attack was because of PP government involving Spain in the Iraq War. Which led to the victory of Jose Luis Rodgriguez Zapatero, the opposition leader of the Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party who had opposed strongly taking Spain into Iraq (Haberfeld & Hassell, 2009)? Based on such incidents and others such as the 2005 terror attacks on London’s underground, strong indications are that transport systems especially rail systems are under greater threat of terror attacks and are much more vulnerable to a wider and broader scope of damage compared to other targets of terror attacks. Based on the Congressional Research Service, one third of the global terror attacks are aimed at transport systems, public transport being the most common target (Prieto, 2005). According to Prieto (2005), an assessment of more than 20000 terror events from 1968 to 2004 show that the highest number of fatalities and casualties occur in terror attacks aimed at land-based transportation of all forms of terror attacks. With the attacks being the deadliest in relation to damage and deaths, rating behind aviation attacks and equalling the rates of fatalities of religious and tourist attacks. The effect of the 2004 Madrid train bombings to the homeland security operations According to a 2006 report prepared by the Department of Homeland Security on its strategic sector assessment on the terrorist threat to the US Commercial Passenger and freight rail system, the commercial passenger and freight rail systems are susceptible to terrorist attack owing to their ease in public accessibility and the intricacies of securing a wide and broad array of railroad assets (Homeland Security, 2006). According to DHS, the railway systems is an attractive target for terrorist due to the high number of people that are concentrated in one area at one particular time and with complex preparation, timing and execution, a terror attack on it can generate insurmountable fatalities, casualties and economic damage (DHS, 2012). Homeland Security (2006) reports that from the 2004 Madrid bombings, the DHS has identified improvised explosive devices also referred to as IEDs as the most efficient, effective and preferred choice of weapons in targeting rail systems which therefore, generates the greatest risk to US rails despite the fact the use of chemical, biological, or radiological weapons cannot be discounted. From the terrorist attacks on Madrid commuter trains, indications are that extremist organizations such as Al-Qaida has the capacity, access, opportunity and the potential to attack transport systems to cause the greatest damage (Peteran, 2006). For these reasons, the DHS has enhanced its security initiatives by applying more resilience and efforts in securing the transport systems both land-based transportation and aviation systems to ensure terrorist organizations have zero access and opportunity to orchestrate attacks on these systems (Peteran, 2006). The DHS indicate massive improvements in rail security but cites the need for more measures, which includes enhanced patrols and surveillance in train stations and within train carriages, effective training and recruitment of security personnel and effective use of technological systems (Homeland Security, 2006). According to Peteran (2006), the 2004 Madrid bombings are among notable terrorist attacks following the September 11 Bomb attacks on US that offer the department of Homeland Security the insights and new perspectives into the risks, techniques and vulnerabilities. The main reasons why attacks on Madrid commuter trains acts as an insightful incident for the DHS is because of the vulnerability of such targets in the US. Rail systems among other transport frameworks are not only easily accessible, terrorists can easily infiltrate and they have increased concentrations of people, which offer potential to generate large-scale damage and fear. In addition, the systems are innately hard to secure owing to high volume of riders, increased number of access points, low number of inspection and control points, structural convenience and low cost fares with no need for advance booking or passenger identification (Prieto, 2005). All these makes it difficult to effectively secure them as is the case in securing US aviation systems since the September 11 attack as echoed by Haberfeld & Hassell (2009). In a bid to enhance security initiatives and to effectively and efficiently secure the transport systems in the United States, the department of Homeland Security has since 2006, allocated over 1.6 billion US dollars in special grants, which is meant to target the country’s transportation systems as highlighted by Bullock et al. (2012). According to the author, the grants are maintained by the TSA and are offered to mass transit and passenger rail systems, railroad carriers, and the trucking sector to aid in safeguarding the population and the US’ critical transportation infrastructure against terrorist attacks and other major events. The grants are meant to fund high-impact security projects that serve to minimize risks faced by varied transportation systems as indicated by (Bullock, et al., 2012). Based on the DHS 2006 report, terror attacks on US rail systems are more likely to be conducted by executing numerous simultaneous attacks on various trains and train carriages as evidenced in the 2004 Madrid attack. The intent not necessarily to cause the highest number of fatalities but to cause terror and fear among ridership and as a result adversely impact the economy of the US (Homeland Security, 2006). The preference for trains as the main terrorist attack is attributed to the ease in executing the attack and it requires minimal time to plan and prepare a terrorist attack in a train (Peteran, 2006). The author notes that among major rail systems that the DHS has intensified its surveillance and screening activities includes high concentration ridership systems such as the Northeast corridor between Washington, D.C. and Boston, Massachusetts.  Apart from these initiatives, the DHS has effectively recruited, trained and deployed security personnel who includes federal screening workforce to assume their duties at major rail stations countrywide. In addition, development of new programs and offices to facilitate homeland security roles, which include the establishment of U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, charged with coordinating efforts to counter cyber security risks (Prieto, 2005). The DHS has enhanced its interoperability communication systems and has facilitated the improvements on command and control systems. Although funding is the main challenge in ensuring new security programs and systems are in place and running, the DHS has taken the leadership role in fostering resilience in preparing and averting threats faced by US citizens and its allies (Peteran, 2006). Conclusion The 2004 Madrid bombings was an insightful incident for the department of Homeland Security in strengthening its grip on security systems and reviewing existing security protocols and infrastructures to ensure safety and security of the public especially within the transport systems. Apart from exposing the vulnerabilities that exists in the rail systems, the 2004 Madrid bombings revealed the risks and techniques of terror attacks on US rail systems, which were useful in assessment of security measures, and systems within US rail systems and providing useful information on what should be done to safeguard such incidences in the US. References Bullock, J., Haddow, G., & Coppola, D.P. (2012). Introduction to Homeland Security: Principles of All-Hazards Risk Management. Sidney: Elsevier. DHS. (2012). United States Department of Homeland Security. Accessible from www.dhs.gov Haberfeld, M.R. & Hassell, A.V. (2009). A New Understanding of Terrorism: Case Studies, Trajectories and Lessons Learned. London: Springer. Homeland Security. (2006). Strategic Sector Assessment: (U//FOUO) the Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Commercial Passenger and Freight Rail System. Homeland Infrastructure Threat & Risk Analysis Center (HITRAC), Accessible from http://www.nefafoundation.org/file/FeaturedDocs/HITRAC_PassengerFreightRail.pdf Peteran, D.R. (2006). Passenger rail security: Overview of issues. CSR Report for Congress, Accessible from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl32625.pdf Prieto, D. B. (2005). "Mass Transit Security after the London Bombings." Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Accessible from http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/3275/mass_transit_security_after_the_london_bombings.html Read More