Counter-Terrorism Strategy - Essay Example

? Counter Terrorism This paper discusses terrorism as one of the most challenging issues in terms of security globally. In essence, it articulates on the ways in which terrorism could be combated without necessarily having to involve the military. Moreover, it expounds more on the challenges that are associated with these ways, over and above, examples of real life conflict solved without military engagement situation have been incorporated. Introduction Counter terrorism also referred to as combating terrorism is a practise that entails governments, militaries, and police departments carrying out ways that are strictly meant to curb terrorism. Different quotas have used different methods trying to stop terrorism all over the world. In essence, the counter terrorism procedure incorporates both the exposure of potential acts and the reaction to related events (Maras, 2012). Counter terrorism is known to include standard police and domestic intelligence. It has both traditional and modern technology. In terms of traditional methods, there is interception of communication and tracing of persons. On the other hand, the new technology entails the range of military and law enforcement operations (Crenshaw, 2010). It is a common occurrence that terrorism has continued to cause pain and suffering on the lives of people all over the world. In fact, every single day does not go down without the act of terrorism being detected in a particular part of the world, as having affected innocent people who happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, this is one of the many unfortunate cases that has raised interest in one of the most renowned international defenders of Human Rights organizations, the United Nations, an agenda that is been discussed currently. According to Hughes, et al 2011, the impact of terrorism on human beings has devastating consequences especially on the right to life, liberty and physical integrity of the victims. Additionally, terrorism destabilizes most governments, undermine the freedom of civil society, tampers with peace and security in the conflict zones, as well as, those surrounding them, and further threatens the social and economic development of nations a factor that is tagged on the impact of enjoying human rights. Governments obligation such as security and protection of individuals, which is a basic human right is not respected as expected (Crenshaw, 2010). In the past years, numerous methods have been used by governments and states towards the curbing of terrorism. However, a high percentage of these measures and methods have continually posed challenges to human rights and the rule of law. In fact, some of these states have engaged in human torture and other ill treatments to counter terrorism disregarding the legal and watchdogs that have been put in place to prevent torture. Maras, 2012 argues that, other states and governments have deported suspected persons of engaging in terrorism to their mother countries where they are subjected to excessive torture, over and above, human rights abuse that is directly associated to violation of international legal obligations. Needless to mention, independence of the judiciary had been ignored and undermined by a substantial number of states and governments while the use of special courts to handle suspected persons of terrorism have seriously impacted the normal running of the general court processing. Some of the developing states and government have used resources that are allocated for social programmes and economic development for the security purposes, a situation that has affected the economic, social and cultural rights to many. Principally, combating terrorism has been hugely associated with the use of military, human torture, and the abuse of human rights. Apparently, it is essential that states and government should begin using other methods other than military engagement to stop terrorism all over the world. Crenshaw 2010 asserts that some of these methods include; counter terrorism strategy for suspects of terrorism, increase harsh punishment for suspected persons of terrorism, exercise change in political governance, over and above, the use of metal detectors and security screening. Methods of Combating Terrorism Other Than Use of Military Counter Terrorism Strategy The response to the recent terrorist threat has pushes the European Union and the United Nations into introducing a strategy that is pertinent globally without necessarily having to use military. Essentially, the strategy promotes democracy, dialogue and good governance in handling this situation. In respect to this, the EU has proposed the use of prevention, protection, pursuit, and response pillars towards this course. In terms of prevention, all states that are associated with EU have come up with prevention pillars that are targeted at ensuring radicalisation and recruitment of terrorists is identified in terms of the methods, propaganda, and instruments used by the terrorists. In terms of protection pillar, the EU and the associated states have ensured that there is reduced vulnerability of attack targets. This is mostly emphasized through the use of collective action for security and transport within borders and cross borders (Maras, 2012). Additionally, the pursuit pillar is aimed at pursuing terrorist within and across borders in respect to human rights and the international law. In the same way, they ensure that they bring to an end the financing of terrorists through inquiries, freezing of assets and the impending money transfer through the already put in place legislation on money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Moreover, this pillar put to end terrorism activities through impending communication and the dissemination of technical knowledge that is used by the terrorist especially through internet. It worth noting that the risk of terrorist attack cannot be zero rated hence, the last pillar in countering terrorism globally incorporates responding to the risks of being attacked by terrorist by ensuring that associate members exchange operational and policy information rapidly, ensuring that there is solidarity, over and above, compensating the victims of terrorism attacks (Hughes, et al 2011). However, the biggest challenge with this method of combating terrorism attack is that there must be absolute cooperation between the member states especially in providing information that is related to responding to the risk of the terrorist attack. The failure to cooperate weakness this diplomatic ways of combating terrorism as some terrorist may decide to use some of the member states to attack other member states, a situation that automatically undermines the willpower of EU and UN and its member states in fighting terrorism globally (Maras, 2012). Severity of Punishment It is obvious that terrorist attacks have had implications especially on those who are suspected as being the mastermind of such attacks. However, those who have been suspected of threatening to cause terror attack have received punishments that do not go beyond twenty years in prison for a third degree involvement particularly in states such as the New Jersey. Hughes, et al 2011 argues that those who happen to be categorized as being disorderly are only imprisoned for six months. Besides, some of these suspects are subjected to community service especially when they are taken to court and there is no substantial evidence to proof that they were involved in such kind of attacks. In relation to this, human beings and their rights are violated at the expense of terrorist who get minor punishment or not punishment at all. Through such scenarios, more people are encouraged to get involved in terrorism as they are confident that they will be subjected to minor or no punishment. States and governments globally should come up with strategies that increase and have more harshness on those who decide to take part in terrorist attacks such as life imprisonment or hanging to discourage those intending to participate in related activities. Through this, terrorism will be combated without the use of military (Crenshaw, 2010). Never the less, severe punishment on the suspects of terrorism especially the one that regards hanging or life imprisonment might encounter criticism from international organisation who act as human rights especially on the argument that human beings have the right to life, and thus should not be subjected to premature death via hanging. Metal Detectors and Security Screening Security screening and the use of metal detectors is one of the latest ways that have been used in relation to terrorism combat. Almost all states and governments that are sensitive to security globally have embraced these technologies because the affordable and reliable. According to Crenshaw 2010, these technologies are now being used at both huge and small levels, governmental and private institutions. Apparently, security screening and use of metal detectors has been used at Heathrow International airport to prevent terrorists from practising terrorism in airplanes and airports as this is biggest airport in the world and millions of statesmen and other important personalities in the world use it to travel globally. Tightening of security in this airport and the rest of the airports has been present since the September 11, 2001 attack in the US airport where 19 hijackers managed to pass the existing checkpoints and boarded an aircraft Needless to mention that, this kind of terrorist combat is currently being used in learning institutions and social gatherings due to the increase of insecurity and terrorism globally. The setback about this kind of method is that most terrorists manage to find alternative routes to committing terror attacks because most of the security screening and metal detector points are predicable making it easier to seek for alternative routes of entering a building or any other place that they have targeted (Maras, 2012). Moreover, some of these detectors are said to cause health challenges to human beings due to their composition. In fact, some of these detectors have been noted to measure and keep records of physiological indices such as blood pressure, skin conductivity, pulse, respiration among others. Change in Political Governance All states and governments revolve around political governance. It is through political governance a state or government able to handle most of its political endeavour with its other political entities. Apparently, most terrorism attacks are instigated by the kind of political governance that reigns in a particular state or government. In the event of good governance, there is reduced terrorist attacks because a given state in able to cooperate with other states even work independently to curb terrorism (Hughes, et al 2011). In essence, the Middle East has been known for political unrest due to bad political governance although the United States had established a peace keeping force in Lebanon in an attempt to settle the unrest. This mission was meant to bring back normalcy in the Middle East without necessarily having to use military force that entails human torture and abuse of human rights. Contrary to this, most of the states and government barely practise good governance which entails democracy and respect of the human dignity. Some states do not want assistance from developed states in preventing terrorism without military. Specific Examples of Conflict That Have Been Resolved Without Military Engagement The Cold War is the most memorable war in the entire globe that did not engage the military but incorporated exchange of words from the countries that were involved. Additionally, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was able to resolve its conflict on political, social and economic issues through dialogue. Conclusion With over fifteen most tragic acts of terrorism in history, it is evident that terrorism will never be end. Hence, it is necessitated to counter terrorism in a more diplomatic way like the use of security screening and metal detectors, change of political governance, severe punishment to terrorists and counter terrorism strategy that had prevention, protection, pursuing and response pillars to terrorism. References; Crenshaw, M. (2010).The Consequences Of Counterterrorism. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. Hughes, G et al.(2011).The Military's Role In Counterterrorism : Examples And Implications For Liberal Democracies. Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College. Maras, M. (2012). Counterterrorism. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Read More