Discussing Cases Concerning the Difficulties in Defining the Elements of Homeland Security - Assignment Example

ISSUES AND RESPONSES 1. In the context of the course, we have discussed the difficulties in defining the elements of the post 9/11 phenomenon known as ‘homeland security.’ We found both the definitions of ‘homeland security’ and ‘terrorism’ to be open to debate. Discuss the difficulties in defining both of these terms to include any generally accepted definitions of each term, the source of the definition, and any events or actions that have influenced the development of that definition. Homeland security has and will always be a matter subjected to higher consideration especially on the part of the administrators of any country around the world. Being able to secure one’s country though is never easy, especially on the part of those that are noted as the heating point of cultures where a diversified of human population grows, such as that of the United States. SAFET Y of the nation. This is the primary aim of the application of the different procedures implied in creating a much safer society that is best to serve the values of the people living within the communities that are known for freedom and popular understanding of democracy. This in particular includes the United States which is understandably noted for its realization of democracy and the importance it particularly makes certain in the different laws and regulations it creates in the ways by which it reconnects itself with all the other nations around the world. Possibly, through the existence of these major elements of national status, the United States is noted for always assuring that the entire nation is under a specific level of security that nurtures its belief and upholds its dignity towards the importance of democracy among its people. This is the reason why it has naturally been debated how the nation’s governmental administration should deal with the threats to their homeland security while being able to find the right procedures needed to deal with the accused terrorists who are within the territories of the United States (Worth, et al 1999: 17). Through the laws that had been made dealing with these individuals lawfully had been naturally created to at least protect them too of their rights as humans. This is the reason why it has naturally been constantly debated how a homeland security law could actually be balanced and impartial in handling both the values of the country and the values of the accused individuals of terrorism, despite the fact that at some point, some of these accused individuals have already been proven of giving lesser respect to the humanitarian values of those who have become their victims. Hence, as a major process of approaching the issue, the new administration handling the US systems today under the Obama-Biden rulership tries to revert everything so as to make an implicative balance in the ways by which they handle the needs of the country to be safe and the lawful dealing they have with the accused terrorists. 2. The U.S. has faced threats from ‘asymmetric’ enemies throughout its history. Discuss the characteristics of asymmetric threats and one historical example of this type of threat and its impact on the U.S. Then discuss the government reaction to the threat and any lessons that could be applied to countering the modern threat of terrorism. Asymmetric threat is a definite threat whether direct or indirect towards the safety of the people living within a certain country. It could be observed that these threats are aimed to disturb the safety of the nation in terms of use of weaponry that is aimed to increase tension in the nation that is targeted (Hudson, 1999: 10). For the United States, a supposed direct attack to the country that made a great impact on the history of the nation is the attack that they received from Japan during the Pearl Harbor bombing. This particular event was likely one of the most remarkable events in the country that pushed the nation towards the limit of creating a much powerful and much strategic approach in dealing with threatening events such as that making it better for the US to face such challenges during the times that preceded the event years later, which could include the Dessert Storm Operation. Modern terrorism which was actually pursued against US during the 9/11 incident has been rather dealt with in consideration with human rights allowing the chance to create a finer approach towards the event without considerably offending the existing laws that mandate humanitarian guidelines in dealing with the hearing that needs to be held between the administration and the individuals accused in the matter (Kisangani, 2007: 88). 3. Describe the various motivations of terrorist groups. Identify the elements of the cycle that leads to a terrorist operation and the options available to governments for interdicting terrorist activity. Terrorism is caused by several factors that are usually resulted from small conflicts between people making up small groups in the society. It could be observed that through the development of disputes between these small groups, the situation becomes more complicated involving larger groups until it becomes directly affective on the part of the security of the entire nation. Most often than not, the disputes exist between powerful persons who have strong influence in the different countries where they reside. Hence, through this understanding, it could be recognized that the motivations towards the pursuance of terrorism could be noted as follows: Through the diagram observed herein, the four major reasons motivating humans to plot plans of terrorism from one nation to another could be observed as somewhat affective on the manner by which nations try to create or establish fine relationships with each other. No matter what the reason though, it is still strongly believed by many that terrorizing people as a sign of wakeup call or to simple raise attention from the people is not a justifiable approach to the any national problem. However, since the said matter has already become a regular part of human living, it could not be denied that dealing with the situation becomes a certain focus on the part of the administrators of nations worldwide. Through their understanding of the growing need of protecting the security of their people along with the challenge of facing the threats of nuclear warfare that is feared by many to occur any time once the bonds of diplomatic relations are destroyed by any of the allies existing within contracts of agreements from one country to another. Believably, the capability of the governmental organizations to maintain these relations would might as well protect them from any possible threats of the situation. 4. The National Strategy for Homeland Security sets the strategic vision for achieving a more secure homeland. It is now in it's second version. What is strategy? and why is it important in an endeavor such as homeland security? The first National Strategy for Homeland Security included several ‘critical mission areas’ for accomplishing the mission, the 2007 version has proffered four broad goals for homeland security. Examine the 2007 version of the National Strategy for Homeland Security and make a judgment about which of the four goals is most important. Strategy is an effective and well motivated approach in dealing with the most difficult times that a nation needs to face. Considerably, it involves a well mannered management of the situation suggesting the need of actually balancing the laws of justice with the laws of humanitarian concerns (Wilkinson, 1997:88). Through strategically approaching the problems of terrorism, a nation’s government would be able to keep its balance and its stand in remaining free through understanding the different needs of the people they care for and the justice needed to keep the terrorists away from the supposed peaceful living that everyone must enjoy. OF course, in this times of international connections, the possibility of national disputes could never be lived without, however, through strategically dealing with the connections a country has with the others, gaining the possibility of establishing fine relationships with others is not that hard to accomplish. References: Disorders and Terrorism, National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals (Washington D.C.:1976). Hudson, Rex A. Who Becomes a Terrorist and Why: The 1999 Government Report on Profiling Terrorists, Federal Research Division, The Lyons Press,2002. Pape, Robert A. "The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism," American Political Science Review, 2003. 97 (3): pp. 1-19. Shabad, goldie and francisco jose llera ramo. "Political Violence in a Democratic State," Terrorism in Context. Ed. Martha Crenshaw. University Park: Pennsylvania State University, 1995. pp467. Nicolas Werth, Karel Bartošek, Jean-Louis Panné, Jean-Louis Margolin, Andrzej Paczkowski, Stéphane Courtois, The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression, Harvard University Press, 1999. Kisangani, E. (2007). "The Political Economy Of State Terror" (PDF). Defence and Peace Economics 18 (5): 405–414. Wilkinson, Paul.The Media and Terrorism: A Reassessment. Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol.9, No.2 (Summer 1997), pp.51-64 Published by Frank Cass, London. Read More