Definition of terrorism in United States - Research Paper Example

Facilitator Terrorism United s Security Agencies define terrorism as the predetermined use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to infiltrate fear. Such acts are intended to intimidate or threaten governments or societies to bend towards the perpetrators goals that are generally ideological, political, and religious. Inside the above definition, three key elements are evident —violence, fear, and intimidation— with each element intended to produce terror in its victims. The United State Intelligence defines "Terrorism as unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any part thereof, in advancing of political or social demands” (Hoffman 37). Evolution of terrorism Terrorism has ever been evolving. Its evolution should be closely monitored so that the means of countering it should be developed and made robust. The administration of the day has come with more effective and novel means of countering the vice that pose a monumental threat to the citizen of United State both in the country and abroad. The intelligence, policy makers and political advisers come up with a for fold strategy of dealing with the menace. The strategy includes the following that apply to all citizens of the America: adhering to United States of America core Values, building security partnership, Applying CT tools, and capability appropriately and building a culture of resilience. The four form the cornerstone of dealing with terrorism in the wider perspective. The four are meant to be adhered to with all the citizen of United States for the collective benefit of security. Combating terrorism Adhering to U.S Core Values The values of the nation matter a lot when it comes to the national security. Following the core values of the country is based on the principle that they enhance security but not necessarily, because they right. The core values include observing the human rights and respecting them, fostering good governance. It should be noted that terrorism has been flourishing in countries where governance is in a state collapse. Other core values include respecting privacy and civil liberties. Terrorist most of the time have been operating on spies who in most cases have used the citizen of the countries to execute their heinous crimes. In regard to the role of spies in execution of the attack, the intelligence with other think tanks of the security observed that the negation of privacy gave a leeway to a terrorist (Dewa 380). In addition, the strategies of combating terrorism call for commitment to security and transparency and upholding the rule of law by all and sundry. Negation of rule of law has always birthed to terrorism in most instance. In addition, rule of law has been applied according in taking and bringing the terrorist to justice. By enforcing the rule of law, it has been easy for government to track those adherents to terrorism and punish them as a deterrence to those likely to engage in such acts. Building Security Partnership Despite the fact, United State being a super power, it cannot stand alone in the war against terrorism. It needs partnership with other countries. Terrorism is a global problem and need global solutions. The global solution cannot come in isolation but through partnership with other countries. The degree of partnership however differs. The United States and its partners are engaged in the full range of cooperative counterterrorism (Hall 250). The cooperation starts from intelligent information sharing to joint training and operation. In addition, it also involves countering radicalization to pursue community resilience programs. Radicalization is the breeding grounds of terrorism. Once radicalization is rooted out, the United States can handle terrorism right at the bus. The radicle individuals are usually the diehard terrorist. Applying Counter Terrorism Tools and Capability Appropriately The counter terrorism techniques and tools are always updated due to dynamic status of terrorist. The tools are usually reviewed now and then to keep them in tandem with the evolution of the terrorism (Luke 550). The Al Qaida and its affiliate supporters continue to evolve and to come up with tools that are more lethal than those of yesterday to perpetrate serious attacks to the nation. However, the tools those United States users are usually in place to ensure that its effort is appropriate and in accordance with U.S. law, values and long-term strategic objective. Building Culture of Resilience In order United State of America to pursue its counterterrorism objectives, it must create a culture of preparedness and resilience that allows it to prevent or if necessary respond and recover successfully from potential act of terror that is directed to them. The culture of resilience is possible through the following: 1. Building essential components of resilience The terrorist believe that they can change the course and decision of United States through attack. By taking a solid ground on matters relating to terrorism, the US has been able to cause deterrence of terrorist attacks, which are aimed at persuading the government to offer their demands (Bullies 124). Terrorist have been using episodic attacks on the periphery to favor their demands. Overarching Goals in Combination with Core Principle The aforementioned core principles are in combination with the following constructed eight overarching counterterrorism goals. The combination articulates a framework for success of united state global counterterrorism mission. They include the following: 1. Protecting American People, Homeland and American Interest 2. Disrupt al Qaida and its affiliates and adherents 3. Prevent terrorist development acquisition and use of the weapon of mass destruction 4. Depriving al Qaida of its enabling means The four-fold overarching goals are very key in countering terrorism in a more effective and realistic manner Merit combating terrorism Combating terrorism has increased peace and developmental agenda in United States. Terrorism has been the main factor that derailed the infrastructural growth since many resources has been spent on military and intelligence. Since the government of United States has taken a sustainable model of counterterrorism, the military expenditure can be reduced to a reasonable level that will spur development and innovation (Mascarenhas 346.) Interaction between United State citizen and another civilization has been enhanced through countering terrorism. For a long time, terrorism has been a deterrence of Americans to interact with other civilization because of the threats that the terrorist posed to their survival. Consequently, investments in overseas countries have been difficult. Through effective counter-terrorism, the government has enabled its citizen to interact freely and increase economy of United States of America. Demerit of combating Combating terrorism comes with its own shortcoming. It consumes many resources. Most of the resources are directed to the military forgetting another aspect of the country concern such as science and innovation. Combating terrorism ironically, put life of the American and allied nations on counter-terrorism mission in danger. The philosophy of American government against terrorism is that they do not negotiate with terrorist hence hostages are usually in danger. However, the merits insofar outweigh the demerit in combating terrorism in United States and globally. In conservative view, combating terrorism should not just be the role of the government but the collective effort of the citizens of America. By so doing, intelligence will be widely spread to every corner of society. It should be noted that most of the Al-Qaida and affiliated adherents are desperate members of society who are trying to earn a living. It is the very desperate member of the society that causes havoc and terrorism. So if the combat against the vice is made personal responsibility, while enforcing traditional values to a member of society then a bigger proportion terrorism will be uprooted. The government should work hard to empower the individual in combating the terrorism rather than taking all mandate in fighting the vice. Reference Bullies, D, & Irving, R 2013, Journals Supporting Terrorism Research: Identification and Investigation into Their Impact on the Social Sciences, College & Research Libraries, 74, 2, pp. 119-129, Academic Search Premier, viewed 20 October 2014. Dewa, Lindsay H., Carol A. Ireland, and Jane L. Ireland. "Terror Management Theory: The Influence of Terrorism Salience on Anxiety and the Buffering Of Cultural Worldview and Self-Esteem." Psychiatry, Psychology & Law 21.3 (2014): 370-384. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. Luke, Timothy J., and Maria Hartwig. "The Effects of Mortality Salience and Reminders of Terrorism on Perceptions of Interrogation Techniques." Psychiatry, Psychology & Law 21.4 (2014): 538-550. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. Hall, Ronald E. "Beyond the Stereotypical Implications of Terrorism: A Sociological Investigation of Arab Immigrants." International Review of Sociology 20.2 (2010): 243-253. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. Hoffman, Bruce. Inside terrorism. New York: Columbian University Press. 1998 Mascarenhas, Raechelle, and Todd Sandler. "Remittances and Terrorism: A Global Analysis." Defense & Peace Economics 25.4 (2014): 331-347. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. Read More